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Managing Your Wii Console's Available Memory Space
To free up memory space on your Wii console, you'll need to manage 2 types of data: Wii Channel Data and Save Data. In some cases, to fully move or delete an item you'll need to move or delete both types of data.
Wii System Menu 4.0 has expanded memory storage options. Learn more.
In this section you'll learn about:
Two types of Wii data
Deleting data from the Wii or an SD Card
Moving data between the Wii and an SD Card
Redownloading deleted Wii Channel Data
How can I tell how many memory blocks I have available?
What about Nintendo GameCube save data?
To learn the how-to's of Data Management (how to move, how to delete, etc.), click here.
Two Types of Wii Data to Manage
There are two types of data that can be stored with the built-in memory of your Wii console: Wii Channel Data and Save Data. In the event that you do not have enough available blocks on your Wii console to add new games or channels, you can free up some space by managing these two types of data. Keep in mind that some games and channels are stored as both Wii Channel Data and Save Data. If you want to completely remove these, you'll need to delete data from both storage locations.
- Wii Channels
The main Wii Menu (the screen you see when you first power on your Wii) displays all channels and games stored on your Wii. Some channels are pre-installed on the Wii (such as the Mii Channel) and some channels are ones that you've downloaded through the Wii Shop Channel (such as the Internet Channel). Also displayed on the Wii's main menu are Virtual Console games, WiiWare titles and any channels downloaded from specific Wii games (such as the Mario Kart Wii Channel). - Save Data
Located in the "Save Data" section of the "Data Management" area of the Wii Settings, area of the Wii Settings, Save Data are the files created when you save a game's progress (such as high scores, items found, and where the game last saved), as well as data for certain Wii Channels (such as voting results in the Everybody Votes Channel, or your "Favorite" sites book-marked on the Internet Channel, etc.). This Save Data is stored separately from the Wii Channel data, and can be kept, copied, or deleted independently of the Wii Channel it is used for.
Deleting Data From the Wii
If you would like to free up some additional space on your Wii console, you can delete Wii Channel Data and Save Data. (If you prefer, most data can also be moved from the Wii to an SD Card - click here to learn about moving data.)
Deleting Wii Channel Data
Any channels or games that you've downloaded to your Wii can be managed through the "Channels" option of the "Data Management" section of the Wii Settings. Pre-installed channels cannot be deleted (Mii Channel, Photo Channel, News Channel and Forecast Channel). If you choose to delete Wii Channel Data (WiiWare, Virtual Console games, Wii Channels), you can re-download them at a later date. Click here to learn more about retrieving deleted channel data.
Deleting Save Data permanently
If you are not interested or unable to back up the Save Data for later use, you can permanently delete the Save Data. Please be aware that by deleting files in the "Save Data" section without first copying them to an SD Card, there will be no way to get them back. If you decide to play the game or use the Wii Channel again, all your previous data will be lost. If you choose to delete Save Data, you can not get it back. There is no way to retrieve Save Data once it has been deleted. You may choose to move data from your Wii to an SD Card before you delete it from the Wii. Click here to learn about moving data.
Deleting the "Wii + Internet" video If you purchased your Wii console after Fall, 2008, it may have come with the "Wii + Internet" video, which demonstrates the Wii's ability to connect online. By removing this channel you can free up a large amount of memory. Please note that once this video is deleted, there is no way to get back.
Moving data between the Wii and an SD Card
To move data from a Wii to an SD Card, you will use the 'Copy' command. After you successfully copy the data, you can delete it from the Wii.
Upgrading to Wii System Menu 4.0 will allow you to use a new 'Move' command instead of the copy-and-delete process described here. Learn more about this upgrade.
- Any Wii channel you download can be deleted and redownloaded as often as you choose. This includes Wii Channels, Virtual Console games, WiiWare titles and any Wii Channels downloaded from within a Wii game (such as the Mario Kart Wii Channel). There are two ways to get them back after they've been deleted. With both ways, as long as you still have the Wii channel's save data, you'll still have your game progress (including in-game "suspend" saves) or saved channel settings available should you add the channel back to your system.
- If the channel was downloaded from a Wii game, simply re-insert the game disc and re-install the channel as you did before.
- If you reformat your Wii Shop Channel, your Wii Shop account and transaction history will be deleted. If you ever wish to re-download a game or Wii Channel you will need to spend the required amount of Wii Points to download the item.
Copy the Wii Channel Data to an SD Card
Most Wii Channel Data you downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel (including WiiWare or Virtual Console games) can be copied to a compatible SD Card. Once copied to the SD Card, you can delete that channel from the Wii. Please keep in mind that Virtual Console and WiiWare titles can only be played on the Wii console they were originally downloaded to. Using this SD Card on another Wii will not allow you to play these games.
Wii System Menu 3.4 or earlier: When you're ready to use that program at a later time, you can copy it back from the SD Card to your Wii. Be sure to copy the Wii Channel back over to the Wii when you wish to use it again; simply having the SD Card inserted will not allow it to be used.
Wii System Menu 4.0: With the 4.0 system menu, you can launch programs directly from your SD Card. You may also copy or move them back to the Wii if you choose to do so, but it is no longer required. Learn more about this upgrade.
Copy the Save Data to an SD Card, then delete it from the Wii
Most Save Data, including Virtual Console or WiiWare save files, can be copied to a compatible SD Card. This gives you the ability to delete that data, then copy it back over from the SD Card to your Wii should you wish to get it back at a later time. (Be sure to copy the data back over to the Wii when you wish to use it again; simply having the SD Card inserted with the data on it will not allow it to be used.)
Redownloading Deleted Wii Channel Data
Any Wii channel you download can be deleted and redownloaded as often as you choose. This includes Wii Channels, Virtual Console games, WiiWare titles and any Wii Channels downloaded from within a Wii game (such as the Mario Kart Wii Channel). There are two ways to get them back after they've been deleted. With both ways, as long as you still have the Wii channel's save data, you'll still have your game progress (including in-game "suspend" saves) or saved channel settings available should you add the channel back to your system.
How can I tell how many memory blocks I have available?
You can view the total amount of free memory blocks by going into the "Data Management" area of the Wii Settings. Once inside "Data Management", select "Channels" to see the available space in that section listed as "Blocks Open."
What about Nintendo GameCube save data?
Nintendo GameCube save data are stored on Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards, and do not affect the amount of free memory blocks on the Wii console. For help working with Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards, click here.
