If you’re a Switch player looking to jump into Apex Legends for the first time, or you’re prepping for a new seasonal drop, storage space is probably top of mind. The base Switch only comes with 32GB of internal storage, a good chunk of which is already taken up by system files, so you can’t afford to guess how big game installs will be. Knowing how big is Apex Legends on Switch before you hit download can save you hours of frustration, and keep you from having to delete your favorite indie games to make room.
Exact Download Sizes: How Big is Apex Legends on Switch Right Now
Apex Legends has come a long way since its initial Switch launch, when the day-one install clocked in at over 30GB. Respawn has rolled out multiple optimization patches to cut down on unnecessary file bloat, so the current size is far more manageable for users with limited storage. Keep in mind these numbers are for the latest season, and will shift slightly as new content drops.
Base game digital download is approximately 24GB as of the latest season, and that includes all core maps, legend abilities, and core gameplay assets. If you buy a physical copy of Apex Legends for Switch, don’t expect to pop the cart in and play right away: Physical copies require an additional 22GB mandatory download to access all online content, so you’re not saving any storage by going the physical route.
Seasonal updates add a consistent amount of extra space each time they roll out, too. Seasonal updates typically add 3GB to 6GB of extra storage each, depending on whether they include a new map, new legend, or limited-time event content. After 3 to 4 seasons, your total install size can creep up to 35GB if you don’t clear old cached data periodically.
Why Apex Legends Takes Up More Space on Switch Than Many Other Games
You might be wondering why Apex is bigger than other popular Switch battle royales like Fortnite, which usually sits around 18GB. There are a few intentional design choices that drive the larger file size, most of which benefit players in the long run. It’s not just bloat, even if it feels that way when you’re deleting old games to make space.
Cross-progression sync requires local storage of all your account unlocks and cosmetic items, even if you mostly play on PC or Xbox. That means every skin, banner frame, and voice line you’ve unlocked across years of play is stored locally on your Switch, so you don’t have to re-download anything when you log into your account. The game also stores assets for all current and returning limited-time events, so you don’t have to download 10GB of new content every time a seasonal event drops mid-season.
Respawn also includes optimized texture packs for both the original Switch and Switch OLED, so the game looks as good as possible on both displays without requiring separate downloads. All 25+ legends have full voice line libraries stored locally, too, so you don’t experience audio lag during heated fights. The tradeoff for all these quality of life features is a larger install size, but most regular players agree it’s worth the extra storage.
Practical Tips to Manage Apex Legends Storage on Your Switch
You don’t have to upgrade to a Switch OLED with more internal storage to play Apex comfortably. A few simple tweaks can help you keep your storage usage under control, even if you play Apex regularly and keep a handful of other games installed at the same time. I’ve used these same tips on my launch Switch for three years, and I’ve never had to delete Apex to make room for other games.
These are the most effective fixes for Apex storage crunches:
- Invest in a UHS-I certified microSD card with at least 128GB of space. These cards cost less than $20, and you can move your entire Apex install to the card in less than 10 minutes from your Switch system settings.
- Uninstall unused game data every 3 months. Most Switch players have 2 to 3 games they haven’t touched in six months taking up 10GB or more of space, so clearing those out first can free up more than enough room for Apex seasonal updates.
- Clear your Switch system cache once a month. Cached data from old gameplay sessions, screenshots, and update files can take up 1GB to 2GB of extra space over time, and clearing it won’t delete any of your save data or Apex unlocks.
- Turn off automatic updates if you have limited remaining storage. That way you can choose when to download big seasonal patches, instead of waking up to a surprise 5GB download that takes up your last bit of free space.
Never use a slow, non-UHS-I microSD card, as it will cause long load times and occasional crashes in Apex. Even if the card has enough space, slow read speeds will make the game unplayable, so spend the extra $5 to get a certified card from a reputable brand.
Common Storage Issues for Switch Apex Players (And How to Fix Them)
Even if you know the exact install size, you might run into common storage-related issues when downloading or updating Apex. Most of these have simple fixes that don’t require you to delete half your game library, and you can resolve them in 10 minutes or less if you know what to look for.
The most common issue is an install error that pops up even when you have enough listed free space. The Switch requires 1.5 times the download size as temporary storage during installation, so if you’re downloading a 24GB base game, you need 36GB of free space to complete the install. Once the install finishes, the temporary files delete automatically, and you’ll only use 24GB of total space. If you’re getting this error, clear a few extra GB of space and try the install again.
Another common issue is increased lag or stuttering after a seasonal update. If your Switch internal storage is 90% full or more, the system can’t write temporary gameplay files fast enough, which causes lag even if your internet connection is fine. Moving your Apex install to a microSD card will fix this immediately, even if your internal storage is almost full. If you’re still getting lag after moving the file, check for corrupted data in the game settings menu, and re-install any missing patch files.
At the end of the day, knowing how big is Apex Legends on Switch takes all the guesswork out of prepping for new seasons or first-time installs. The 24GB base size is manageable even for players who only use internal storage, and a cheap microSD card will give you more than enough room for years of seasonal updates. Don’t let storage worries stop you from jumping into the arena: a little planning ahead is all you need to play Apex smoothly on any Switch model.