Maybe you've got an old account gathering dust, or perhaps you’ve ended up with multiple accounts through a lost login, a fresh start, or even one for each email address you own.
With this, the big question often comes up: Can you just merge these Pokémon GO account profiles into one ultimate Trainer profile?
It’s a good thought, consolidating all that hard-earned XP, Stardust, and your beloved Pokémon into a single, manageable go account. But before you get too lost in that fantasy, let's cut to the chase!
Can You Merge Pokémon GO Accounts?
Here's the official word, directly from the source: No, you can't exactly combine several accounts in Pokémon GO. Niantic's official stance is transparent on this, stating that every Pokémon GO account is an individual entity associated with a specific login method. The game design and technical infrastructure aren't designed to support that level of fusion.
Why Players End Up with Multiple Accounts Anyway
We get it, life happens. Perhaps you’ve lost access to the email linked to your original POGO account and had to start over. Or maybe friends or family initially shared a device and created separate profiles.
Regardless of why, ending up with more than one Pokémon GO account isn't unusual; the issue, of course, comes with keeping them managed when there isn't an official account merging system.
The Alternative Solution (Pokémon HOME)
So, if you can't merge the actual Pokémon GO accounts, what can you do?
The answer is probably Pokémon HOME. This cloud-based service acts as a central hub for your Pokémon collection, connecting different Pokémon games, including Pokémon GO.
While it won't merge your Trainer progress, Stardust, or items, it does allow you to consolidate Pokémon from multiple Pokémon GO accounts into one place.
Here’s the key: You can link several Pokémon GO accounts to a single Pokémon HOME account. This means you can transfer Pokémon from each of your GO accounts to that central Pokémon HOME account.
It's the closest thing you'll get to merging your actual Pokémon collections. You’ll just need to choose what Pokémon HOME account you'll use as your central repository.
Linking Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME
Linking your accounts is simple. You will need to be signed in to a Nintendo Account to access Pokémon HOME, from there, make sure to use the Nintendo Account you wish your transferred Pokémon to be linked to. Here’s the walkthrough:
Open the app, tap the Poké Ball icon an,d then go to 'Settings'.
Scroll down to 'Connected Devices and Services'.
Select Pokémon HOME: Tap on Pokémon HOME.
Sign In
Confirm the link, and voilà! Your Pokémon GO account is now connected to your chosen Pokémon HOME account.
You can repeat this process to link other Pokémon GO accounts to that same single Pokémon HOME account.
Transferring Your Pokémon
Once linked, you can start the transfer process, which uses the GO Transporter feature within Pokémon GO.
In Pokémon GO Settings, go back to the Pokémon HOME section. Tap 'Send Pokémon'.
You'll notice a 'GO Transporter Energy' bar. Every Pokémon transfer consumes some of this energy. Basic Pokémon cost little, while Shiny, Mythical, and Legendary Pokémon cost significantly more. The energy recharges over time (slowly), or you can refill it instantly using PokéCoins.
Select the Pokémon you want to transfer; however, be mindful of the energy cost displayed.
Double-check your selection and hit 'Transport'. The chosen Pokémon will be sent from your Pokémon GO account to the linked Pokémon HOME account.
Open the Pokémon HOME app, and you'll get a notification that Pokémon have arrived from Pokémon GO.
Follow the prompts to receive them into your HOME Boxes.
Remember: This is a one-way trip! Pokémon transferred from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME cannot be sent back to Pokémon GO.
What About Trading Between Your Accounts?
Another way to move specific Pokémon between your multiple accounts (if you have them running on separate devices, for instance) is trading directly within Pokémon GO. This requires:
Friendship: The two accounts need to be Friends in the game.
Proximity: You must be physically close to each other (typically within 100 meters).
Stardust: Trading costs Stardust, sometimes a large amount, especially for Shiny, Legendary, or new Pokédex entries.
Special Trade Limit: You can only perform one "Special Trade" (Legendary, Shiny, or Pokémon not in the recipient's Pokédex) per day.
While trading lets you move specific high-value Pokémon, it's far from a bulk transfer or an account merge. It's resource-intensive and requires managing two devices simultaneously.
Some players search for tricks or ways to circumvent this, sometimes using tools advertised on third-party platforms like TikTok. However, using third-party apps or methods to bypass game mechanics is prohibited and can result in account suspension.
The Final Word on Merging Pokémon GO Accounts
So, the dream of an actual Pokémon GO account merge remains just that… A dream.
The developers simply do not offer this function, and attempting workarounds outside the official channels is risky.
However, don't worry, Pokémon HOME provides a sturdy and officially supported method for consolidating your Pokémon collections from multiple accounts into a single, central area.
