Transferred data is permanently deleted from the Wii console. Once you have transferred data to the Wii U console, it cannot be transferred back to a Wii console.
Software and save data that may already exist on an SD card from the source Wii console cannot be transferred directly. If you have data on the SD card, perform the following:
For save data, transfer it from the SD card to the source Wii console before performing the transfer.
For software, either transfer it back to the source Wii console before performing the transfer or redownload it after the transfer using the Wii Shop Channel on the target Wii U console's Wii Menu.
The Wii U Transfer Tool is a channel that provides ability to copy your Wii content (including save data, purchased content from Wii Shop and all WiiWare and Virtual Console downloaded titles) to a Wii U system through the use of a SD card.
Note
Data cannot be transferred from your Wii U console to a Wii console.
You may find our information on what can and cannot be transferred helpful.
The following video will give you a helpful overview of the system transfer process:
What you need
Your Wii and Wii U console (at least one Wii Remote or Wii Remote Plus is required to control the two consoles)
A SD or SDHC card with at least 512 MB of free space
A broadband Internet connection (both systems must be connected to the Internet)
A television
The country settings on both consoles must match
You must have a working Nintendo Network ID on the target Wii U
Complete these steps
Setup
Connect the Wii to a television.
Connect the Wii U to a television.
If you only have a single television, you will need to connect both systems to it.
If your television has both HDMI and Audio/Video inputs, then connect both systems to the television and switch inputs when appropriate. If your television only has Audio/Video inputs, then you will need to switch the AV Multi Out Plug on your Wii AV Cable or Wii Component Cable between consoles when appropriate.
Connect the Wii to a broadband Internet connection.
Ensure that your Wii has the most recent system update.
Connect the Wii U to a broadband Internet connection.
Ensure that your Wii U has the most recent system update.
Enter the Wii Shop Channel and download the Wii U Transfer Tool on the Wii console.
You can download the tool to the system memory or an SD card; however, if you download it to the SD card you will need to launch it from the SD card menu.
Download the Wii System Transfer tool on the Wii U console by clicking the transfer tool icon on the Wii Menu and following the on-screen instructions.
Although there is an icon on the Wii Menu for the Wii System Transfer tool, it is not the actual tool. Clicking it will redirect you to download the actual tool from the Wii Shop Channel. Once the download is complete, the actual tool will appear as a new channel on the Wii Menu.
You can download the tool to the system memory or an SD card; however, if you download it to the SD card, you will need to launch it from the SD card menu.
Begin with the Wii U
Insert the SD card into the Wii U console.
On the Wii U console, start the Wii Menu application and select the Wii System Transfer tool that you previously downloaded.
You will need to sync a Wii Remote to the Wii U console in order to proceed.
If the Wii System Transfer tool is not available in the Wii Menu application, perform the latest System Update.
Follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to read carefully through each before you proceed.
Remove the SD card from the Wii U console and insert the same SD card into the Wii console.
Continue on the Wii
With the SD card inserted in the Wii console, launch the transfer application to begin retrieving data.
You will need to sync a Wii Remote to the Wii console in order to proceed.
Follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to read carefully through each before you proceed.
When the data transfer is complete, remove the SD card from the Wii console and insert it into the Wii U console.
Finish on the Wii U
Confirm the message and select Transfer.
Follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to read carefully through each before you proceed.
The data is saved on to the Wii U console and deleted from the SD card.