Restarting Pokemon Sun helps resolve many game-breaking bugs and performance issues that appear after long play sessions. This process preserves your core progress while clearing corrupted data and stabilizing system behavior.
Below you will find a structured overview of common scenarios, detailed steps, and real player questions to guide you through a safe and effective restart.
| Action | When to Use | Risk Level | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Reset | Bad wild encounter, shiny lock, or move tutor limitation | Low | Reloads last battle or event without deleting save |
| Corrupted file or repeated crashes | High | Wipes current save and restores factory state | |
| Verify Save Integrity | Unable to launch or sudden freeze at island challenge | None | Confirms if save data is readable and consistent |
| Transfer to Ultra Moon | Completing main story and wanting continuation | Medium | Promotes eligible Pokémon to new region safely |
Understanding Soft Reset Mechanics
How a Controlled Restart Preserves Your Bag
A soft reset reloads the most recent autosave without formatting storage, making it ideal for minor annoyances. It keeps badges, party members, and key items intact while undoing recent actions.
To perform one, hold L, R, Start, and Select on the 3DS menu and choose Restart. Use this method to reset single encounters rather than entire storylines.
When to Reset Game Progress
Identifying Irreversible Save Corruption
If the game fails to load, freezes at the title screen, or shows missing island challenge files, a full reset may be necessary. Back up any transferable Pokémon beforehand.
Access system settings on your 3DS, find Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo 2DS / New Nintendo 3DS, then manage data for Pokemon Sun and Delete. Confirm only after verifying backups.
Optimizing Performance After a Restart
Rebuilding World Stability and Frame Rate
Restarting the system and launcher clears memory leaks that accumulate over multiple hours, especially when exploring Poni Island. Close other apps before launching to ensure maximum resources.
Adjust graphic settings to standard mode if stutters persist, and update system firmware to benefit from patched background processes affecting the game.
Transferring to Ultra Moon
Continuing Your Alola Journey Safely
Once you complete the main story, use the Festival Plaza Global Link to transfer eligible Pokémon to Ultra Moon. This move unlocks new trials and regional forms while preserving your core collection.
Check compatibility lists, ensure both games have the same event flags cleared, and avoid restoring an old backup after transferring to prevent desync.
Best Practices for Long-Term Stability
- Create a manual backup before major island challenges.
- Perform a system restart every few hours to clear memory.
- Verify save integrity after unexpected crashes.
- Keep system firmware updated for compatibility patches.
- Use soft reset first for minor issues instead of full deletion.
FAQ
Reader questions
Will restarting delete my legendary Pokémon?
No, a soft restart keeps legendaries untouched. Only a full factory reset removes your save file permanently.
Can I undo a reset if I act quickly?
There is no in-game rollback feature. Reverting relies on external backups or cloud saves from a 3DS system with Automatic Data Backup enabled.
Does restarting affect my Festival Plaza reputation?
Soft reset does not reset island rank, but a full format will, forcing you to rebuild relationships from scratch.
Is it safe to restart during the electric trial?
Yes, restarting at any point is safe for the save, though progress toward that trial objective will be lost if it was mid-cutscene.