Where Does Pokémon TCG Pocket Store Your Cards and Data?
Your card collection and Poké gold live on Pokémon servers once an account is linked. Local files only cache art and login data.
Last updated
Pokémon TCG Pocket pulls in two directions at once. The card collection, shop state and Poké gold are server data, tied to the Nintendo Account, Google Account or Apple Account you link in the settings menu. The phone keeps the rest: downloaded card art, battle animations, sound files and the login session. That split explains why a reinstall feels instant and painless, right up until you realize nothing was ever linked.
Linking is the single most important chore in the app. Young players can only use a Nintendo Account, and Apple sign-in exists on iOS only. The good news is that a correctly linked save carries Poké gold across operating systems, so moving from Android to iPhone does not strand your currency. The game also supports one save on several devices, though not at the same time.
Where Pokémon TCG Pocket stores this, by platform
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/jp.pokemon.pokemontcgp
Downloaded card art, animations and sign-in state. Hidden from file managers on Android 11 and later. Clearing it logs you out, and the collection reloads from the servers at the next sign-in.
/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/<guid>/Documents
One container per install with a GUID that changes after every reinstall. Out of reach without a jailbreak. Signing in is what restores the collection, not the folder.
Frequently asked questions
How do I transfer Pokémon TCG Pocket to a new phone?
Link an account first, then install the game on the new device. During first launch pick Transfer Existing Save Data and sign in with the linked account. Cards, Poké gold and progress all return, even across different operating systems.
What happens if I never linked an account and uninstall the game?
Unlinked save data lives only on the device and is gone once the app is removed. It cannot be recovered from the phone or from support. Link a Nintendo, Google or Apple account the moment you notice the game still says nothing is linked.
Can my sibling and I use the same Google account for two different saves?
No. One platform account carries one save. The game is built around a single linked account per save, so two collections need two different logins, ideally Nintendo Accounts, which are the most flexible option across age limits and platforms.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.