How to Move Out a Villager in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can encourage a villager to move out using a few different methods. While you can't force them out directly, the most reliable ways involve using amiibo, campsite visitors, or time travel.

Here is a quick overview of your options, followed by the detailed steps for each.

 

 

Method 1: The Sure Thing - Using an Amiibo Card

This is the only method that gives you 100% control over which villager leaves your island. If you have an amiibo card for a character you'd like to move in, this is the way to go.

Step 1: Go to the ABLE terminal in Resident Services and select "Invite amiibo" .

Step 2: Scan the amiibo card of the villager you want. They will appear in the campsite.

Step 3: Talk to them. They will ask you to craft a DIY item for them. Fulfill their request. You must do this on three separate days .

Step 4: On the third day, after crafting their requested item, they will agree to move in. Since your island is full (with 10 villagers), they will contact Resident Services.

Step 5: A prompt will appear, letting you choose which current villager will move out to make room for the new one. Select the villager you want to leave . The chosen villager will immediately be "in boxes" and ready to move out the next day.

 

Method 2: The Gambler's Choice - Using a Random Campsite Visitor

Sometimes, a random animal will show up at your campsite. You can try to convince them to move in, but you won't have direct control over who they decide to replace. However, there's a trick to influence their choice.

Step 1: Talk to the camper repeatedly and play their games until they agree to move in. They will then suggest replacing a random villager .

Step 2: If they name a villager you want to keep, do not finish the conversation. Immediately press the Home Button on your Switch, then close the software completely by pressing X.

Step 3: Reload the game and start the process over. Talk to the camper again until they agree to move in. The villager they suggest replacing will be random each time.

Step 4: Repeat this resetting process until the camper finally names the specific villager you want to get rid of. Once they do, agree, and that villager will be replaced .

 

Method 3: The Patient Hunter - The Natural Move-Out (with Time Travel)

In the normal course of the game, every 15 days or so, a random villager will get a thought bubble and consider moving out . You can use time travel to speed up this process and hunt for that bubble on the villager you want to leave.

Step 1: Save and close your game. Go to your Nintendo Switch System Settings and then "Date and Time" .

Step 2: Time travel forward by 15 days. It's recommended to set the time to around 1 PM, when villagers are most likely to be outside .

Step 3: Load the game and search your island for a villager with a white thought bubble over their head.

Step 4:

• If you see the thought bubble on the villager you want to leave, talk to them. They might ask to move out. Encourage them to do so.
• If the wrong villager has the bubble, do not talk to them. Save the game and time travel forward another 15 days to try again .
• If no one has a bubble, or a villager wants to give you a gift, simply save the game and skip forward one more day until you find the move-out bubble .

 

What WON'T Work

You might have heard some myths about getting rid of villagers. Here’s the truth about what does not work:

• Hitting them with a net or pushing them: This actually counts as interaction and does not make them want to leave .
• Complaining to Isabelle: Talking to Isabelle about a resident only resets their catchphrase or clothing. It does not kick them out .
• Ignoring them completely: While some players believe this works, it is not a confirmed or reliable mechanic .

Important Note: The villager who most recently moved onto your island will never ask to leave . If you have a new villager you want to kick out, you'll need to use the Amiibo or Campsite methods to replace them.

 

I hope this helps you find the perfect lineup of villagers for your island! Which method are you thinking of trying first?