Learn how to kick out villagers (make villagers leave or move out) in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH), for the Nintendo Switch. Read on to see the best methods to get rid of villagers when you are not fond of them, or if you simply want a new neighbor.
List of Contents
This method requires you to time-travel. If you do not wish to do so, then read the other methods below instead.
| 1 | Choose which villager you want to move out. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Skip the time 15 days ahead. (Skipping more days will give the same result) |
| 3 | Check if there's a villager with a thought bubble above their head. |
| 4 | If there isn't any villagers with thought bubbles, repeat from step 2. |
| 5 | Check if the villager with the thought bubble is the one you want to move. |
| 6 | If not, set back the time to 4:59 AM then save the game. |
| 7 | Watch the daily broadcast at 5 AM then skip the time to 1 PM*. |
| 8 | Check which villager has the thought bubble again. |
| 9 | If it's the right one, talk to them and encourage them to leave. If not, repeat from step 6. |
| 10 | They will be in boxes the next day, and will leave the island the day after that. |
* You don't necessarily need to skip to 1 PM, but we recommend it as it's the time most villagers are outside.
Note that this method may take anywhere from minutes to hours, as the villager who gets the thought bubble will be chosen at random.
The point of step 6 is to reset the game and get to the broadcast as fast as possible, but if you're not sure you can reset it within a minute, you can set it to 4:58 or 4:57 to make sure you make it in time.
The above guide is based on a video graciously shared by Mogahiko's Game Facts Channel (YouTube), with permission directly granted by the content creator.
It's fully in Japanese, but if you would like to see the original video guide, click the link here!
This method takes longer than the method above, as you do not need to time-travel.
| 1 | Choose which villager you want to move out. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Check if any villagers have the thought bubble, and if yes, check if it's the right villager. |
| 3 | If not, check all your villagers again the next day |
| 4 | Once you get the right villager to think about moving out, don't stop them and encourage them to move. |
| 5 | The villager will be in boxes the next day, and will leave the island the day after that. |
It has been confirmed that the thought bubble state lasts 3 to 5 days.
Sometimes, you can find random villagers wandering around outside seemingly deep in thought, with a thought bubble above their head. This is a sign that they are thinking about moving.
If you ignore it and continue to check the following days, there's a chance the thought bubble will transfer to another random villager. If you want to kick out a specific villager, wait until they have the thought bubble. Anyone can think about moving out, regardless of your friendship level.
If the villager you want to leave appears with a thought bubble, talk to them to check if they want to move out. If they do, choose the option that doesn't stop them and encourages them to move out!
| Advice | When aiming for a villager to move out, ignore all thought bubbles from other villagers. If you accidentally talk to a different villager and they talk about moving out, the move out thought bubble will disappear and you'll have to wait for it to come back. |
|---|
Note: The thought bubble can mean that a villager wants to move out, but it can also be other things, like wanting to give you a gift.
The next day Isabelle will mention that the villager will move out in her broadcast. The villager will have boxes inside their home, and this is the last chance to speak with the villager.
At this time, other players can invite that villager to their island, given that they have a vacant plot on their island.
The day after that, the villager will have moved out, and the house plot will be on sale.
The following methods are used to swap with a villager if you already have a maximum of 10 villagers.
Take note that these methods will only replace a villager, and will not let you have a vacant house plot.
This method doesn't require time-travelling, but you can do so to save them. However, you might need to reset the game a few times needed.
| 1 | Wait until you get a visitor at the Campsite. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Talk to them until they want to move in. |
| 3 | If they choose the wrong villager to kick out, reset the game and try again. |
| 4 | If they choose the right villager, agree with them. |
This method requires you to use an amiibo. Unlike with the method above, you can choose the villager to kick out.
You can skip dates if you want, but it is not required.
| 1 | Call the amiibo to the Campsite via Nook Stop. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Give the villager the DIY item they are asking for. |
| 3 | Repeat steps for 3 days. On the last day, ask them to move. |
| 4 | Select the villager to swap with. The villager selected will be in boxes the next day. |
Thought bubbles only occur to villagers if they are outside. It does not happen when they are inside their homes.
We recommend looking for villagers around the time when they are all outside, which is around noon.
Unlike in previous Animal Crossing games, villagers will not move out on their own. They will always consult with a player, giving you the choice to have the final decision if they will move out or not.
Even if your favorite villager wants to move out, just tell them not to go when they ask you!
You can easily find a villager with a thought bubble above their head when you time travel.
Our walkthrough team confirmed through time travel that thought bubbles will appear again after two weeks. The explanation is listed below.
| Time Travel Method | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Change the date 2 weeks forward, and look for a thinking villager. |
| 2 | Change the date one day at a time until the thinking villager is the one you want. |
| 3 | Talk to the villager and say goodbye. |
| 4 | If thinking villagers stops appearing for 2~3 days, repeat from step 1. |
| Additional Information | |
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Note: We tested when we had 10 villagers.
You can use Time Travel to make the move out condition appear more easily. It's also possible to keep changing the dates to make a different villager have the condition instead, so you can keep changing the dates until the villager you want to move out has it.
The condition moves on randomly, however, so you might have to try several times before you get the villager you want.
In previous games, you could evict residents by annoying and bullying them. This included pushing them into pitfalls, whacking them with a net; anything to decrease your friendship with them until they decide to move out. This is not confirmed in New Horizons, and doing these things only anger them for a moment.
However, it's very likely that their friendship does decrease. It just doesn't have any effect on them thinking about moving out!
It seems that discussing a resident with Isabelle only resets the character, removing custom design clothes if they're wearing any, and removing user-inputted nicknames and catchphrases (greetings). This does not make them move out.
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