Pokemon Go finally lets you trade with friends remotely but there’s a catch

Pokemon Go now lets players trade their mons remotely, though there are a few limitations. Here’s how it works.

Playing Pokemon has always been about catching ’em all, but let’s be real, it’s not always that simple. Some mons are locked behind regional spawns, so unless you’re literally on the other side of the world, your Pokedex just stays sad and unfinished.

Players have been begging for remote trading for ages, and it’s finally happening. Niantic just announced the feature, which started rolling out on December 8, 2025. 

New Zealand is the first region to be able to try this out, with the rest of the world following at a later date.

Pokemon Go remote trading explained

Remote trading works exactly like how you’d imagine. You can basically trade a Pokemon with a friend without being physically close to them. But there are some limitations to keep in mind.

To use it, you and your friend need to hit the new “Forever Friends” level, which is basically a step above Best Friends. Once you’re there, remote trades unlock between the two of you.

Here’s the catch. You can only hold one Remote Trade at a time with each Forever Friend. However, you can earn additional Remote Trades by continuing to interact and build up friendship points. You just won’t receive another one until you’ve used the first. 

As for using the feature, it’s pretty straightforward. First, you and your friend start by making a “wishlist” of up to three Pokemon you’d like to receive. Then, both of you select one a mon from each other’s wishlist to trade.

Afterward, you’ll both get a chance to review the final picks and either confirm the trade or cancel if something doesn’t feel right. And if needed, either of you can back out and start the trade over at any point.

Not every mon can be traded, though. According to Niantic, these types of mons cannot be included in remote trading:

• Pokemon caught in the last 30 days
• Previously traded Pokemon
• Shadow Pokemon
• Mythical Pokemon
• Pokemon defending Gyms or Power Spots
• Pokemon currently set as your buddy
• Actively Mega-Evolved Pokemon
• Fused Pokemon
• Crowned Sword Zacian and Crowned Shield Zamazenta
• Pokemon placed at Pokemon Playgrounds

It’s unknown whether or not these limitations will be tweaked in the future, but those are all that Niantic listed. On the flip side, they’re also increasing the max number of friends from 450 to 650 over the next several weeks.