How to Favorite and Protect Pokémon in Pokémon GO

This guide shows you how to mark Pokémon as favorites and protect them from being transferred or traded in Pokémon GO. You’ll learn the steps for both the main list and the search function, plus how to use the Protect feature to keep your best Pokémon safe.

What You’ll Need

• Pokémon GO installed on your phone (iOS or Android)
• A Pokémon GO account with at least one Pokémon in your storage
• The latest version of the app (check your app store for updates)

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Pokémon list: Tap the Poké Ball icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap “Pokémon” to see your collection.
2. Select a Pokémon: Tap on the Pokémon you want to favorite. This opens its detail page.
3. Tap the star icon: In the top-right corner of the detail page, you’ll see a star icon. Tap it. The star will turn yellow, and a small yellow star will appear next to the Pokémon’s name in your list.
4. To unfavorite: Tap the yellow star again to remove the favorite mark. The star will turn white/gray.
5. Use the search bar to see favorites: In the Pokémon list, tap the search bar at the top and type favorite. This filters to show only your favorited Pokémon. You can also use favorite&shiny to see favorited shinies, etc.
6. Protect a Pokémon (optional but recommended): On the same detail page, scroll down to find the “Protect” button (a shield icon). Tap it to enable protection. This prevents the Pokémon from being transferred or traded by accident. You’ll see a shield icon next to its name.
7. To unprotect: Tap the shield icon again to disable protection.
8. Bulk favorite/protect (using search): In the Pokémon list, use the search bar to filter (e.g., cp1000-2000), then tap and hold on one Pokémon to enter multi-select mode. Tap the star icon at the bottom to favorite all selected, or tap the shield to protect them all.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing favorite with protect: Favoriting only marks the Pokémon; it does NOT prevent transfer. Protection is a separate toggle that actually blocks transfer/trade.
• Forgetting to protect after favoriting: Many players favorite a Pokémon thinking it’s safe, but then accidentally transfer it during a mass transfer. Always protect your most valuable Pokémon.
• Not using the search filter: Trying to find favorites by scrolling through hundreds of Pokémon is slow and error-prone. Use the favorite search term.
• Overlooking the multi-select: You can favorite/protect many Pokémon at once, saving time, but only if you remember to use the multi-select mode.

Tips

• Protect before mass transferring: Always protect Pokémon you want to keep before using the “Transfer Multiple” feature, as that can select non-favorited Pokémon.
• Use search strings: Combine filters like favorite&shiny or favorite&4* (for 100% IV) to quickly manage your best Pokémon.
• Favorite for sorting: You can sort your list by “Favorite” to bring your most important Pokémon to the top.
• Protect event Pokémon: If you catch a rare or event-limited Pokémon, protect it immediately to avoid accidental loss.
• Check your protect status: In the Pokémon list, look for the shield icon next to a Pokémon’s name to confirm it’s protected.

Troubleshooting

Star or shield doesn’t appear: Make sure you’re on the Pokémon’s detail page, not just the list. The icons are at the top right of the detail page.

Can’t tap the star: If the star is grayed out, the Pokémon might be in a gym or a raid. You can still favorite it, but the star might be temporarily unresponsive; try restarting the app.

Favorites not showing in search: Ensure you type favorite exactly (lowercase works). If you’re using a saved search, it might not include the favorite filter.

Protect doesn’t stop transfer: Protection only prevents manual transfer and trade. It does NOT prevent the Pokémon from being used in a special research task that requires transferring, nor does it stop it from being purified (if a Shadow Pokémon). For Shadow Pokémon, you must also avoid the “Purify” button.

Multi-select not working: On some devices, you need to tap and hold for a second longer. If it still doesn’t work, update the app or restart your phone.

After a game update, favorites lost: This is rare, but if it happens, check your internet connection and restart the app. If the issue persists, contact Niantic Support through the app’s settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does favoriting a Pokémon prevent it from being transferred?
A: No. Favoriting only marks it. To prevent transfer, you must also use the Protect feature.

Q: Can I favorite a Pokémon from the Pokémon list without opening it?
A: No, you need to open the detail page to tap the star. However, you can use multi-select to favorite multiple at once.

Q: What’s the difference between favorite and protect?
A: Favorite is a visual marker for sorting and filtering. Protect is a safety lock that blocks accidental transfer or trade.

Q: Can I protect a Pokémon that is in a gym?
A: Yes, you can protect it even while it’s defending a gym. The protection will still apply when it returns.

Q: How do I see all my protected Pokémon?
A: In the search bar, type protected (or protect in some versions) to filter only those with protection enabled.

Q: Is there a limit to how many Pokémon I can favorite or protect?
A: No, there’s no limit. You can mark as many as you like.

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