Magnetic property modulation of Ni thin films transferred onto flexible substrates

•We report a robust and facile method to transfer Ni thin films onto flexible substrates.•Ni films were grown on water-soluble NaCl and successfully transferred onto PET substrates.•Strong magnetic anisotropy was observed for the films grown at high temperatures on NaCl substrates.•The magnetic anisotropy of the transferred films was modulated under bending.