How to Charge the Nintendo Switch

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to charge a Nintendo Switch. There are two ways to charge the Nintendo Switch. You can charge the Nintendo Switch using a USB-C charging cable, or you can use the dock for the Nintendo Switch. The dock allows you to charge the Nintendo Switch as well as play on your TV.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Dock

Plug a USB charger into a wall outlet. It is recommended you use an official Nintendo Switch charger, such as the one that came with the system.
The dock is the rectangle shaped device that comes with the Nintendo Switch. It has a slot on the top where the Nintendo Switch sits. The back panel is the side with the oval-shaped Nintendo logo. Grab the top of the back panel and pull to open it.

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With the back panel of the dock open, connect the USB charger to the port labeled "AC Adapter". The ports are on the side of the raised surface inside the back panel. Run the cable through the small slot on the side of the dock.
While it's not necessary to have an HDMI cable connected to charge the device, you do need to have an HDMI cable connect to enjoy the Nintendo Switch on your TV. With the back panel of the dock open, connect an HDMI cable to the port labeled "HDMI Out". Run the cable through small slot on the side of the dock. Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to a free port on your HDTV.
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Close the back panel and place the dock on a solid surface. With all the cables connected to the dock, close the back panel and place the dock on a solid surface with the large slot facing up. The side with the Nintendo Switch logo is the front of the dock.
- If you place the Nintendo Switch on a shelf, make sure there is enough room overhead to slide the device in and out of the dock.
Slide the Nintendo Switch into the slot on top of the dock centered with the screen facing the same direction as the logo on the front of the dock. A green light in the lower-right corner of the Nintendo Switch lights up when the Nintendo Switch is properly placed in the dock.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a USB Cable

It's recommended you use an official Nintendo Switch charger, but if you don't have one on hand, you can use a standard USB charger.
The official Nintendo Switch charger comes with the cable permanently attached to the charger. If you are using an unofficial charger, connect a USB-C cable to the charger. USB-C cables have an oval-shaped connector that is a little more thicker than a standard micro-USB connector. ^{[1]
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Connect the USB connector to the Nintendo Switch. The charging port is the oval-shaped port on the bottom the Nintendo Switch in the center. Connect the USB connector to the port to begin charging.
- If you are using an unofficial charger, be sure to disconnect the charger as soon as Nintendo Switch is fully charged.
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Question

Is the green light on the Switch console dock supposed to stay on while charging?

Community Answer

The green light indicates that the dock is sending video to its screen, i.e., your switch is "on", not in sleep mode. Put the console to sleep and the light will go out for the remainder of its charge cycle.

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Can I charge my Nintendo without the handsets?

Community Answer

Yes, but then the controllers would not charge with the console. If you wanted to play, you wouldn't have controllers to play with.

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How do I know if my Nintendo Switch is fully charged?

Community Answer

The switch's home screen appears the moment you take it out of the dock and shows the remaining charge in the top right corner. It will read 100% at full charge. Unfortunately, there is no tone or other indication that charging is complete.

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How to Charge the Nintendo Switch

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Using the Dock

Using a USB Cable

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