Want to know how to charge the Joy-Con controllers for the Nintendo Switch? Having trouble charging them? This tutorial will show you how to charge the controllers and offer a couple of troubleshooting tips for if they won’t charge properly.
The Nintendo Switch is awesome. It’s small, quite powerful and flexible. You can use it as a handheld or at a traditional console and the detachable controllers are very effective. The design is inspired and with the sheer number of great quality games out there, the Switch is a must-have for any serious gamer.
Charge the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers
Charging the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers is refreshingly simple. There are a couple of things to check to make sure it is charging but is otherwise a it’s very straightforward process.
You charge Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers by attaching them to the Switch. The screen will charge the batteries in the Joy-Cons and everything should work nicely. You do have to make sure the Switch is in Sleep Mode and optionally plugged into the mains to charge though. Don’t power off the Switch otherwise it won’t charge.
If you have a Pro Controller, you can use the USB cable to charge. You can also USB charge the Charging Grip if you have one of those.
There is also a Joy-Con Charging Dock if you have more than one set of chargers. This is also a useful if you have issues charging by attaching the controllers directly to the Switch.
Troubleshooting Joy-Con charging
There are some known issues with Joy-Con charging. Some users have complained that attaching the Joy-Cons to the Switch results in either no charging or only one side charging. This is usually a hardware issue but it can be other things too. If you’re having trouble charging your controllers, try the following before contacting Nintendo.
Check the connection. There should be a small click when you attach the Joy-Con to the Switch. Depending on how much you use yours, it could be audible or felt, or both. Make sure both controllers are firmly attached before leaving them to charge.
Make sure to use Sleep Mode and not power off the Switch to charge. Powering off the Switch will stop the controllers charging so make sure the Switch is in Sleep Mode. You should get around half charge before charging stops.
Check charge as you go. Dock your Switch and open the Home page. Attach the left controller, navigate to Controllers on your right controller and verify that the Joy-Con is charging. If it is, put the Switch into Sleep Mode. I do this by attaching the left controller fully, navigating the menus with the right controller and then attaching the right one after sending the Switch to sleep.
If none of those methods work, you may have to make a warranty call on your Switch. The system was designed to be as simple and hassle free as possible. If your Joy-Cons are connecting properly to the Switch and you’re leaving it in Sleep Mode and not powering off, it should work. If it doesn’t, it could be a hardware fault.
The Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is half handheld and half console. It is also all fun. I have never really been a Nintendo fanboy but having played around with a friend’s system prompted me to buy one of my own. With the release of Fortnite for the Switch alongside a stable of other top games, the little console is more popular than ever.
The Nintendo Wii was always something of a niche product. Wii Sports was awesome but some of the other games didn’t seem to get the controllers. Fortunately that changes with the Switch. The more traditional setup with a flexible twist adds a lot of freedom for gamers and easier development for programmers.
Add to that, some excellent design, the ability to use it as a handheld, console or tabletop system and you have something we can use how we see fit without having to compromise. The Joy-Cons do take a little getting used to and aren’t exactly friendly for larger hands but once you get to grips with them they quickly become intuitive. I had particular trouble with the little control sticks but can now use them without issue.
The Switch uses an Nvidia Tegra X1 chip for graphics which is pretty good. It is capable and delivers graphics that seem better than the Wii even if they aren’t up to Xbox standards. Zelda: Breath of the Wild runs at 720p and FPS is more than acceptable considering this is a handheld.
While not exactly cheap, the Nintendo Switch is an excellent console. The number of games is impressive, online and multiplayer is simple to set up and battery life isn’t bad either.
Do you have a Nintendo Switch? Love it? Hate it? Tell us about it below!
