Running out of juice on your Nintendo Switch controller is a surefire way to ruin any gaming session. There’s nothing worse than seeing that flashing indicator on screen, warning you that your battery is low and your ability to play your favorite Switch games is about to grind to a halt. Thankfully, Nintendo makes it easy for gamers to keep their Joy-Cons charged and ready to go. Along with several techniques that are ready to use right out of the box, there are also dedicated Switch accessories that you can use to power up your controller.
And — if you happen to be using the Switch Pro Controller — you have even more ways to keep the battery full. Here are all the ways to charge your Joy-Cons or Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch, including the best Nintendo Switch chargers money can buy.
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How to charge Joy-Cons
Using the Joy-Con grip as the mainstay of your Nintendo Switch controller will drain battery life in no time. Luckily, there are a few ways you can charge it up. The easiest way to charge the Joy-Con controllers requires no additional cables, accessories or storage space.
Step 1: With the switch on, attach the Joy-Con controllers to either side of the console until they click into place. You should see a notification on the screen indicating they are connected.
Step 2: Make sure the switch’s dock or power adapter is plugged into a power outlet. Either plug the adapter into the USB-C port on the bottom of the switch, or place the switch in the dock.
Step 3: Put your Nintendo Switch into “Sleep” mode by pressing the power button on the top. The Joy-Con controllers will not charge when the Switch is completely powered off
Step 4: Wait! Nintendo estimates that it will take around three and a half hours to fully charge the Joy-Con controllers. To see how much charge they have, just click the Joy-Con icon on the Switch’s main menu and you’ll see their current charge level.
Use a charging station
If you prefer to use a charging dock, the process is simple and you don’t have to keep your Switch powered on.
Step 1: For the Joy-Con charging dock, connect the included cable to the USB port on the Switch’s dock.
Step 2: Place up to four Joy-Con controllers in the dock and make sure the lights on top are glowing red. When they turn green, the controllers are fully charged.
How to charge Joy-Cons while gaming
Want to keep gaming on your Nintendo Switch while your Joy-Cons charge? There are also a few ways to do this.
Step 1: Take a Nintendo Switch power adapter, plug it into a wall so the cable still reaches where you’ll be playing, and plug the USB-C end into the port on the bottom of the console.
Step 2: Plug in the Joy-Con controllers and start playing! As long as the Switch is charging, the Joy-Con controllers will also be charging.
How to load with the charging handle
If you want to play on the TV while charging the Joy-Con controllers, you need the Joy-Con charging handle. It’s the same shape as the standard Joy-Con grip, but connects to your Switch dock to further charge controllers during use.
Step 1: Use the included cable to connect the charging handle to the Switch’s dock, then open the small slider at the top of the charging handle and insert your Joy-Con controllers before closing the slider.
Step 2: Game! Your controllers will now charge while using your Switch.
How to charge with a charging case
The S-Charge is a Nintendo Switch charging case that includes its own backup battery, similar to that found in USB portable chargers, and can be used to charge the Switch and attached Joy-Con controllers on the go.
Step 1: When the S-Charge is self-charging (it can be plugged into the Switch dock like a Pro Controller), press the power button on the left.
Step 2: Lift the flap at the top and attach the Switch with Joy-Con controllers, then close the flap.
Step 3: Your controllers should now be charging! From the Switch home menu, tap Joy-Con icon to go to the controller page and it should show that it is connected to a power source.
Step 4: The S-Charge has a battery with more than twice the capacity of the Switch itself, so you can charge your Joy-Con controllers this way for hours without worrying about the case battery draining.
Step 5: When you’re not using the S-Charge, make sure to turn it off by pressing and holding the power button for a few seconds. If you don’t, it could be dead next time you need it.
How to charge a Pro Controller
If you’re playing your Nintendo Switch docked and using the TV, consider investing in a Pro Controller as the battery life is good, but you’ll still need to charge it after around 40 hours of play.
The easiest way to charge a Pro Controller is to connect it to the USB port on the front of the Switch dock using the included cable.
Step 1: Once plugged in, an orange light will illuminate at the top of the Pro Controller. It should take about six hours to fully charge. When the battery is full, the light goes out.
Step 2: You can continue to use the controller while charging, although the cable is too short to do so in some setups.
Step 3: The Nintendo Switch does not need to be docked for the Pro Controller to charge. You’re free to remove it and play in handheld mode while waiting for the controller to recharge.
How to charge with a charging station
If you want to charge the Pro Controller without using the Switch dock, you can also use the Nyko Charge Block Pro for Nintendo Switch, which features a low-profile design that fits anywhere and uses a patented dongle system that plugs into a USB -Type-C is connected to port on your controller.
Step 1: Take the included charging dongle and plug it into the port on top of your Pro Controller.
Step 2: Then take the USB cable (included) and connect it to the power adapter (also included) before plugging the power adapter into a power outlet.
Step 3: At this point, place your controller on the Charge Block Pro. The light on the front of the dongle should turn orange; This is your indicator that the charger is doing its job. When your controller is ready and charging is complete, the light will turn off.
The method of charging a Nintendo Switch controller largely depends on the make and model of device a gamer is using. The proprietary Joy-Con controller, for example, charges differently than other devices.
Switch controllers load at different speeds. The time it takes to recharge depends on the equipment used – some items simply recharge faster than others. Other factors can play a role in your controller’s charge rate. Because of this, it’s best to test different cables, switch modes, and more to find out which setup works best for you and your preferences.
Luckily, finding Switch accessories is pretty easy. If you’re hoping to get back to your game quickly, you can always buy a backup controller to use while the other one charges.
Recent updates
January 30, 2023: Verified accuracy of instructions; no change in information.
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