If you notice that your Switch Joycon is not charging, there is no need to panic. It could be a minor issue that will only require some patience. When fully drained, the Switch Joycon will require some time to turn on. Just wait a few minutes and see if comes on. If it doesn’t then you can go ahead to try the fixes in this piece. In the meantime, you want to avoid fully draining the battery as this will make it more difficult for the device to charge.
There are several ways to troubleshoot the Switch Joycon not charging, which have all been listed in this article. Some fixes only require some patience while others would cost you some bucks.
Switch Joycon Not Charging: Common Causes
Poor connection between the switch Joycon and the Console
For the Switch Joycon to charge, it has to be properly connected to the console. You might want to check if the Joycon feels loose when connected to the sides of the Nintendo Switch. The metallic contacts of the sides of the console and the controller must meet properly for the controller to charge. All you need to do is move the controller in another direction while attached to the console. This should get the controller charging again.
Water Damage
Unfortunately, the Switch Joycon is not water-resistant so dropping it into a bowl of water or having it come in contact with liquid or moisture could lead to problems. If your Joycon gets wet, switch them off immediately and ensure the system shuts down fully. You need to air dry them for a few minutes to prevent any serious hardware malfunction. If you’re lucky and the water didn’t seep inside, the device should work just as well without requiring any repairs.
Software Issues
While most Switch Joycon issues are related to the hardware, a firmware glitch could also cause the charging problem. This could be due to corrupted or outdated firmware. The solution is to update the firmware version of the Switch Joycon to see if it helps.
Faulty Charger or Cable
The most noticeable and most common cause of the “Switch Joycon not charging” problem is a faulty AC adapter or cable. You should test a new adapter or cable to see if it gets the controller charging again.
Switch Joycon Not Charging: How to Fix
To solve most of the Nintendo Switch Joycon not charging problems will require just a bit of time and replacing some parts.
Update the Nintendo Switch Software
To confirm that your Nintendo Switch problems are not due to a software glitch, simply update the firmware. To do this, go to System Settings>System>System Update. Once updated, go back and check if the Switch Joycon is able to charge. If it works, then you should always keep your system updated with the latest software. If not, then you can move to other fixes.
You can also update the controller firmware rather than just the Nintendo firmware.
To update the Nintendo Switch controller firmware:
- The Nintendo Switch console should be paired with the Joy-con controllers
- The console must be connected to the internet
- The Nintendo console system should have the option to update the Joy-con controller.
To update the controllers:
- Open the Nintendo Home menu
- Select system settings which can be found at the bottom of the screen
- In the left sidebar, select Controllers and Sensors
- On the right panel of the screen, scroll down and select Update Controllers. The Switch will scan both the right and left Joy-con to make the software update.
- Within a few minutes, the controllers should be updated then the message “Update complete” will appear on the screen.
Check the charger and cables
To ensure that the charging cable is working, disconnect it from the charging dock or Joycon charging grip. If you’re using an AC adapter, unplug it from the power outlet and from the dock for a few seconds before plugging it back in. If none of these work, then check for damages on the cable, AC adapter, and every part of the hardware.
If you’ve dropped your console or controllers at any time, it is possible that there’s some internal damage that has prevented them from charging. You might have to purchase new chargers and charging cables to get the system charging again.
If you think that the chargers might be faulty. Simply get a different charger to confirm your suspicions. You can try changing the AC adapter, cable or go for another console.. You could also switch your Joy-con charging grip. This should help you isolate the problem. It could be that one or more of the charging systems is defective and needs to be changed.
Resync the controller
If none of these fixes work, then you might want to try re-syncing the controller. This is a simple solution that works in some cases. It simply means resetting each of the affecting controllers. To do this, press the SYNC button once on the controller. This will disconnect the controller from the console. If there is any network issue, software glitch, or bug preventing the controller from charging, this should clear it out. Once disconnected, you can go ahead to pair the controllers. To do this
- Go to your Nintendo Switch Home screen
- Select Controllers
- Select Change Grip and Order
- Press and hold the SYNC button on the controller to sync it once again
Get Professional Help
If everything fails, then you might want to look for help from professionals. This simply means giving a call to the Nintendo technical support team. If you can’t get anything helpful to solve the problem, then going to a local repair shop might get the problem fixed.
Final Thoughts
It could be that your Switch Joycon is damaged and the hardware would have to be replaced. Problems like these usually occur after a fall. You might want to get a professional repairer to look at it and check for damages. While there is that, buying new controllers might be a better option than spending on repairs.
Hi all,
Picked up a Switch and Christmas, bought a second set of Joy Cons separately.
Console has been fine until this week.
None of the 4 Joy Cons seems to be getting a charge.
Both the switch and controllers have had their software updated
I have tried charging with the Switch docked overnight, and with just the Nintendo AC power cord connected directly overnight.
When I check the controller screen, a charging thunderbolt appears over each controller, however after several hours disconnecting the controllers from the switch shows the battery icon as a white box on each of the 4 controllers I've tried this with.
I've re-synched controllers as well to no avail.
Any ideas?
Nintendo is an amazing console. You cannot compare it with the PlayStation or the Xbox consoles because, hey, you cannot take them out anytime you want.
For consoles like the Nintendo switch having a good battery is an absolute must because you have to take the console out and play for some time while you are out. So if the battery is not good enough, it might ruin the whole on-the-go purpose of gaming.
The same goes for the joy-con controllers. Ain’t no fun if there is no charge in it.
Does Nintendo Switch controller need batteries?
It takes two AA alkaline or NiMH batteries to power the Joy-Con AA battery packs. The AA batteries you choose will have an impact on how much power the Joy-Con battery receives. The AA battery pack can completely charge the Joy-Con controller once.
Many people are having issues with their joy-con controllers. Because of the charging issue, people cannot enjoy the whole portability of the Nintendo switch.
As I have been using Nintendo Switch for a long time, I would love to help my fellow Mario lover.
So keep reading till the end to get your desired fix.
Also, check out our separate post on can a Nintendo Switch be Blacklisted.
How long does the Switch controller battery last?
The switch joy-con controller battery lasts around 20 hours, but you will run out of battery when it comes to handheld mode. The switch console can only stay around 5hrs max with medium brightness.
I know it is pretty less, but at the end of the day, when it comes to a machine that you can play on the run, the Nintendo Switch is the best.
All of our consoles had to be connected to wall outlets once upon a time. Thankfully, mobile gaming is becoming mainstream. Having a dedicated gaming system like the Nintendo Switch is a significant step up from using a tablet or smartphone.
Also check our exclusive tutorial on Nintendo Switch controller not charging.
Playing with a friend is as simple as taking out the Joy-Cons. There are almost unlimited games to choose from.
There is a wide range of battery life expectations for the Nintendo Switch, depending on the specific battery type you choose to buy. According to the company, for the original Nintendo Switch, the HAC-001 battery has a battery life of 2.5 to 6.5 hours. If your product serial number begins with XAW, you have that model of Switch.
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The Nintendo Switch’s detachable Joy-Con controllers have a 20-hour standby time. A complete charge on a Joy-Con takes around three and a half hours. An AC adapter or a Switch in Sleep mode must be used in order to charge the Joy-Con.
The battery of the Nintendo Switch may also take longer to charge if the hybrid console is placed in its dock, which can transmit 5V DC through a current of 2.6A for 39W. With an AC adapter, you can get as much as between 100W and 240W of electricity to speed up charging time on the Nintendo Switch, but you shouldn’t expect it to use that much power.
HAC-001(-01) batteries, on the other hand, have a 4.5 to 9-hour battery life for newer Nintendo Switch devices. Your product serial number will tell you whether or not your Switch is equipped with a high-capacity battery model. The battery life of the Nintendo Switch Lite model HDH-001 ranges from 3 to 7 hours on a single charge.
Quickly check our related post on how to restart Pokemon Sun and Moon.
Though Later on, Nintendo Released Version 2 of the original switch for a better battery, and to be honest, it worked. The V2 version didn’t suffer the same backlash as the previous switch did. And at last, Nintendo released the OLED switch where everybody thought they would get a Switch 2 in the holiday season. But the purpose was to provide people with a much bigger and brighter screen with good battery life.
Also, check out our separate post on how long do Nintendo Switch charge last.
So yes, if you are someone new and you want to buy a switch, then always go for the Switch v2 or the OLED one also; if TV mode is not your priority, then buy a switch lite instead, then you wouldn’t have to worry about charging your joy-cons.
Many people ask, Why is my Switch charging slowly?
Because of the Nintendo Switch’s three-hour charging period, it will not be able to make use of any USB Type-C rapid charge technologies, according to the company. In contrast, the USB Type-C protocol is capable of supporting USB Power Delivery 2.0, which can transmit as much as 100W of power using a USB Type-C connection.
Check out our experts tested and reviewed the best keyboard and mouse adapter for PS5.
How to fix Nintendo Switch Controller Not Charging
There can be a lot of reasons behind this issue. So before jumping into troubleshooting, we should discuss why this is happening.
Joy-Con Controller, although being small, is surprisingly sturdy. It’s possible, though, that if it’s dropped or hit hard enough, the inside wiring might be damaged, leading to a charging issue.
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When it comes to water resistance, the Nintendo Switch and its controllers are not equal to the challenge, so if any of them have come into touch with liquid or water in the past, it is possible that this is the cause of your charging problems.
Old or corrupt software might cause certain Joy-Cons to cease charging. Nintendo Switch console and Joy-Con controllers may not be charging if the AC adapter, the component that you attach to a power outlet or power strip, has a problem.
Now that we know the possible reasoning behind this issue let’s get into troubleshooting.
Also, check out how you can easily change clothes in Pokemon Sword & Shield.
Here are the steps to fix switch controller not charing:
1. Update the console
If your switch console is out of date and doesn’t match the software update of the Joy-Con, then it can be an issue behind your controllers not charging. So updating the console can be an easy fix.
This step also helps in fixing a water damaged Nintendo Switch.
Here are steps to update the Nintendo Switch console:
- Go to settings.
- Scroll down to System.
- Select updates.
- Download and update your console.
While the update is going on, the console will restart and after the restart, try to dock your switch to see if the controllers are charging or not.
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2. Update Joy-Con controller
Joy-con controllers need to be updated to work perfectly. If there is any mismatch, then your controllers won’t charge.
Here are the steps to update your Joy-con controllers:
- Navigate to settings.
- Go to controllers and sensors.
- Select update controllers.
- Download and install the update.
After the update, dock your Nintendo switch to see if they are charing or not. If your Controllers are still not charging, then follow the next method.
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3. Reset the controller
Resetting each faulty Joy-Con controller is an easy way to fix charging problems. Simply hit the controller’s SYNC button once. Temporarily disabling it should resolve any small issues with the controller’s firmware that are keeping it from charging.
Here are the steps to reset the Nintendo controller:
- Take out the controllers from the console.
- Press the sync button.
- Connect the controllers back to the console.
- Press A to connect.
This should fix your charging issue. And if your controller is still not charging, then follow the next method.
Quickly check out our epic guide on how long do PS5 Controllers last.
4. Clean the controllers
No one bothers to clean their Joy- Con’s, which is a shame. Thus, dirt builds up on port surfaces until they start to interfere with the Joy-Con controllers. Resulting in connectivity issues, which is ultimately creating the charging problem.
Cleaning the Nintendo Switch at least once a week is recommended because of this. To clean the ports on your Nintendo Switch, use a cotton swab or tissue paper. Your Joy-Con should now operate properly once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the port on both sides. The Joy-Con should start charging when you re-attach them after cleaning.
On the other hand, look out for the faulty charging indicator, which shows the wrong percentage half of the time. So don’t panic if you see there is no charge at all or your charging indicator shows that the console is not charging. Just play up until the controllers are out of juice and then charge them with the console for at least 3 hours; this should fix your problem. Also, do check if the charging cable or the dock is in working condition. If your TV dock is somehow broken, then your controller won’t charge.
Check out this post to see how to fix PS5 Not Connecting To Tv.
Final Thoughts
For a handheld console, Nintendo Switch has done wonders. It is the perfect console for the people who love the portability. Minus the charging issue, it is one of the best consoles out there.
Hopefully, with this guideline, you can fix the charging issue of your controllers.
And if you still have any queries, you can always reach out to us.