How to charge a Nintendo Switch console in 2 ways, and keep playing while it charges
- There are two ways to charge a Nintendo Switch console, and both allow you to play while you're charging.
- When your Switch is in its dock, even if you're playing on the TV, the console will be charging via the power cable connected to the dock.
- You can also plug a USB-C charging cable directly into the Switch while you're playing it in handheld mode.
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The Nintendo Switch's portability sets it apart from all other home consoles. Even after you disconnect it from its screen, you can keep playing, no matter where you go.
But if your Switch runs out of battery, the fun is over until you get back to a power source. And unfortunately, the Switch's battery life isn't tremendously long - on an original Nintendo Switch, you'll usually get between three and nine hours of active use, depending on how hardware intensive the game you're playing is. The Switch Lite will give you three to seven hours.
However, charging your Switch back to full power only takes about three and a half hours. And you can always keep playing while the console is connected to power. Here's how.
Check out the products mentioned in this article:
Nintendo Switch (From $299.99 at Best Buy)
Nintendo Switch Lite (From $199.99 at Best Buy)
How to charge a Nintendo Switch
To charge an original Nintendo Switch using the docking station, which also allows you to connect the system to a TV:
1. Connect the provided USB-C charging cable to an AC outlet, and to the USB-C port found in the back of the Switch's dock.
2. Slide the Switch console into the dock, so that the USB-C plug set into the dock enters the port on the bottom of the Switch.
If you want to play the Switch in handheld mode, or you own a Nintendo Switch Lite, just plug the USB-C cable directly into the base of the Switch console.
Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:
'What comes with a Nintendo Switch?': A guide to what's included with a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite
How to charge a Nintendo Switch's Joy-Con controllers in 2 different ways
How to turn off your Nintendo Switch or put it into Sleep Mode, to save battery or fix software issues
How to connect your Nintendo Switch to a TV, and what to do if it won't connect