How to Charge Nintendo Switch Controllers
The two mini controllers that come included with every regular Nintendo Switch console (sorry, Lite owners) are called Joy-Con and can connect wirelessly to the Switch system or be attached to the Switch to play it in portable mode. There’s only one way to charge Joy-Con controllers, and that’s by connecting them to the Switch itself.
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However, if the Joy-Con needs to charge, the Switch console needs to be charged too. If users connect their Joy-Con to a dead Switch, there’s no juice there to charge the controllers. Because of this, the best way to ensure that Joy-Con are always charged is to leave them on the Switch while it’s charging in its dock or just being charged using the USB-C cable included in the box. Technically, people only need to use the dock if they plan on connecting their Switch to a television or monitor.
Unfortunately, the Switch Lite model cannot physically connect with a pair of Joy-Con, but they can be paired wirelessly. As for the Switch OLED model, it works the same way as the original 2017 Switch model when it comes to charging controllers.
How to Check Switch Controller Battery Life
If a pair of Joy-Con (or any other types of wireless controllers) are connected to a Nintendo Switch, here’s how users can check the battery life for the controllers and the Switch itself:
From the Nintendo Switch home screen, press on the Controllers option on the bottom toolbar menu. It’s right between Album and System Settings. From here, players can see the battery levels for any connected controllers. Joy-Con can last around 30 hours until they need to be charged again. They take about 3 hours or so to get a full charge.
The Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and the Switch OLED model are available now.
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