The day has finally arrived, it has been delivered, or you’ve been to the store to pick it up. But, like many others, you’ve discovered those rumored Nintendo Switch problems are correct. Hopefully, you’re new console/hybrid isn’t experiencing them all. However, we are here to help, we’ve taken a look at the problems and provided a resolution where possible.
Nintendo Switch Problems and Fixes
Now before you race down the list of problems below looking for a fix, it’s likely that Nintendo will address them at some point soon. So, if you find one that relates to you and don’t feel comfortable carrying out the fix wait for the official advice.
Battery Pack Won’t Charge
Probably one of, if not the most serious of issues some people have faced is the Switch’s battery pack not charging. Now if that’s you, there are a couple of things you need to know.
The Nintendo Switch supports USB-C, which means it is possible to charge it with any USB-C compatible external battery. However, and this is where the gray area comes in. You would need a particularly powerful device to charge it.
Additionally, a USB-C to USB-C power source is required/preferred for the Switch to get a charge fast enough to be worthwhile. Now there is some confusion about what power is needed to charge the Switch. This is because the supplied charger specifies an output of 5V/1.5A – 15V/2.6A. There are Portable batteries that can handle 1.5A but not the 2.6A maximum well that is on cheaper devices.
Our advice to you would be to look for a USB-C compatible battery pack with at least a 6,630mAh capacity. Yes, some USB-A devices could do the job, but its best to get something you’re sure will do the job!
My Game Won’t Work
Now before you panic, if you have more than one game cartridge try the one you haven’t. Now, if that doesn’t work, it’s possible that this Nintendo Switch problem is just caused by not inserting the cartridge properly. So, go back to the package documentation and read the instructions!
Additionally, it’s possible that your new game may have some contaminants on its metal connections. Now, we would advise that you check, and see if that is the case. If you discover something, one old method of removing such things was to use Q-tips and rubbing Alcohol. However, be careful and DO NOT PROCEED if you have any doubts.
Lastly, if you would rather not examine the game and attempt a fix, you could take the game back to where you purchased it. The retailer will be able to take a look and advise you from there.
The Joy-Con Controller Doesn’t Work
The use of a motion tracking wireless controller has been a staple of Nintendo gaming since the Wii first launched. So, you would have expected the technology to have been refined it not be included in this Nintendo Switch problems list!
Unfortunately, early adopters of the games machine are reporting losing control in game. With the most reports centering around the left Joy-Con either in the grip or held in hand. As for what is causing the problem, it’s not a settings related problem, many have tried to resolve it that way. Instead, it seems to be a line-of-sight issue, one which can even be caused by placing a hand over the Joy-Con’s sensor.
Because the Switch is so new, Nintendo has not had a chance to provide a fix. However, they have commented on the problem, saying:
“We are now investigating, and we cannot make any further comments now.”
I’ve Run Out of Storage
Unfortunately, Nintendo’s decision to only include 32GB of onboard storage in the Switch is going to cause problems for many. Why they chose to do this is anyone’s guess? But considering it comes with an operating system which takes up 6GB it’s a strange decision.
Fortunately, it’s a relatively easy issue to get around with the purchase of a MicroSD card which can be found online or in stores. As for the maximum capacity that’s 512GB which would take some time to fill up.
TV changes Channel When Switch is Docked
One of the most irritating Nintendo Switch problems has to be it forcing some users televisions to change the channel. Now, this seems to happen when a user places the device into its Doc to charge, or when they finished gaming. And, right now there has been no word from Nintendo about it. However, a fix it’s thought will soon be on the way.
In the meantime there are a few things you can do to stop this from happening:
1. Disconnect the consoles dock from your television; this will prevent its HDMI-CEC from receiving a signal and the change of channel happening.
2. Go into the settings of your TV and turn off HDMI-CEC, this will also prevent automatic switching of channels when your Switch is in its dock.
3. Do not use the dock to charge your device, only use it when playing via your TV. This way you don’t have to unplug or mess around with TV settings. However, charging your new gaming machine will need to be done via its AC adapter being plugged into the bottom of the machine.
Final Thoughts
As with all new devices, you do expect there to be some issues. However, those Nintendo Switch Problems that we’re hearing about and experiencing seem to be fundamental to its use. So, we hope Nintendo gets its house in order pretty quickly, because bad press from day-1 could be very damaging!
