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The genius of the Nintendo Switch’s design stems from its detachable Joy-Con controllers and the ergonomic Pro Controller (and of course, the really cool games). When you latch them onto the sides of the Switch screen itself, those tiny Joy-Cons enable fluid handheld gaming and motion control anywhere. Yet they can split off for two-player action on the big screen, while the Pro Controller brings a traditional feel for extended couch gameplay.
But all that flexibility comes down to sufficient battery juice, the only real limitation for the otherwise remarkably adaptable Switch controllers. No one wants to get blindsided by sudden battery death, whether you’re a casual gamer or more hardcore Switch fan, right? The good thing is that keeping your controllers juiced up is super doable with the right routines. Let’s take a look at those.
Attaching Joy-Cons To Switch Console
Connecting those detachable Joy-Cons to the Switch screen portion really is the easiest way to verify they get powered up.Just align each controller with the left or right rail along the edge of the screen. Then slide them on one at a time until you feel them snap into place securely with a click. This physically connects them to the Switch’s own battery.
So if the console itself is already juicing up with the AC charger plugged into the dock or directly into the unit, the battery starts funneling some of that electricity into the attached Joy-Cons right away. You’ll see a small LED indicator light up subtly on the Switch display to confirm that charging is now in progress.
Using The Charging Grip Accessory
The Joy-Con Charging Grip that comes with the Switch does double duty.Pop those controllers onto the left and right rails just like you would snap them onto the console, with a nice click to confirm they’re seated properly. This instantly turns the charging grip into a regular controller for tabletop play.
But on top of conveniently expanding your grip for gaming sessions,it can charge your detachable Joy-Cons at the same time.Just take any old USB-C cable and plug it into the port on the grip’s underside, then connect it to the Switch dock, a wall adapter, or any powered USB port really.
The lights on the Joy-Cons will blink on to clue you in that charging is underway. So while you’re playing Mario Kart around the coffee table, you’re also making sure your batteries get juiced up for the next time you pick up the screen portion. It’s a perfectly efficient way to throw some extra power their way mid-gaming. And another bonus -charging the Joy-Cons while housed in the grip accessory, causes them to charge up faster than if they were charging solo off the console.
Charging Standalone Joy-Con Controllers
You don’t necessarily need the console itself handy to verify your Joy-Cons get the juice they need. Each controller can charge up solo with the help of a simple USB-C to USB-A cable. First, check the current battery status by gently pressing that small sync button on the Joy-Con’s rail. It’ll blink out a number of red flashes indicating roughly how much power is left (four flashes for 100 percent down to one flash for nearly empty).
If you need to top up the charge, grab that special cable. You’ll notice there’s a tiny flap near the top that lifts to reveal a USB-C port used expressly for charging purposes. Carefully plug the USB-C end of the cable into that port nice and snug. Then just take the normal USB-A side and insert it into any handy power source the dock, AC adapter, laptop, or wall charger all work.
The status light under the sync button glows softly to indicate the charging mode is activated. Letting a totally drained Joy-Con controller charge this way takes around three and a half hours.
Charging Pro Controller Via USB-C
The Pro Controller has great battery life, but eventually you’ll need to power it back up. Flip that handy controller over to get a look at the bottom edge. You’ll spot a USB-C input waiting there. Dig up any old USB-C cable you have handy (doesn’t matter if it came with your Switch or is a spare from another gadget). Snap one end into the Pro Controller’s USB port. Then take the other end and plug it into any powered USB source, even the docked Switch itself works well.
Once connected, the status indicator right around the home button will start slowly pulsing to indicate charging mode is a go. Give it about six hours of juice time and the light will go solid green, cuing you in that the battery is filled up fully once again. Leaving it charging overnight is perfect for a nice complete recharge when the controller is fully drained.
Using The Optional Charging Stand
For the ultimate convenience, you can grab Nintendo’s very own Pro Controller charging stand. This sleek little accessory is shaped like a small kickstand to prop up the controller. It also has a built-in USB-C cable connected to an included AC adapter to handle the charging duties.
Just plug the stand’s adapter into a nearby wall outlet to juice it up. Then gently place your Pro Controller onto those angled grooves, lining up the controller’s USB-C port with the stand’s nub of a charging cable.You’ll feel them connect, and the controller’s status light will confirm the charging is locked and loaded.
Aaaand now your controller can repower its battery while resting neatly on display, ready to grab at a moment’s notice.
Maintaining The Charge
Getting into some healthy charging habits is truly the best way to keep your Joy-Cons and Pro Controller ready for those intense Smash Bros sessions. For the detachable Joy-Cons,attempt to make it second nature to just slide them onto the Switch screen rails each time you finish up a gaming round.
This lets them sip some battery juice from the console itself whenever it’s docked and charging. The grip and cables can still help for quick power boosts in a pinch when you notice their lights blinking low. And be sure to power down the controllers when you won’t be gaming for a while to avoid draining them unnecessarily.
Give the Pro Controller status indicator a quick peek every so often to see that it isn’t getting too depleted unexpectedly.Top it off fully by plugging into a USB-C every couple of gaming nights or so to keep things fresh. Best not to let them completely run out of steam.And embrace that cute charging stand to keep it fully juiced and upright in style while you wrap up your current adventure and prepare to hop into the next one.
Building these simple charging habits into your regular Switch routine will keep those controllers happily high on battery for all your upcoming gaming quests!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Joy-Cons lose charge so quickly even when hardly used?
If your Joy-Cons are rapidly losing power even without much use, their internal batteries are likely to deteriorate from age and repeated charges. Batteries wear down over cycles, resulting in shorter lifespans. Joy-Cons no longer holding sufficient charges and will need replacement battery packs installed. Nintendo offers affordable repair services to safely swap out aging batteries.
Can I use a portable battery pack to charge my Pro Controller or Joy-Cons?
Yes, you can utilize an external battery pack designed for phones to charge your Pro Controller or individual Joy-Cons on the go. Simply connect your controllers to the battery pack’s USB-C port via a USB-C cable, just as you would a wall charger.
Will charging Joy-Cons or the Pro Controller while playing reduce battery lifespan?
It’s generally safe to “trickle charge” your controllers by leaving them plugged into a power source during gaming. However, doing so produces more heat which can degrade batteries faster over time. To maximize your controllers' battery health long-term, get into the habit of fully charging before play sessions, then disconnecting from power once fully charged.
