Nintendo Switch won’t charge: here’s how to fix

It is really impossible to play with your Nintendo Switch if the console stops charging, right? This is a really frustrating and annoying situation, and if you are facing it right now, know that there are several reasons why your Switch may no longer charge. Luckily, there are some simple moves you can try before sending your console to an official repair center. If your Switch Lite or Nintendo Switch fails to load, then you should try our suggestions to try to solve this annoying problem.

Are you ready? Let’s begin!

Nintendo Switch no longer charges: what’s going on?

Nintendo Switch won't charge

There are so many reasons why your Nintendo Switch it can no longer charge. We summarize them below:

  • The charger may need to be replaced;
  • There may be something wrong with the electrical outlet;
  • The points of contact within the USB-C charging port console may be dirty or damaged.
  • The adapter may have become dirty or damaged.
  • The Dock, if you primarily charge your console using the cradle.
  • You may be using an incompatible third-party adapter. In fact, remember that some third-party accessories don’t work properly with the Switch console.
  • If you’ve made any changes or have “Hacked” your Nintendo Switch, the console may not work properly. You may need to undo any changes made to the Switch to be able to load it again.

What to do if the Nintendo Switch no longer charges

As you may have guessed, there are multiple reasons why the console is no longer able to load. The good news is that there are also numerous ways to fix the problem. We explain them all to you in the following paragraphs.

Check your grip

If the Nintendo Switch can no longer charge, the first thing to do is to check the electrical outlet you are using to load the console. So, try plugging another device’s cable into the socket and see if it can charge. If the problem is the electrical outlet, then a fuse may have blown. How to solve it? If your electrical outlet is faulty, try plugging it in Nintendo Switch to another outlet and check if it can charge.

Check the dock

Nintendo Switch Dock

If you primarily load the console using the dock then you must first make sure that all cables are properly attached. It is in fact possible that one of them has inadvertently detached. If that doesn’t fix the problem, then the dock itself may have been damaged. In this case, you may need to send it to an official repair center.

Reset the adapter and plug

Before purchasing a new adapter and before sending your console to a repair center, we recommend that you try to reset your AC adapter. In this paragraph, we explain how to do it.

First, turn off the console by holding the power button for at least three seconds. Then select Energy saving options and select the options Deactivate. Now, unplug the charger from both the outlet and the console and wait 30 seconds. If the outlet you are using has a reset button, press it. At this point, reconnect the adapter to the Switch and then to the outlet. Check if you see the charging indicator on the console screen. If the battery still has some charge, you will see a green indicator on the upper right side of the screen. On the other hand, if the battery is low, you will see an empty charge indicator at the top left of the screen.

That’s it – this way you should have solved your problem. If resetting the adapter and plug didn’t solve the problem, read the next tip.

Charge the battery if it is very low

If your Nintendo Switch’s battery has run out and you haven’t charged it for a long time, then be aware that it may take a little longer for the console to “recognize” the power adapter when you plug it in.

Remember that your console’s battery is almost completely discharged if you see the battery status indicator on the top left side of the screen instead of its usual top right position. In this case, leave the console plugged into the charger overnight and then try to turn it on the next morning. That’s it – now you should have solved the problem but remember that the battery of your Nintendo Switch needs you: read our in-depth study on how to increase the battery life of the console.

Thoroughly clean the USB-C port and charger

A small layer of dust may prevent the Switch console’s USB-C port or Dock’s USB-C port from connecting properly with the charger. In this case, careful cleaning could solve the problem. Remember, of course, that when you’re getting ready to clean a USB-C port, you need to be very careful. You should never use metal objects such as safety pins and knives in the USB-C port because you could permanently damage not only the small contact points in it but also the entire device.

Buy a new charger

New Nintendo Switch charger

You have come this far, you have put all our advice into practice but there Nintendo Switch still not loading? Then, you may need a new charger. We always advise you to orient yourself on choosing an official adapter for Nintendo Switch: in this way you will be able to completely solve your problem, without risking incompatibility between devices.

But if you are looking to save some money, you can also find your way around some third-party chargers cheaper.

Contact customer support

If you’ve tried everything but your Nintendo Switch still won’t charge, it’s time to go to a professional! You will need to create an official ticket through Nintendo customer support and you will probably have to send the console in for repair.