One of the best aspects of the Nintendo Switch is its versatility. It is an excellent portable console, but you can also use it on your TV for better gameplay as you play with your friends. As with any other console, your gaming will be interrupted unless you have the proper charger.
So, can you charge the Nintendo Switch with a phone charger? Your phone charger can power your console provided that it is a USB C cable, compatible with the Switch consoles. Only such wires can fit in the port, and it is a brilliant emergency method to prevent shutdowns.
The phone charger should also have the right power output level. Otherwise, the console will charge exceptionally slowly. Unfortunately, most of them have a low power potential and would power the console in hours or longer if in use.
Safe charging is essential for your console and knowing the best ways to charge your Switch is essential. There are some good least-known tips to help extend your console’s battery life and power it faster.
The Switch is a multipurpose console that functions on the go or when you dock it, which requires a lot of energy. Therefore, it is best to understand its needs to prevent it from shutting down unexpectedly.
The Switch has a lithium-ion battery and a USB C charging port to facilitate gameplay. It is one of the few consoles that allows high power delivery for fast charging and can also function backward to charge another device when it has power. Therefore, this tiny console can have enough charge to support hours of gaming, whether on TV or hand-held mode.
Note that your Switch’s power capacity usually varies depending on its model and whether you are using it when plugged. For instance, it will charge slower if you play a power-hungry game or have a high volume or the screen brightness level.
However, it is necessary to discuss different Switch models and their charging specifications to establish the safest way to use them and help you find a suitable charger. All Nintendo Switch models usually come with a USB C port for charging.
This slot also allows you to use it as a power bank to charge a laptop that supports a USB C charger. Notably, this console’s power depends on its usage; therefore, it will lose charge faster when overworking.
If you are playing a high-power game, using Wi-Fi, have full brightness, and high volume during charging, the console will not power as usual. However, the new Switch models tend to consume less power than the original version; hence, they are more energy efficient.
The charging time can vary depending on your charger but using the dedicated cable is relatively more effective. Considering all the Switch models, any USB A to USB C wire will do the job, but the power intake will generally reduce due to the console’s design.
It should only get enough power to play and charge, especially if on dock mode, although it won’t be as fast as usual. I usually recommend using an AC power adapter linking to a wall outlet for the best charging speeds. It is common for gamers to use their devices while still charging. However, the only challenge is that, in most cases, the charging reverses, especially if the power input is too low.
If you want the charge to increase when you are still playing on your Switch, it is recommended to use a charger that produces a minimum of 5V and 7.5 W or more for better speeds. It also applies when you are using the dock.
However, for TV mode, where you need as much power as you can get, you are better off using an AC adapter. When buying a charger, you can look out for the power specification usually on the box, like 5V/ 2A, meaning that it offers 5V at two current amperes.
Can You Charge Nintendo Switch With a Phone Charger?
You may forget to carry your console’s charger but be in a position to access a phone charger. One frequently asked question is whether the Switch can charge using a phone charger. Is it safe? Is there a difference compared to the actual charging cable?
You can use a phone charger on your Switch console as long as it is the USB C. The phone’s charging port must be compatible with your console’s; otherwise, it may not fit or fail to work. Generally, the phone charger will only be practical if it has a 1 W power potential. A lower capacity alternative will be too slow, and if you are using your console simultaneously, the power may drain even faster.
This method may only work if you can be patient as it charges, or you can plug it overnight for a full charge the following day. It isn’t a recommended method because of the inefficiency, but it is an excellent alternative as a last resort.
Any type C phone charger will power your console but with a compromise. Unfortunately, most cables can only manage around 13W out of the usual adapter requirement of 18W; therefore, a typical phone charger will be relatively slow.
Thus, you may need more than an hour to charge your Switch unless you are lucky to find a QuickCharge 4.0 model, although such types are rare and quite expensive. Phone chargers are ideal if you are not in a rush to use your console, preferably if you can charge it overnight.
It is best if you avoid using it because you may end up draining the power instead. What helps is that a fully charged console can also power your laptop as it serves as a power bank.
How to Charge a Nintendo 3DS Battery Without a Charger
You may break or lose your charger when you need it, and, in such cases, you may have to find a viable alternative. Other than the typical charging cables, I went on to find out whether you can power your Nintendo 3DS even without its actual charger.
You can power your Nintendo 3DS using its original USB cable from the box, buy a new one, use a portable power bank or a laptop, provided that the cables are compatible with the system. If using another charger, you can plug it into a wall outlet as you would with the original one.
Afterward, link it to the mini USB charging port sandwiched between two LED lights behind the Nintendo 3DS. You won’t necessarily need a power outlet for a power bank since you can plug one end on the source and the other into the console.
You can tell that the connection is successful if you see the charging symbol on the top corner. Therefore, not having your original 3DS charger shouldn’t stop you from playing your favorite titles since many workable options guarantee hours of gaming.
However, none of these alternatives will be as effective as the device’s charger. You may encounter slow charging speeds that can take hours. When your Switch has a full charge, you will see the orange LED lights go off.
Can You Charge Nintendo Switch With a MacBook Charger?
If you are one of the gamers that own many devices, you must have noticed that some share components like chargers. Therefore, can you use the MacBook cable if you are traveling but don’t have your Nintendo Switch charger?
You can use a MacBook charger on your Nintendo Switch or the other way around as long as they are both type C wires. However, as with the case of a phone charger, this plug will not charge your device as fast as usual. The pin must also be of high quality, preferably an original one from Apple, like a MacBook Pro cable.
Interestingly, you can also turn your Switch console to serve as a power bank for your MacBook. When you connect a compatible cable between the two devices, power will transfer from the laptop.
However, one challenge is that this method may not work when your console is docked, and you may have to use it only on hand-held mode. To ascertain that the MacBook charger is functioning, you can tell by looking at the icon on the top left of the console. Thanks to having the same charging port type, you can use the MacBook Pro charger on the console and the Switch’s charger on the PC.
You may only wait a little longer than when using an AC adapter because the laptop and the console are different builds. It also explains why the charger doesn’t work when the console is on the dock.
Besides, given how slow it functions, it would be too straining for TV mode, and your Switch may end up shutting down. It is also important to note that not every Type C will be effective unless it is of perfect quality. Therefore, it is best to go for an original cable from Apple.
How To Charge a Nintendo Switch
You would want always to have power on your console. The following are five main ways that you can safely charge your Nintendo Switch to guarantee uninterrupted gaming.
The first and most common way to charge your Switch is through the AC adapter that connects to the wall and the console charging port. It is the fastest and most effective way to go, and if you are using the TV mode, you can always plug the adapter through the dock.
When traveling and without access to a wall socket, you can also use a power bank or a charging case. They come in handy in desperate times, and they can provide you with more than 10 hours of game-time. However, note that the Switch Lite is too small to charge on the dock and doesn’t fit in the charging case; thus cannot charge through the two methods.
Here are the different methods you can deploy to charge your Switch safely explained in detail.
- AC Adapter
Since the Switch consoles usually come with a USB Type-C port, you can charge them through the AC adapter that constitutes the purchase. You can use this cable to power the Switch and its dock by hooking it into a socket then plugging it into the console.
For the original model, the adapter delivers around 15V/ 1.2A at 18W while the rest of the power transfers to the other dock components. The plug also provides less power to the energy-saving Switch Lite console, although it has a potential 39W power output.
- Charging Dock
When using your Switch for TV mode, it is necessary to set it up on the dock. This structure receives the AC Adapter’s power and then transmits it to your console and the Joy-Cons. You can dock any Switch console except the Lite since it is a smaller version; hence, cannot fit in the setup.
The remaining output goes to other ports in the dock that help in the TV display and resolution level. You can place the console on the front face of the setup, then plug the adapter into the port on the dock.
- Power Bank
If you forget to carry your charger, a power bank will always bail you out if it has a type C cable. The best power bank should comfortably charge your console at least twice and offer about ten hours of gameplay. Coupled with the Switch’s portability, a power bank will be the gadget you need for on-the-go gaming.
- Charging Case
This method functions as a power bank but doesn’t require wires and isn’t too bulky due to carrying an extra gadget. You can place your Switch in the case, lock it, then power it, and it will start charging. It is a genius backup, and there are various available designs in the market.
You can find options that allow the insertion of other plugs into the console, while others will enable you to prop your console for use in tabletop mode. Unfortunately, the charging case is too massive for the Switch Lite; therefore, it cannot power it.
Wrap Up
A Switch console is an excellent portable console, explaining why its battery drains pretty fast. If you always forget its charger, you don’t need to worry because there are workable alternatives. For instance, you can use a phone charger, MacBook charger, power bank, or a charging case. You can always get your phone or PC cables if you have a power outlet but don’t have an AC adapter.
These will come in handy to enable usual gameplay. However, you may have to make the sacrifice of being patient for long hours for a full charge. You can also wait longer if you are gaming while it’s charging. Alternatively, if you don’t have access to a power source, you can always hook your console to a power bank or charging case.
