The Nintendo Switch is a fantastic handheld console, and while it’s not as feature-packed as a gaming PC (or even some other consoles), there are a few useful features you might not know about.
Connect some USB devices
The Nintendo Switch has a USB Type-C port on the bottom of the console, mainly for charging and connecting to the included TV dock. However, the port also works with many USB Type-C accessories and even some USB Type-A devices with the appropriate adapter. The dock has its own full-sized USB ports, but you don’t need to plug in the Switch to try out USB accessories.
You can use most USB Ethernet adapters with the switch, which can be handy in situations where the Wi-Fi connection is unreliable. Nintendo has included an Ethernet port on the dock included in the OLED Switch, and you can get the same experience on other docks (or in handheld mode) via USB.
USB keyboards are also supported, which can be used to type text instead of the on-screen keyboard in many games and applications. This is especially useful for games that support text messaging with other players, e.g Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or searching for games in the eShop. Some games even support gaming keyboards, although this is usually not well documented – Bethesda’s Doom (1993) and Doom II for Switch it accepts keyboard input, but it’s not mentioned anywhere on the store page.
The port even works with many USB audio adapters and devices — I’ve used my SteelSeries Arctis 1 headset with my Switch a few times, which can be a low-latency Bluetooth audio alternative, and many other headsets are compatible. Unfortunately, external drives, computer mice and other types of devices are not supported, but the USB port unlocks some useful features.
Change the controller buttons
Most PC games allow you to change which keys perform a specific action, and the Nintendo Switch has the same system-level functionality. Open Settings on your Switch, then go to Controllers & Sensors > Change Button Mapping.
The Button Mapping menu allows you to change what each button does — for example, you can swap buttons A and B if you want. Works with the Joy-Cons and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, as well as all third-party gamepads that emulate the Pro Controller.
Best of all, you can save your settings as presets and then switch between them as often as you like. If you just need custom controls for specific games, it’s easy to switch between presets as needed.
Browse the eShop from your browser
The Nintendo eShop is the place to download games and apps on the Switch, but it can be a slow and frustrating experience on the Switch, especially when scrolling through long pages. Fortunately, there is an alternative: use the eShop in a web browser.
You can browse all digital games for Switch by visiting nintendo.com/store/games in your web browser. Just like on the Switch, you can search for titles and use various filters to sort by genre and price. You can also click the heart button to add the game to your watchlist, which syncs with the Switch’s eShop watchlist. It’s much faster and more responsive than the eShop on the Switch console.
When you’re ready to buy the game (or just download it, if it’s a free download), you’ll be prompted to sign in with the same Nintendo Account on your Switch. Once you’re done, the game will begin downloading to your Switch — just like when you install an Android app or game from the Play Store.
Alternatively, you can buy digital games from retailers like Amazon and Target, which provide a code that you enter on the Switch eShop (or on the ‘Redeem Code’ page of the online store). It’s usually no easier or cheaper than using the Nintendo eShop directly, but if you have a rewards program at a particular store that gives you cash back on purchases, it might be worth the hassle.
Hold down the Home button
The Home button on the right Joy-Con takes you to the Switch’s home screen, but did you know you can hold it down to open the Quick Access panel? The panel has sliders for screen brightness and volume, as well as an airplane mode switch and a console sleep button.
Best of all, opening the panel with the home button doesn’t pause or close the game like pressing the home button does. You can close it by pressing the B button or holding the Home button again.
Connect a Bluetooth headset
The Nintendo Switch has a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting wired headphones, and as mentioned before, you can connect USB audio devices to the Type-C port. Nintendo also added support for connecting Bluetooth headphones in September 2021, which you can adjust from the ‘Bluetooth Audio’ section of the Settings app.
While the option is useful, as it allows the Switch to work with true wireless headphones like Apple AirPods, it’s not perfect. There’s a bit of audio lag compared to wired headphones or the Switch’s own speakers, and you can only have two controllers connected at the same time as a Bluetooth device (instead of the typical four).
There are some adapters for the Switch that can improve Bluetooth headphones, but you should try the built-in option first — it might be good enough for you!
Watch Streaming Services
The Nintendo Switch is first and foremost a gaming console, but there are also several streaming services available as free apps on the Switch eShop. From July 2022, you can watch Hulu, YouTube, Twitch, Funimation, Crunchyroll and Pokémon TV on Switch. There is no app for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, or any other streaming services.
If you don’t have a tablet nearby, the 6.2-inch screen on the regular Nintendo Switch isn’t the worst way to compensate Orville or Attack on Titan. The OLED Switch is an even better option, with its larger 7-inch screen and higher-quality display.
Streaming apps on the Switch can also be a great alternative to streaming apps on cheap smart TVs or streaming boxes. For example, Hulu on the Switch is much more responsive than Hulu on my Samsung Smart TV. Depending on how old your TV or streaming box is, your Switch may have even fewer connectivity issues, since the Switch supports Wi-Fi 5.
Play online without subscription
Most Nintendo Switch games require a paid Switch Online subscription to play with friends online. The price for a single subscriber is $3.99 per month or $19.99 per year, and there is a family plan for up to eight people that costs $34.99 per year. That’s not a terrible price, especially considering you get cloud storage backups and other features, but it’s another subscription to keep up with.
Fortunately, some games use their own servers to play online and don’t require a Switch Online subscription to play with other people. Fortnite, Apex Legends, Asphalt 9: Legendsand Paladins are some of them — there are several unofficial lists with other examples.
Unsurprisingly, Nintendo doesn’t offer an easy way to search online for games that don’t require a paid subscription, but you can check out any game yourself. eShop pages for games will have a message like “this software includes online features that require Nintendo Switch Online membership” or “Nintendo Switch Online membership is required for online play” at the bottom of the list. If you don’t see such a message or it only refers to Save Backups, you should be good to go.
Use chargers and batteries from other manufacturers
The Nintendo Switch uses the same USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) charging standard as most other devices with Type-C ports. This means you can use almost any USB charger or portable battery to power your Switch on the go, as long as the charger supports 18W of power or more. Everything from a MacBook Pro charger to an Anker battery should do the trick.
USB power may not be as exciting now as it was a few years ago, but I still like to use the same power adapter to charge my laptop, phone, and Switch when I travel. It’s also an improvement over Nintendo’s earlier handhelds, which used proprietary charging connectors (which were technically still USB).
While you can use most USB chargers with the Switch in manual mode, you should not use a third-party wall adapter with the TV dock. The Nintendo Switch is much more picky about voltage when docked, and using an unofficial wall charger with the dock (or a third-party dock) can destroy your console. If the wall adapter for the docking station stops working, you should get an official replacement from Nintendo.
Check out Joy-Con Drift
The most common hardware glitch on Nintendo Switch consoles is Joy-Con drift — where the joysticks on the included Joy-Con controllers don’t point in the right direction. If you’ve ever noticed that your in-game character moves when you’re not touching the controller, one (or both) of the joysticks may be the problem.
It’s easy to check if your joysticks are not working properly. Open System Preferences, then go to Controllers & Sensors > Calibrate Joysticks. Then move one of the sticks and you will see the calibration screen. If the plus (+) symbol remains in the center of the circle, you have nothing to worry about.
Use controllers without switches
Nintendo’s official controllers can be expensive — a new pair of Joy-Cons usually costs $80, while the Pro Controller will cost around $70. If you already have controllers that you like to use, or for some reason you don’t like Nintendo gamepads, there are other options.
In addition to all third-party controllers designed for Nintendo Switch, such as 8Bitdo Pro 2 and officially licensed PowerA gamepads, you can also use an adapter to connect controllers intended for other consoles. The 8Bitdo Adapter 2 can be attached to the Switch dock (or the console itself, using the aforementioned dongle), and works with original controllers for Xbox One/Series, PlayStation 3/4/5, and even the Wii. I often use the adapter with the Xbox Core gamepad, which I find more comfortable than Nintendo’s official Pro Controller.
8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter 2
The 8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter 2 is one option for connecting controllers to the Nintendo Switch that would otherwise not be compatible, such as the Xbox Wireless Gamepad.
The only catch with adapters like the 8Bitdo device is that you don’t get all the functionality of a controller. Tapping the Amiibo figure only works with Nintendo’s own controllers, and the HD Rumble vibration works best with the official Joy-Cons. If you end up buying the adapter, remember to enable ‘Pro Controller Wired Communication’ in the controller and sensor settings.