Nintendo Switch Won’t Connect To TV: 5 Best Solutions

No matter how old you are, no one can resist a good old video game. The Nintendo Switch is everyone’s favorite way to relax. However, it can be a real pain when you feel like playing a game on a bigger screen, and your TV doesn’t seem to connect.

The most common reason for your Nintendo not connecting to the TV is that you didn’t plug all the cables in the correct order. Disconnect all of them, then plug the power cable in, the HDMI cable next, and finally insert your Nintendo into the Dock. If that didn’t work, power cycle your Nintendo Switch and your TV. Remember, you can’t connect Nintendo Light to the TV at all.

You don’t have to give up at once; we’ve got some tips to get it up and working once again.

Reasons

It can be pretty frustrating when your Nintendo Switch doesn’t connect to the TV. If you’re trying to figure out the causation, here are a few most common possibilities:

  • The wires are disconnected.
  • Your TV has to be rebooted.
  • The AC adaptor needs to be refreshed.
  • Cables are connected in the incorrect order.
  • Your wall outlet is malfunctioning.
  • The system is not updated.
  • You have a Nintendo Switch Lite.

How To Fix

If your Nintendo Switch isn’t connecting to your TV, you don’t have to worry. Try the following suggestions, and it is sure to connect pretty fast.

1. Check the Cables

To connect your Nintendo Switch to your TV, you will have to connect it in the correct order. Try out the following steps in the same order if you are facing issues:

  1. Remove your Nintendo Switch from its dock.
  2. Plug the AC adaptor into the dock onto the port labeled “AC Adapter.”
  3. Plug the other end of the adapter in any functioning outlet.
  4. Now you need to plug in your HDMI cable. Plug one end into a port on the dock labeled “HDMI Out.”
  5. Connect the other end of your HDMI cable to your TV. Look for the input label so that you’re sure it’s in the right place.

2. Check your Dock and Adaptor Type

Make sure that you are using the Nintendo Switch AC adapter (Model No. HAC-002) and either the Nintendo Switch Dock (Model No. HAC-007) or the Nintendo Switch dock with LAN port (Model No. HEG-007).

Using other docks or adapters can cause this problem as well.

3. Inspect your Cables and Dock

If any of your wires are faulty or your dock is in need of repair, your TV and Nintendo Switch won’t connect. Try switching the wires that may be faulty to identify any issues.

As for the dock, try connecting your Nintendo Switch to your TV with a different one. If it is still working, it is probably the culprit.

4. Install the latest System Update

At times, older versions are no longer supported, which prevents your Nintendo Switch from connecting to your TV.

Update it if you haven’t already, and it will probably fix the issue. Here are the steps:

  1. Select the System Settings from the Home Menu.
  2. Scroll down and select System.
  3. Select System Update to start the update process.
  4. If an update is available, the download process will begin automatically.

5. Power Cycle the Entire Setup

If your Switch Dock is still flashing the green light, back up your unsaved data on the Switch and power cycle your entire setup with the following steps.

  • Unplug the power cable and the HDMI cable from the Nintendo Switch dock.
  • Press and hold the power button of your Switch for 15-20 seconds to turn it off.
  • Wait for 1 minute. During that time, power cycle your TV or screen as well.
  • Finally, plug the HDMI and power cable back to the Dock and the TV and see if the setup is working now or not.

Note: In this step, we mention power cycling your TV. In case you don’t know how to do that, here are the steps:

  1. Unplug the TV’s power cable from the power outlet.
  2. Wait for at least 60 seconds.
  3. Plug the TV back in.

Nintendo Switch Won’t Connect to TV After the Update

If you have just updated your Nintendo Switch, you may experience this common problem. However, this is pretty easy to fix.

Just try out the following solutions, and one is bound to work.

Restart your Nintendo Switch

After an update, you may need to restart your Nintendo Switch to get it to work properly; this includes connecting it to a TV. If that doesn’t work, try a soft reset.

To do so, press and hold the power button on the top of your Nintendo Switch until it powers off. This usually takes about 15 seconds. After that, wait another 15 seconds before switching it on again.

If you see the Nintendo logo as it turns back on, you did it correctly.

Reset your TV

It is possible that your TV is the cause. If restarting it as usual doesn’t work, you may need a soft reset. Follow the steps below to perform it:

  1. Switch off your TV and disconnect your Nintendo Switch.
  2. Disconnect your TV from the power source.
  3. Wait for 1 minute.
  4. Press and hold the power button on your TV/remote for 15 seconds.
  5. Reconnect your TV to the power outlet.
  6. Try connecting your Nintendo Switch to your TV.

Reset the AC Adaptor

This method will help you identify whether your console is connected incorrectly as well. It is a common solution when issues occur after an update.

Follow the steps below to reset your AC adaptor:

  1. Power off your TV and disconnect all cables that connect your TV to your Nintendo Switch.
  2. Disconnect the adaptor from both ends and wait for 30 seconds.
  3. While your console is undocked, connect your AC adaptor back to the console then directly to an outlet.
  4. Press the power button on our console. This step is optional and is only performed if you don’t see an image after the third step.

Nintendo Switch Won’t Connect to the TV’s HDMI

Another common problem people face is with the HDMI connection. If your Nintendo Switch isn’t connecting to your TV’s HDMI, here is what you need to do:

Check the Connections

One of the biggest problems is connecting the cable incorrectly. First, make sure everything is connected to the correct ports. This includes both your TV and Nintendo Switch.

If they’re in the right place, make sure that they have been inserted all the way, and nothing is loose. It’s always great to reinsert it just to be sure.

Try Swapping the Cable

At times, your HDMI cable is faulty, which interrupts the connection. If all the connections are in place, try using a different HDMI cable and see if it works.

This will help you identify any flawed wires.

Will Nintendo Switch Connect to a TV with a Low Battery?

If your Nintendo Switch is completely out of battery, it won’t connect to your TV at all. However, if it has a low battery, it depends on the percentage.

The minimum percentage of battery required for your Nintendo Switch to connect to a TV is 2%. Anything above will work, but it is best to connect it to a power source and play simultaneously so that your game isn’t interrupted midway.

If your Nintendo Switch has entirely run out of battery, you need to attach it to a power source and wait for a little while until it gets to at least 2%. After this, you can connect it to your TV and play it as usual.

It is important to note that the power mainly comes from the plugged-in power supply in TV mode. The battery is mostly only required for the connection.

Related Post: Nintendo Switch Dock Isn’t Working (No/Blinking Green Light)

Conclusion

We all love to take time off and play a good game on a Nintendo Switch. Next time you have any issues connecting it to your TV, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Never again will you have to give up a game for connectivity issues.