How To Make Your Nintendo Switch Battery Last Longer

Quick Links

• Quick Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Battery

• Maintenance And Best Practices

• Frequently Asked Question

Whether you're deep into the latest Legend of Zelda adventure or just killing time with a quick round of Mario Kart, nothing screams buzzkill more than an unexpectedly drained Nintendo Switch battery. But fret not, intrepid gamer! While the Switch's versatile hybrid design poses mobile challenges, with the right strategy, even this battery-hogging beast can be tamed for giving you some excellent gaming sessions.

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Want to stream Mario Kart, Smash Bros or Zelda from your Nintendo Switch to your Discord server? Here's exactly how.

How do you do that? Simple. Arm yourself with knowledge and make the most of every charge through smarter play habits and wiser charging practices. And if you're not too familiar with that stuff, what do you think we're here for, friend? Check out our top recommended practices for getting the most out of your battery.

Updated August 23, 2024, by Alexandrea Alix: We've revisited this guide to ensure you're equipped with the latest tips and tricks, including some fresh insights and visual aids to maximize your battery life. Whether you're on a long journey or just squeezing in extra playtime at home, these updates are here to help you keep the fun going. Enjoy!

Quick Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Battery

Prepare yourself for some of history's most ruthless and accurate battery-saving tips, straight from the mouths of the Nintendo Gurus on our website.

Manage Screen Brightness

One of the easiest and most obvious ways to conserve your Switch's battery is to reduce the brightness when you're using it in handheld mode. Sure, having the default brightness on is gonna keep your visuals shining, but dialing it back can actually add hours to your play sessions (not to mention your battery life, in the long run). Open the System Settings menu and select "Brightness" to adjust. Lowering to around 50 percent is recommended if you're playing indoors. And if you plan on playing outdoors, you can always crank it back up until there's no glare.

Disabling the auto-brightness is going to make sure to prevent any unexpected drain as well.

How to Adjust Screen Brightness (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these simple steps to adjust the brightness to your liking:

1. Open the Home Menu:
   • Press the Home button on your controller to bring up the main menu.
2. Access System Settings:
   • Navigate to the System Settings icon (it looks like a gear) on the home screen and press A to select it.
3. Select Screen Brightness:
   • Scroll down the left-hand menu until you find Screen Brightness. Highlight it and press A.
4. Adjust Brightness:
   • Use the slider to adjust the brightness level. For indoor play, setting it to around 50% is recommended to conserve battery.
   • If you’re outside, you can increase the brightness to reduce glare, but remember that this will drain your battery faster.
5. Disable Auto-Brightness (Optional):
   • Below the brightness slider, there’s an option to disable Auto-Brightness. If you want full control over your screen’s brightness and prefer not to have it adjust automatically, toggle this option off.
6. Exit Settings:
   • Once you’re happy with the brightness level, press the Home button again to exit the System Settings and return to your game.

Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Best Practices

The Switch kinda eats away at its own battery life by constantly searching for wireless signals, even when you're not actively using the internet. Which is why you should consider turning on the airplane mode, especially when playing single-player games offline. All you need to do is hold the home button for a second and toggle on airplane mode. This stops battery drain from the resetless Wi-Fi searches.

At the same time, you can also manually disable Bluetooth when you're not actively using the Switch's controllers. This can sound a little excessive, but trust us, if you're looking to get the most out of your battery, this is one of the weird ways that actually works.

How to Toggle Airplane Mode and Disable Bluetooth (Step-by-Step Guide)

Toggle Airplane Mode:

1. Open the Quick Menu:
   • Hold down the Home button on your controller for about a second. This will bring up the Quick Settings menu.
2. Enable Airplane Mode:
   • In the Quick Settings menu, you’ll see an option for Airplane Mode. Use the left stick to highlight it and press A to toggle it on.
   • Once Airplane Mode is on, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will be disabled, helping you conserve battery when you’re playing offline.
3. Exit the Quick Menu:
   • Press the Home button again to return to your game.

Disable Bluetooth (without Airplane Mode):

1. Access System Settings:
   • From the home screen, navigate to the System Settings icon (gear icon) and press A to select it.
2. Select Controllers and Sensors:
   • Scroll down the left-hand menu until you find Controllers and Sensors. Highlight it and press A.
3. Turn Off Bluetooth Communication:
   • In the Controllers and Sensors menu, you’ll see an option for Pro Controller Wired Communication. Turn this option ON to disable Bluetooth for the Pro Controller.
   • This won’t turn off Bluetooth for Joy-Cons, but it’s a step in the right direction if you’re not using a Pro Controller. For Joy-Cons, you’d have to physically detach them from the Switch to go into a non-Bluetooth mode.
4. Exit Settings:
   • Once you’ve made the adjustments, press the Home button to exit System Settings and return to your game.

Adjust Performance Options

Some of your favorite Nintendo Switch games allow you to tweak performance settings that can help save battery life. For example, The Witcher 3 and DOOM Eternal let you lower the graphical settings, which can ease the load on your GPU and, in turn, stretch that battery a bit further.

Dropping the resolution or opting for a lower frame rate (like 30 FPS instead of 60) can add up to an extra hour or more of playtime.

It’s all about finding the right balance between visuals and battery life—perfect for when you’re gaming on the go.

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Nintendo Switch not turning on? We've got you covered.

Update Software

Nintendo continually rolls out system updates that are chock-full of these subtle background optimizations that end up doing a lot of good things for your battery. Always make sure to install the latest patches via the internet when you get the prompt. Why? Well, updates consistently improve stability and efficiency in both the OS and also key apps like Switch Shop.

Choose Official Accessories

While some of these generic USB-C chargers out there on the market work adequately, using licensed Nintendo Switch accessories that were designed specifically for the hardware ends up giving you the best performance. This part is listed a little lower than the other points, but trust us, it's actually one of the biggest favors you can do for your Nintendo Switch.

Restart Regularly

Like any gadget, the Switch benefits from occasional reboots to purge memory leaks from extended uptime. A routine restart clears temporary glitches that may sap efficiency. Once a week is plenty; no need to do it daily. Pro tip: make it part of your weekly gaming session prep rituals.

Replace Aging Batteries

It's no secret that after hundreds of charge cycles, lithium-ion batteries are bound to slowly decline. If your launch-era Switch shows severely reduced play sessions per full charge, replacing the internal battery may be worthwhile, cause that's going to bring it up to brand-new capacity. And yes, DIY battery replacement kits are readily available online for less than $50. Just be sure to use authentic OEM cells, not the cheap knock-offs that are going around these days.

Maintenance And Best Practices

Outside of the tips we mentioned, here's a few good habits you can get accustomed to for a better battery:

• Let the battery cool to ambient temp for an hour before charging after heavy, intense gameplay sessions. Whatever you do, DO NOT connect to the charger while the internal temperature is still hot.
• If you love long gaming sessions without the worry of finding an outlet, a battery extender pack is your best friend. These portable chargers can double or even triple your Switch’s battery life, giving you hours of extra gameplay. Look for ones specifically designed for the Switch, as they often come with a stand and are shaped to fit your console snugly. Perfect for road trips, flights, or even just a marathon gaming day at home!
• Charge in a cool environment around room temperature when possible, and absolutely refrain from charging right after leaving your Switch baking inside a hot car interior!
• For long-term storage longer than a week, discharge the battery to 50 percent instead of 100 percent, then power off the switch completely. This reduces aging from remaining dormant at maximal charge.
• Every 25–30 charges, let the battery discharge more deeply (let's say about 25 percent) before going for a full recharge. If you're wondering why, this actually helps calibrate battery metrics. Don't overdo deep discharge cycles though, cause it's gonna have the opposite of the intended effect then.

Frequently Asked Question

Should I play my Switch while it's charging?

It's perfectly fine to use your Switch while it's plugged into the charger. However, to get the most out of your battery's lifespan, it's best not to keep it charging for hours after it reaches 100 percent. Feel free to play while charging when it's convenient, but be sure to unplug it once the battery is fully topped up.

Should I drain the battery all the way before charging?

No, draining lithium-ion batteries fully before each charge can actually strain the battery's capacity over time. For optimal lifespan, aim to keep your Switch battery charge between 40 percent and 80 percent. Letting it drain completely once in a while is fine, but it's not recommended as a regular routine.

Can I replace the battery myself if needed?

Yes, you can replace the battery yourself with some DIY technical skillz (skills with a z because it's cooler that way). There are online tutorials demonstrating how to open up the Switch and swap in a replacement battery. Just keep in mind this voids the warranty, so proceed carefully. Also, make sure to only use reputable Nintendo-approved batteries to prevent any damage or issues.

How does playing in docked mode affect battery life?

When your Nintendo Switch is docked, it’s getting power directly from the dock, so your battery isn’t draining at all. In fact, the Switch’s battery will charge while you’re playing in docked mode. However, keep in mind that the Switch’s battery isn’t designed to be charged indefinitely, so try to avoid leaving it docked for days on end without using it.

Is it safe to leave my Switch charging overnight?

Yes, it’s generally safe to leave your Switch charging overnight. Modern lithium-ion batteries, like the one in your Switch, have built-in protection circuits that prevent overcharging. That said, once the battery is full, it’s a good idea to unplug it if you don’t plan on using it right away. This helps maintain optimal battery health over time.

How often should I replace the Switch battery?

Your Nintendo Switch battery is built to last through hundreds of charge cycles, but over time, it will start to show signs of wear—like shorter play sessions per charge. If you notice a significant drop in battery life (we’re talking 2-3 hours on a full charge), it might be time to consider a replacement. For most users, this could be a few years down the line, depending on how heavily you game. Remember, replacing the battery yourself is an option, but be sure to use a quality OEM battery to avoid any issues.