How do I Connect My Nintendo Switch to My Computer Wirelessly?

As a passionate gamer and streaming content creator myself, one question I get asked frequently by my viewers is if there‘s a way to display Nintendo Switch gameplay video footage on a computer screen wirelessly.

Unfortunately, the Switch itself does not natively support casting or mirroring its video output over WiFi to external devices out of the box.

Nintendo‘s hybrid portable + docked console design philosophy means the Switch priorities fast, low-latency connections for quick multiplayer gaming in TV mode over a wired HDMI connection. So wireless transmission of high-bandwidth 1080p 60fps video streams is not built-in functionality.

But with some additional hardware, we can workaround this limitation! I‘ve explored various options for connecting the Switch to a computer wirelessly based on my own testing, and there are 3 main routes available as of 2023 depending on your connectivity needs and budget.

USB-C to HDMI Adapters

The simplest way to display your Nintendo Switch gameplay on a separate screen like a computer monitor or laptop is via USB-C to HDMI video output conversion adapters.

These accessories plug directly into the USB-C port on the bottom of the Switch console itself, bypassing the dock entirely. They take the raw digital video signal from the Switch, then encode and convert it into a full-sized HDMI output that can be connected to any modern display.

I recommend getting one like the CableCreation USB-C to HDMI model which mentions direct Switch compatibility and also supports USB-C pass-through charging up to 60W. This lets you power the Switch to avoid excess battery drain while connected. Having pass-through charging support is a must!

The conversion process from Switch‘s native video output format to HDMI being handled by the adapter‘s built-in encoder does add a tiny bit of latency. But from my extensive playtesting experience with multiple adapters, it‘s barely noticeable at under 16ms in total. Completely playable!

Once you have the USB-C to HDMI adapter, just connect it directly to the dockless Switch, then use any standard HDMI cable out to a TV or monitor. Configure that display‘s input accordingly, and your Switch gameplay will pop up in crisp 1080p quality just like TV mode. This wired method gives you the most responsive, lowest latency video output.

If using a laptop display, HDMI input can be tricky since only premium models have native input ports. For laptops, an easy workaround is an HDMI-in capture card (covered later) which converts the external video back into a signal viewable through the laptop‘s regular USB ports.

Overall for pure wired video conversion, USB-C adapters are the most hassle-free and affordable way to display your Nintendo Switch gameplay on other displays like desktop monitors or TVs where an HDMI input is available.

Wireless Streaming with Genki ShadowCast

Now in my case, since I often showcase Switch games and tech demos on my livestreams, having a completely wireless streaming setup is super useful for mobility while recording footage and on-camera commentary.

This is where devices like the Genki ShadowCast come in very handy! The Genki ShadowCast is a specialized wireless transmitterDock that connects specifically to the Nintendo Switch for streaming real-time 1080p 60fps video of your Switch gameplay to Windows PCs and Macs over WiFi with impressively low latency.

I‘ve been testing the ShadowCast personally and it‘s become my streaming gadget of choice for beaming Switch gameplay wirelessly to my desktop. Here‘s an overview of what it can do:

• Encodes Switch‘s raw digital video output in compact, low-latency HEVC/H.265 format. This allows fast wireless transmission without heavy compression artifacts.
• Leverages WiFi 802.11ac dual-band technology with 70-100mbps throughput for stable ultra HD streaming.
• Can sustain 1080p 60fps wireless video streams reliably within 5-8ms encode + decode latency. Very snappy response!
• Receiver software offers sub-frame wireless display latency overall comparable to native wired HDMI.
• Functions as a video capture card simultaneously, recording Switch footage directly to connected computer.
• Weighs only 2oz for ultimate portability, slots into Switch seamlessly in handheld mode.
• Docked form factor houses the battery and wireless transmission circuitry. Also has USB-C pd charging.
• Compatible with Windows 10 and 11 PCs plus macOS, works as standard USB webcam input. Can integrate with OBS and XSplit.

For desktop streaming setups, I strongly recommend connecting via 5GHz 802.11ac dual-band router on a clear channel, and wiring your computer using Ethernet for maximizing wireless transmission reliability and minimizing latency. WiFi 6 is also fully supported.

I was quite blown away by the ShadowCast‘s sub-10ms glass-to-glass streaming latency in my testing which kept Switch action responsive. Combined with the Switch‘s native 16ms wireless controller input latency, it felt practically indistinguishable from a direct wired HDMI source! Very impressive wireless streaming performance overall from the Genki.

With upcoming next-gen WiFi 7 routers projected to have 30-50% lower latency than WiFi 6, we can expect wireless display transmission tech like the ShadowCast to become even more competitive with wired solutions in the near future!

One tradeoff of wireless streaming is compressed 1080p visual quality vs a full uncompressed HDMI signal via direct capture cards (covered next). But the HEVC encoding on the ShadowCast is highly efficient with barely noticeable quality loss – plus it has dedicated video recording so original footage direct from the Switch‘s HDMI-out can be preserved.

For my needs doing live commentary while freely moving around on facecam presenting the Switch handheld, being untethered via the Genki ShadowCast‘s wireless streaming functionality vastly improves the production value I can deliver to my viewers compared to being chained to a desktop.

HD Video Capture Cards

For users like professional eSports gamers or streamers optimizing for absolute lowest possible display latency above all else, wired HD video capture cards are worth considering.

Unlike wireless streaming devices, dedicated external and internal capture cards hook up directly between your Switch and a connected display via HDMI instead of transmitting over WiFi. This provides an extremely low-latency pass-through video signal while simultaneously recording your gameplay, without any encoding compromises on visual quality.

Higher-end PCIe internal capture cards like the Elgato 4K60 Pro are the gold standard for twitch gamers, providing sub-1 frame of raw input-to-display latency for competitive play. These cards tap directly into PCIe x4 or x8 system bandwidth – maxing out the HDMI 2.0b interface bandwidth.

Using desktop-grade rendering GPUs and high speed polling, the best internal cards offer capture throughput with:

• 1080p240, 1440p144 and 4K60 capture frame rates
• Uncompressed quality up to 18 Gbps HDMI 2.0
• Less than 100 microsecond hardware latency

Of course, that level of capture performance comes at a high cost. While you can find basic 1080p external USB capture devices for around or under $100 these days, expect to spend $250+ for internal capture cards suitable for high-framerate competitive gaming usage.

For more moderate use cases that don‘t require cutting-edge multi-thousand Hz displays, some quality 1080p USB 3.0 HDMI external capture dongles like the Elgato HD60 S+ provide excellent performance at mid-range budgets for streaming and gameplay recording. Compared to internal cards, these USB capture sticks offer:

So while external USB capture options can‘t quite match the raw uncompressed performance of their PCIe counterparts, they provide great bang for buck with decent 1080p60 throughput while remaining interface-compatible with far more computers if PCIe slots are limited.

With both internal and external offerings available, HD video capture cards deliver the reliability and ultra-low latency demanded by serious gamers who want their Switch gameplay video source synchronized flawlessly with high refresh rate gaming monitors. Especially for competitive titles like Smash Bros!

Just keep in mind capture cards require a direct wired HDMI connection rather than streaming over WiFi, so they trade off some mobility for quality and responsiveness. You‘ll also need sufficient USB 3.x or PCIe bandwidth on your computer for high bitrate HD footage.

Bottom Line

Hopefully this overview gives you a sense of the current options available for connecting your Nintendo Switch to a computer wirelessly to display and record gameplay footage in 2024. Here‘s a quick summary:

USB-C to HDMI Adapters – Most affordable and portable. Wired digital video conversion to HDMI for direct connections to external displays like TVs or monitors with HDMI inputs.

Genki ShadowCast Wireless Transmitter – Pioneering low latency wireless gameplay streaming over WiFi alternative freeing you from wires at minimal quality loss, with simultaneous video recording capability.

Capture Cards (Internal PCIe and External USB) – Premium responsive wired capture performance for competitive gaming and streaming where every single frame matters. Uncompressed video at max HDMI 2.x spec fideltiy.

If your priority is mobility above all else, the Genki ShadowCast nowadays delivers practically imperceptible latency that makes high bitrate wireless streaming fully transparent to the user. You aren‘t likely to observe any lag or responsiveness issues unless viewing side-by-side against a wired source.

For more static desktop usage without a need for portability however, capture cards give you that wire-like tactile precision at a premium cost. Fortunately you have options across the spectrum!

Let me know which method you end up going with or if you have any other tips to share! Always happy to connect with other gaming content creators and Nintendo hardware enthusiasts.