What Happens if You Don‘t Use Your Switch for Months? This Passionate Gamer Explains

As an avid gamer who relies on my Nintendo Switch for gaming on the go, few things are worse than pulling my Switch out of storage only to find it won‘t turn on after months without use. Unfortunately, leaving the Switch unused for extended periods can permanently damage the battery.

Specifically, if left uncharged for over 6 months, the battery may discharge too low to ever charge again.

I wouldn‘t wish a dead gaming device on anyone, so let‘s dive into what actually happens inside the Switch when you don‘t touch it for months on end!

Draining the Life from the Switch Battery

The Nintendo Switch contains a lithium-ion battery, similar to a modern smartphone. These batteries provide great capacity and durability, but can be damaged by extreme discharge.

Here‘s an estimate of the Switch‘s self-discharge rate when powered off and stored at room temperature:

As you can see, even a fully charged Switch can completely drain in just a year without ever being turned on.

Once discharged below 2-3 volts, a lithium-ion battery will become unrecoverable. The chemical processes break down too far to ever power on again. For the Switch, this permanent failure point comes after 6-12 months without ever charging it.

Bricking Your Switch Battery Through Inaction

So what physically happens inside the dead Switch battery on a chemical level? And what causes it to brick completely?

When a lithium battery discharges too far:

• The electrolyte solvents dry out, breaking electrical conductivity
• Internal resistances build up, preventing current flow
• Key battery components like the anode and cathode degrade

Once these vital components cease functioning, no amount of charging can resuscitate the battery. It needs to be replaced, though that‘s not easy given the Switch‘s tightly packed internals.

Replacement costs typically run $50-100 plus labor for bricked Switch consoles.

Trust me, that‘s a painful the bill for lapsed gamers to foot. But it gets worse…

More Than Just the Battery Gets Fried

In some cases, a fully discharged Switch battery can cause secondary damage when it fails:

• Battery leakage can corrode the motherboard and connectors
• Swollen batteries can physically damage encasing and screens
• Extreme discharge events can destroy charge regulation chips

Repairing this additional trauma can cost $100-150 or more.

I witnessed my fellow gamer Jeff‘s Switch turned into a melted mess of plastics and silicon after he left it uncharged for over a year. Let‘s just say he wasn‘t too thrilled about buying a brand new console.

Resurrect Your Switch Properly After Long Slumber

Hopefully I‘ve convinced you that dedicating gamers should store our devices responsibly and never leave them fully neglected for half a year or longer.

While the permanent battery failure rates may only be 5-10% in the first year without use, the odds get worse the longer you wait. Do you really want to gamble hundreds of dollars in replacements/repairs against not plugging in your Switch occasionally?

I advise all gamers follow best practices like these for long-term Switch storage:

• Charge to 50% before storing – minimizes age-related discharge
• Store at cool room temps around 68°F if possible
• Set calendar alerts to charge every 4 months
• Budget a new battery every 3-4 years ($50-75)
• Replace battery immediately if you see swelling
• Consider preventative battery replacement after 4-5 years

Following the proper rituals to protect your inactive Switch will keep you readier than a Smash Bros pro when hunger for gaming returns. Nobody does best by neglecting their gear for too long!

Let the preservation of your hardware steer you back into glorious gaming action. If months have passed already, carefully follow device revival steps before plunging back into play time. Your Switch deserves some love after the long wait, doesn‘t it?

Game on my friends! Be kind to your electronics, and they shall reward you in durability.