Why is my Nintendo Switch Charging So Slowly?
As a hardcore Nintendo Switch gamer, I‘ve lost count how many times I‘ve grumbled in frustration while my Switch takes forever to charge. When you just want to squeeze in a quick session of Rocket League before running errands, but see that dreaded empty battery icon, every minute waiting on the charger counts!
The agonizingly slow charge times boil down to the pitiful power supply Nintendo packs in with the Switch, the sheer size of the battery itself, increasing demands of modern games, aging components, and questionable charging circuitry durability. As someone who‘s logged 500+ hours in Zelda Breath of the Wild alone, I‘ve learned how to optimize my charging to keep my Switch powered up for marathon gaming sessions.
The Included Charger Fails to Keep Up
Let‘s start with the stock charger Nintendo bundles with the Switch. Its 15V/1.6A power delivery specs can‘t hold a candle to higher output third party alternatives.
When I first bought my Switch in 2017, I thought all USB-C chargers output the same wattage. After all, the new standardized connectors and cables meant universal compatibility and speed, right? Wrong! Not all USB-C connections provide equal power density.
I found this out the hard way when my Switch estimated a remaining 7 hour charge time using a MacBook Pro charger! Compare that to the 2 hour estimates produced by something like Anker‘s excellent PowerPort Atom III Slim 30W charger.
The pricier USB PD standard enables proper fast charging for the Switch‘s peak 15V/2.6A input rating. And that leads us to the next limiting factor…
It‘s All About Battery Size and Chemistry
Modern gadgets seem to focus on cramming in as large of batteries as possible. The Switch packs a 4310 mAh unit – substantial for a mobile device.
Recharging any lithium ion battery already takes longer by nature compared to quick charging technologies found in phones. Combine that intrinsic slower charge rate with the sheer capacity the Switch needs to refill, and you have a recipe for long charge times.
Managing expectations is critical here. Don‘t anticipate your Switch fully recharging its massive power pack any quicker than:
- 2.5 to 3 hours with the console powered off
- 3 to 4 hours if the temperature is cool
- 4+ hours if gameplay diverts charging resources
Now in 2022, I‘m eagerly awaiting my new OLED Switch with its slightly higher battery density. Maybe I‘ll shave off 30 minutes on a full charge! But without fundamental changes to battery composition, charge times will always be bottlenecked.
Newer Games Drain More Power
I still have fond memories marathoning Super Mario Odyssey back in 2017 and only needing to charge my Switch every few days. The simpler graphics barely taxed the processing and power burden. These days, titles like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 push the console to its limits, guzzling electricity by comparison.
When you throw AAA gaming graphical demands at mobile processors and batteries, compromises have to be made. That intense power draw competes with simultaneous charging for available resources.
I tested playing various games while charging to see impacts on charge time:
| Game Title | Estimated Hours to Full Charge |
|---|---|
| Super Mario Odyssey | 3.5 |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | 4 |
| Monster Hunter Rise | 6 |
| Xenoblade Chronicles 3 | 8+ |
See the pattern here? The most cutting edge releases require significantly more juice, dragging out charging times even longer if you play while plugged in. I still end up doing it all the time though!
Battery Health Degradation Over Time
Like all lithium ion batteries, the Switch power pack loses charging capacity bit by bit every year. Through hundreds of charge cycles and natural material breakdown, maximum battery life eventually diminishes.
My launch era Switch from 2017 definitely doesn‘t hold the same charge it did five years ago. I‘ve noticed while playing Zelda Breath of the Wild, the low battery warning kicks in after just 2.5 hours now compared to over 4 originally.
And lower overall capacity translates directly into slower charging speeds. An older degraded battery can‘t intake charge current as quickly or in as large of quantities.
Nintendo doesn‘t help matters through by avoiding basic lithium ion longevity boost techniques used on phones like:
- Charge limit thresholds
- Passive cooling during charging
- Active battery monitoring
I even heard they use some old battery tech first deployed on the 3DS! No wonder aging Switches charge so inconsistently.
Flaky Charging Contacts Cause Greif
After dealing with progressively worse battery life on my launch Switch, I opened it up to take a peek inside last year. And the charging connector showed considerable corrosion build up after years of use.
Between pocket lint, dust, and possible moisture damage, the contacts ensuring power flows properly from the charger to battery looked pretty gnarly!
[IMAGE: Corroded Switch Charging Contacts]While cleaning the connector prongs helped initially, a few months later my Switch back to barely charging overnight from empty. Or dangerously hot while plugged in.
Turns out the electrical contacts were so far gone, replacement parts were needed. Thankfully the repair experts at my local Nintendo authorized service center had everything back to normal after a relatively painless battery connector swap.
But when a mission critical component like the charging input wears out from age and stress that quickly, it paints a troubling picture of the Switch‘s engineering decisions. No wonder so many early models have charging issues requiring repair down the road!
Even with so many factors dragging down charging speeds, not all hope is lost. As someone who plays Switch almost daily, I‘ve learned a few key tricks to keep my console powered up:
Use Higher Power Chargers: Don‘t settle for the crummy packed-in charger. Take full advantage of the USB-C Power Delivery standard and get an adapter pumping out 30W or more. Just make sure proper 15V delivery at 2.6A spec is supported. Anker makes fantastic and affordable options here.
Charge in Sleep Whenever Possible: I know it‘s tempting to squeeze in a few rounds of Mario Kart during lunch break while charging. But if you really need to fast charge from empty, power down fully. Eliminating the battery drain makes a world of difference allowing for maximum charging current.
Keep Batteries Cool: Lithium ion charges faster and sustains maximum capacity when cooler. I avoid draping blankets over my Switch docked or bunching it under pillows in handheld mode which traps heat. Also, don‘t charge right after intense gaming sessions — let batteries stabilize to room temperature first.
Refresh With Occasional Full Discharges: While generally bad for lithium ion battery lifespan, letting batteries occasionally drain fully to empty before recharging to full helps calibrate reporting. So every month or two I‘ll refrain from charging past 20% and let my Switch die out which seems to help.
Get Repairs if Issues Persist: If you‘ve tried different charging accessories and still see problems, don‘t delay on sending your Switch for professional servicing. Intermittent charging, overheating, and abnormal battery depletion can indicate hardware defects needing replacement. Catch issues early before permanent failure happens.
While less of a problem on newer Switch revisions, charging woes continue plaguing launch models like mine from 2017. But a bit of charger upgrading, usage awareness, and TLC goes a long way towards faster charging. Now to wrap up this post so I can go boot up Skyrim again!
