Why is My Nintendo Switch Not Connecting To The TV?

This article will help you solve the issue with your Nintendo Switch not connecting to your tv. In reality, there are a variety of reasons why your switch might not be displaying onto your tv and we will do our best to lay them all out for you to help you get back to playing your favorite Switch games on the big screen.

Is Your Switch Plugged Into A Different HDMI Port On Your TV?

Before diving into more in depth steps, it’s important to make sure that your tv is set to the proper HDMI channel that you are trying to display on screen. You can verify this by checking the side or back of your tv (depending on your tv’s setup) to see which HDMI port the Nintendo Switch dock is outputting its signal to. If your Switch is plugged into HDMI port 2 on your tv, make sure that your tv is set to HDMI 2 so that it will display the output for that selected port.

This may seem like an obvious step, but you would be surprised how many times people overlook this and assume that the issue must be something more serious or complex. Before jumping to conclusions about faulty wires or permanent damage as to why your Nintendo Switch is not connecting to the tv, take a moment to ensure that everything is setup properly.

Make sure that the HDMI cord is properly connected to both the Nintendo Switch dock and the tv. Check to see if the power cord is fully plugged into the Switch dock.

Open up the back of your Switch’s dock and find the section where both the HDMI and power cable plug in – make sure both of these are plugged in properly. After ensuring both cords are secured, check the front of the dock to see if the TV output LED light is lighting up with a green color.

If the Switch is in the dock and the LED is lighting up, but it is not connecting to the tv, try performing the following steps:

1. Disconnect the HDMI cable fully from your Switch and your tv. Try plugging the HDMI cable into a new HDMI port on your tv and then re-plug the cable back into your Switch. Wait to see if the Switch now connects to the tv.
2. Try using a new HDMI cable. It’s possible that your Switch’s current HDMI cable is faulty or no longer works. You may purchase one on Amazon here for relatively cheap and with next day Prime shipping.
3. If you have another tv in your home, try connecting your dock to this other tv. If the dock connects to the other tv set with no issues, then you know that the problem is not with your Nintendo Switch, but rather with the original tv. If that is the case, the original tv could have a hardware issue or it could be related to the tv’s settings.
4. If you have a friend nearby with a Nintendo Switch, ask them if you can try using their dock to see if your Switch will output to their tv properly. If your Switch connects to the tv successfully with their dock, then you know that it is not your actual Nintendo Switch that has the issue, but rather is your dock. You can either contact Nintendo to see if they can repair your dock for you, or you can purchase a new dock through Amazon here.

Why is My Nintendo Switch Not Connecting To The TV?

If your Nintendo Switch is not fully sitting and resting in the dock properly, your Switch may not connect through the dock’s port which can cause it to not be displayed on the tv. Take out your Nintendo Switch and place it back into the dock, ensuring it sits in the dock correctly.

Try checking your Nintendo Switch’s charging port on the bottom of the handheld device. See if it is dirty or dusty. If so, try using a canister of compressed air to blow any dust or debris from the port. You may also try using a handheld attachment for a vacuum to suck dust from the area.

After you have ensured everything is properly connected and that your tv is on the correct HDMI channel, if you still are experiencing issues with your Nintendo Switch not connecting to the tv, you may now move onto the next steps.

Test The Nintendo Switch In Handheld Mode

A great way to ensure that the issue with your Nintendo Switch not displaying on the tv isn’t related to the Switch itself is to remove the handheld from the dock. Lift it out of the dock and see if you can see anything on the screen. If the screen is black, try pressing the power button on the handheld to turn it on. If you see that the screen is displaying just fine, then the issue is clearly a problem with your dock and not the Switch itself.

Try holding down the power button for 3 seconds located at the top of the Switch handheld. After a menu appears, select the “Power Options” option and then select “Turn Off”. Allow your Switch to remain off for at least 60 seconds. After a whole minute has passed, press the power button on your Switch once again to turn it back on. After the Switch power back on, place it back into its dock and see if it connects to the tv.

If your Switch is only displaying a black screen in handheld mode, make sure that it is properly charged. Use the power cable that came with your Nintendo Switch to charge the handheld for a minimum of 10 minutes before attempting to turn the Switch back on again. Charge your Switch with the cable directly, with the handheld removed entirely from the dock.

If none of the above steps helped and still your Nintendo Switch is not connecting to your tv, we recommend contacting Nintendo customer support for further assistance.