16 Easy Ways to Fix Switch Not Connecting to TV

You won’t be able to access multiplayer modes or use voice chat if your Nintendo Switch isn’t connected to a TV. You won’t be able to play any games at all.

You prefer to cast your Switch’s screen to a larger screen, but the Nintendo Switch does not appear to connect to your TV. If this occurs, the following are the possible causes:

Causes of Nintendo Switch Not Connecting to TV

Nintendo Switch

For a variety of reasons, the Nintendo Switch may lose or fail to establish a connection. Among the causes are:

• Nintendo Switch Online services are down.

• Your Wi-Fi network is down.

• Your Switch is out of range.

• Your network’s security key is incompatible.

• A firewall is preventing the Switch from accessing your network.

• Cables aren’t properly connected to the TV

• Wrong input source

• Misconfigured Nintendo Switch settings

• Outdated switch firmware

• Faulty dock station

How to fix Nintendo Switch not connecting to TV

Try these troubleshooting options in order to get your Switch back to TV:

1. Check Nintendo Switch Server

Before proceeding with any technical troubleshooting, this is the first step to take. Check to see if Nintendo Switch Online is unavailable using downdetector or this link. Everyone’s Switches will be unable to access online services if there is a local or global outage.

Switch’s server issues are typically resolved quickly, and they will usually provide a timeframe for when the outage is expected to be resolved.

2. Check Network Status

If the problem isn’t with the service, it could be a problem with your network. Examine whether other devices, such as phones, laptops, and tablets, can connect to Wi-Fi.

Switch may not function properly if your internet connection is down. You can troubleshoot your network to ensure that your Switch is connected properly. Refreshing your modem, router, switch, or other network devices may help to remove bugs and resolve minor connection issues.

3. Reduce Distance

Bring yourself closer to your router. You may be too far away from the router. If you have a Switch Lite or another console in portable mode, try sitting in a different location to see if the connection improves.

If your Switch is docked, try moving it closer to the router.

4. Restart modem and router.

Whether your network appears to be operational or not, it’s not a bad idea to try power-cycling it as well. Unplug your router and modem for about a minute if they are separate. Reconnect your modem, wait 30 seconds, and then power on your router.

If you have a router/modem combo, unplug it, wait a minute, and then plug it back in. Once the connection has fully booted up, try it again.

5. Restart Switch

Some issues may be resolved by turning off the hardware rather than putting it to sleep. Hold down the Power button on the console for about five seconds to bring up a menu, then choose Power Options. You can restart or turn off the console; select Turn Off to shut down the system completely.

6. Try a wired connection.

If your Switch is having trouble connecting to WiFi, try connecting via Ethernet. When you first purchase the Switch, it cannot connect to the internet via a wired connection.

To get them online automatically, you’ll need to buy a LAN adapter. (A dock with a wired LAN port is included with the Nintendo Switch OLED model.) Switch Lite will also require a USB stand to create a port into which the adapter can be plugged.

7. Check firewall settings

The Switch may be unable to access services due to a firewall on your network. You can isolate it from the rest of the devices and bypass the firewall by putting it in a DMZ. The Nintendo support website has instructions for configuring a DMZ on your Switch.

8. Change HDMI cable

Other Nintendo Switch users have reported that switching to a shorter HDMI cable resolved their Switch to TV connection issues.

The longer the cable, the more likely data will be ‘dropped out.’ Reduce the length of your cable.

Check that your HDMI is properly and securely connected. If possible, test the cable on a different device to ensure it is not defective.

9. Connect your Switch in the correct order

Check that you have connected your Nintendo in the correct order. When connecting the Switch to the TV, follow the steps below.

• Plug your AC into the dock.

• Connect the AC adapter to the main power supply.

• Plug in your HDMI cable to the dock.

• Connect the HDMI cable to your television.

• Insert your Nintendo into its docking station.

This is the order in which you should always connect your Switch to the TV.

10. Disconnect other Devices

It’s possible that your TV isn’t connecting because you have too many devices connected at the same time.

Remove all other devices and leave only your Nintendo Switch plugged in.

11. Power cycle TV

• Unplug your television from the wall.

• Unplug any devices that are currently connected to an HDMI cable.

• Reconnect your television.

• Only connect your Nintendo Switch.

12. Check for system update

Before performing a system update, please ensure that your Nintendo Switch is connected to the internet.

• Select ‘System Settings’ from the home menu.

• On the left, scroll down until you see the word ‘System.’

• Now, select ‘System Update.’

Your Switch will first check to see if there is an update available. If one exists, it will be installed automatically.

13. Hard reset Switch console

If your Switch still has some issues, turning it completely off and then back on may help. You must first turn off your console. To accomplish this, first:

• Press and hold the power button for at least three seconds.

• Next, go to Power Options.

• Next, select Turn Off.

• Wait 10 seconds before pressing the Power button again to wake up the Switch.

Hopefully, the Switch will connect to the TV. If that does not resolve the issue, proceed to the next step.

14. Charge depleted battery

If the Nintendo Switch’s battery is low or has depleted, it may not connect to TV. When the Switch’s battery is nearly completely depleted, the battery indicator appears briefly on the upper left side of the screen rather than the usual upper-right location.

To resolve this issue, leave the console plugged into the charger overnight and check to see if this resolves the problem. Try turning it on the next morning.

15. Clean the USB-C port & charger

A thin layer of grime or dirt could be preventing the Switch console’s or Dock’s USB-C port from making contact with the charger.

A thorough cleaning of the USB-C port can resolve the problem. Cleaning a USB-C port should be done with caution. Metal objects, such as safety pins and knives, should never be inserted into the USB-C port. This can permanently damage your device by damaging the tiny contact points.

16. Purchase a new adapter

If nothing has worked up to this point, you may require a new charger. The official Nintendo Switch adapter is the most likely to resolve the issue.

If you want to save money, there are some cheaper third-party replacement chargers available. However, third-party docks and chargers have previously been known to brick the Switch.

This Official Nintendo Switch Replacement Adapter comes highly recommended by me. You can find out how much it costs on Amazon.

Charger for Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite and Switch OLED

Conclusion

Now that you know how to fix Nintendo Switch not connecting to TV, I hope you were able to use the simple fixes I provided in this guide to update your current settings.

Please let me know in the comments section below if these suggestions were useful to you. You can also check out our detailed explanation on How to Connect Nintendo Switch to TV