How long to charge Nintendo Switch

Important:

As with most lithium-ion batteries, the console battery life will gradually decrease over time. After about 800 charge cycles, the console battery life will decrease to about 80% compared to the battery on a new console. This is normal and does not represent an issue with the console or with the battery.

Information:

  • The Nintendo Switch console takes approximately 3 hours to fully charge when the console is powered off or in sleep mode. Charging time will be longer if the console is in use.
  • Once fully charged, the battery duration for the console varies depending on model and on the software application and functions being used.
    • For Nintendo Switch – OLED Model with a serial number that starts with “XT”, the battery life is approximately 4.5 to 9 hours.
    • For Nintendo Switch consoles with a serial number that starts with “XK”, the battery life is approximately 4.5 to 9 hours.
    • For Nintendo Switch consoles with a serial number that starts with “XA”, the battery life is approximately 2.5 to 6.5 hours.
    • For Nintendo Switch Lite, the battery life is approximately 3 to 7 hours.

One of the biggest benefits of the Nintendo Switch—being able to remove it from its dock and take console-quality gameplay on the go—is also its biggest downfall. When the Switch is away from its dock, it’s subject to the same battery life struggle that all gaming handhelds have faced.

If you wear out the battery while away from the dock, once you plug it back in, you’ll need to wait for it to charge at least a little before you can play it again. While all Switch models take the same amount of time to charge to full capacity, their out-of-dock battery life differs based on their particular model and serial number.

Here’s all the information you’ll ever need to know about the Switch’s battery life.

How long is the Switch’s charging time?

If the Switch is powered off or in sleep mode, it takes roughly three hours to charge from empty to full. If your Switch already has some charge, it will take less time. If you’re playing a game while the Switch is charging, it will charge more slowly to compensate for the increased power use, so it will take longer to reach fully charged status.

How long does the Switch’s battery last?

If your Switch is connected to its dock and is in console mode, it will sustain power through its AC wall adapter, so you don’t need to worry about battery life. If you’ve taken it out of the dock and put it into handheld mode or if you’re using a Switch Lite, there are only a certain number of hours it will last before its battery dies.

Here is the battery life for specific serial numbers and models:

  • Switch models whose serial number begins with XAW: approximately 2.5 to 6.5 hours
  • Switch models whose serial numbers begin with XKW: approximately 4.5 to nine hours
  • Switch Lite: approximately three to seven hours
  • OLED Switch: approximately 4.5 to nine hours

To check your Switch’s serial number, boot it up and select System Settings on the Home screen. From there, scroll down the menu on the left side of the screen until you see the System option. Select that, then select Serial Numbers.

How long to charge Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is a great portable gaming device that relies on a Lithium Ion battery to keep working.
How long to charge Nintendo Switch

The battery is located inside the case and can be replaced if it goes bad.

How long it takes to charge, battery life, and other questions can all vary.

Below are the most commonly asked questions about the Nintendo Switch and the battery.

The average charge time for a dead Nintendo Switch battery is 3.5 Hours.

This, of course, can vary on many factors such as battery health, age, and more.

How Long Does the Switch Need to Charge Before It Turns On?

The battery will usually need at least a 1-percent charge before it turns on.

A 1-percent charge should be available after 10-15 minutes of charging.

How Long Does it Take for a Nintendo Switch to Charge to 1-Percent?

A Switch will usually charge to 1-Percent in 10-15 minutes.

The results will vary and depend if the dock is used or wall charger as well as the health of the battery.

How Long Will the Nintendo Switch Battery Last During Game Play?

How long the battery last can vary on the model of the unit.

Different batteries have been used in the Switch and can be check by looking at the serial number.

  • A Switch with a serial number that starts with “XK”, has a battery life of 4.5-9 hours.
  • A Switch with a serial number that starts with “XA”, has a battery life of 2.5-6.5 hours.
  • The Switch Lite has a battery life of 3-7 hours.

Besides the rated life of the battery the game being played will also need to be consider since some games require more resources to play.

What is the Nintendo Switch Battery Life?

The Nintendo Switch uses a lithium-ion battery that will slowly degrade after each charge.

It is currently rated to degrade by 80 percent after 800 charge cycles.

Besides, charge cycles temperature can also affect how long the battery will last.

It is well known that heat damages lithium-ion batteries and can greatly reduce the life span.

How Long Until Shutdown with Warning Flashing 1 Percent Charge Left?

When the battery is drained and has 1 percent left, it will begin warning the user.

With a 1 percent charge, the Switch will have roughly 7-9 minutes of playtime left.

This will, of course, vary on the game being played, screen brightness, battery age, and so on.

What To Do If the Battery Will Not Charge and Turn On

If the battery does not charge, there can be many issues, from a bad battery to a loose connection.

It is usually best not to use the dock and to charge the unit directly with the wall charger overnight.

If the unit does not charge, the battery may need replacing.

Nintendo Switch Battery Maintenance and Care

The Nintendo Switch uses a lithium-ion which is widely used and has well-known characteristics.

Basic care and maintenance will go a long way to extend your battery life.

Here are some basic maintenance tips for the Nintendo Switch and for any lithium-ion batteries.

  • Keep The Unit and Battery at Room Temperature
  • It is best to keep the unit between 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius ) and 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 Celsius).

    This means no extreme temperature, such as a hot car during the summer or outside during the winter.

    The heat is the biggest cause of failure in Nintendo switch batteries and reduces the life span.

  • Don’t Constantly Completely Drain the Battery
  • Lithium-ion batteries do not like to be drained to a dead state as they do not have a charge memory.

    It is best for the battery to use partial-discharge cycles.

    This means charging the battery when it hits 20-30 percent is the best option.

    Experts state that after 30 charges to let it drain completely but not constantly.

  • Extended Storage
  • If you plan to store the Switch it is recommended to discharge the battery to about 40 percent and store it in a cool place.

    Storing a fully charged lithium-ion battery is not best as a high charge has the highest oxidation, which can slowly break things down.

Can a Nintendo Switch Battery be Replaced?

How long to charge Nintendo Switch

Yes, the battery can be replaced with some minimal skills.

Several screws will need to be removed along with the case.

There are many YouTube videos showing the steps to replace the battery.

Summary
The Nintendo Switch is a great device with a Lithium Ion battery built-in that makes the unit highly portable.

Lithium Ion batteries have known characteristics that can make them last longer with the right care and maintenance.

With care, the unit should last a long while.

Problems with the battery can happen, especially as it ages and has many charge cycles.

The heat can cause Lithium Ion to quickly breakdown, and drastically shorten its life span.

If the battery goes bad, it can be replaced with many DIY YouTube videos.

Have you had problems with the Nintendo Switch Battery? Let us know your thoughts below.

How long does it take for a Nintendo Switch to charge up to 1 %?

All in all, it takes anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes to charge a Nintendo Switch from 0% to 1%, depending on factors like your charger, the battery health, and the individual device. It's better to not let the Switch battery get this low, because it can reduce the lifetime of the battery.

Can you play Nintendo Switch while charging?

There are two ways to charge a Nintendo Switch console, and both allow you to play while you're charging. When your Switch is in its dock, even if you're playing on the TV, the console will be charging via the power cable connected to the dock.