Tech Reference

How to charge a Nintendo Switch's Joy-Con controllers in 2 different ways

Written by Steven John edited by John Lynch
nintendo switch
There are a few ways to charge a Nintendo Switch's controllers. Steven John/Business Insider
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Without a pair of charged up Joy-Con controllers, your Nintendo Switch isn't going to be much fun.

The good news is that you can charge the controllers even while playing, and you can enjoy up to 20 hours of active gaming when the Joy-Con's batteries are fully powered up.

Check out the products mentioned in this article: 

Nintendo Switch (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

Nintendo Joy-Con Wireless Controllers (From $79.99 at Best Buy)

How to charge a Nintendo Switch's Joy-Con controllers

Connect the controllers to the console

The easiest way to charge the Joy-Con controllers is to connect them to the Nintendo Switch console while the unit is connected to the AC power unit that comes with the console.

You can achieve this by resting the console in its dock when you're not using it (as pictured above) or by connecting the Switch to power directly when you will be using its built-in screen for play (as pictured below).

nintendo switch controller
Joy-Con controllers begin charging as soon as they are connected to the Switch console, even if it's not connected to power.  Steven John/Business Insider

When plugged in and not in use, the Joy-Con controllers will take about three hours and a half to fully charge, and this charge should last for about 20 hours of use.

If you connect the controllers to a Switch console that is not plugged into power, the Joy-Cons will be charged to about half power or until the Switch's battery runs low, whichever happens first.

Connect the controllers to a charging grip

If you want to play on a TV and charge your Joy-Con controllers at the same time, you need to buy a charging grip separately.

nintendo switch charging grip
A charging grip effectively powers up Joy-Con batteries even during active use on another display.  Steven John/Business Insider

You can connect this controller grip to your AC power unit, and it will charge the Joy-Cons even as you use them on another display.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech: 

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Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.