How to connect your Nintendo Switch to the TV
Nintendo’s hugely popular hybrid console can be played in a number of versatile ways.
There’s a handheld mode, where you play with the controllers attached to the side of the Switch’s screen.
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There’s also a tabletop mode, where you can hit the switch on its kickstand and disconnect the controllers for solo or group play.
Or there’s a docked mode, where you send a video from your console to a TV to enjoy your favorite Nintendo games on a screen that deserves them.
The Nintendo Switch screen itself is only 6.2 inches, after all, with an average resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels.
Replacing that with a 40-inch screen and 1,920 x 1,080 resolution makes a world of difference, and will bring out even more loving detail from the games you’re using your Switch for.
A big screen is also much better for playing with friends – playing split-screen Mario Kart on a 6.2-inch display is less than ideal.
It’s simple to get your Switch up and running on your TV, and we go through each step in our how-to guide below.
1. Prepare your cables
When you buy a Nintendo Switch console, you’ll get a grey-black dock included for this purpose. First, you need to open the back of the dock, revealing two cable ports.
The top port is for the AC adapter, which plugs into a wall outlet to supply power to the console. The bottom port is for an HDMI 2.0 cable, with one end connected here and the other end connected to your TV.
The Switch can’t stream content wirelessly to another device, so you’ll need a cable to get the job done.
2. Prepare your switch
Once everyone is plugged in and you’ve closed the back of the dock, you’ll need to place your Switch console inside the dock.
Slide the Switch in from the top of the dock, with the screen facing forward (where you can see the Switch logo).
There is a small connector point at the bottom of the base that plugs into the console, which is easy to slide into.
3. Disconnect your controllers
If you haven’t already, now is the time to slide out of your switch controllers. The Joy-Con controllers stick out of the sides of the dock and you’ll still be able to reach them; all you have to do is press the little ‘release’ button on the back of each Joy-Con and slide it up, separating it from the console.
New Switch purchases will also come with a Joy-Con grip that you can slide the controllers into, as pictured above, though you can also use a Pro controller, or even use a Joy-Con turned on its side.
4. Turn on that TV now
Then turn on the TV and find the correct HDMI input. Many televisions will have a «Source» button on the remote, or have a menu for inputs among the settings.
You’ll be able to turn on some modern TVs simply by pressing the home button on your Switch controller, waking up the screen, and jumping directly to the correct input, though you can also turn this feature off in the Switch’s own settings menu.
Note that your TV or monitor will need to be at least 1080p to see a graphical difference, though the Switch can’t output in 4K resolution, even if the TV is capable of it.
5. Start playing
That is! There is nothing left to do, just sit back and relax with your perfect gaming setup.
There are few games that couldn’t be bettered with the TV treatment, and you can head over to our list of the best Nintendo Switch games to see the top contenders.
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