As you probably know, the Nintendo Switch comes with a built-in battery that lasts for about two hours.

The Switch charges using USB-C. It comes with a USB-C cable and charger. The Switch charges more slowly than a phone since it’s more power-hungry.

The best way to charge the Switch is through a wall outlet, but if you don’t have that, you can use a 12V USB-C charger.

The Switch will not be able to charge while you play unless the charger provides enough power.

Since the Switch can charge faster off a high-capacity (higher amperage) charger, you’ll want to make sure you have a good one. Nintendo provided a list of recommended chargers.

So how does the console charge at home?

Let’s take a look at the different ways you can keep your console powered up.
In order to fully charge your Switch, you’ll need access to an electrical outlet and a battery charger that can supply power.

Your Nintendo Switch comes with a wall adapter to plug into an electrical socket. It also has a USB charging cable to plug into a wall-mounted USB port or another compatible device (like another Switch).

When plugged in via these cables, your Switch will charge until it has enough juice to run continuously for more than two hours. Each of these chargers will beep and display green lights when they finish their jobs.

Wall adapter

The wall adapter plugs into the Switch’s USB port and uses AC power to charge the console. The adapter has a green LED light that indicates that it is connected and charging, but it can be difficult to see.

USB charging cable

If you have a USB port on your Switch, you’ll need to plug the charging cable into a compatible power source. (These ports are on the front of the console and below the kickstand.) The process is the same: connect to an electrical outlet or another compatible device with a USB cable.
The Nintendo Switch console comes with a battery charger that works in similar ways to the USB chargers.

Plug this charger into an electrical socket to charge it, and then plug it into the dock for your Switch when you want to play it. The battery charger will beep and display green lights when it finishes charging.

Nintendo Switch with dock

When you plug your Nintendo Switch into the provided dock, your console will sync with the system and charge while playing games. This is also a great way to charge your Switch on the go since it takes up less room than having two devices.
The dock charges through your TV’s HDMI port—you can use any TV or monitor that has an HDMI port. Since the dock has its own power supply, this means you don’t need to worry about turning off your TV or monitor when you’re charging in order not to lose power.

The dock also has a second USB outlet so you can connect other peripherals like controllers and joy-cons if you want them to be charged at the same time as well.

Nintendo stand (pro only)

The Nintendo Switch Pro Stand is an optional accessory that docks your Switch into a stand. It charges the console and allows you to use it in tabletop mode or horizontally on a flat surface for two-player action. To charge it, simply plug the charging cable into any wall outlet.

USB charging grip (pre-order option)

The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have an option for wireless charging, but you can purchase a USB charging grip, which is a small device that attaches to the console’s USB port.

The grip is compatible with most USB-charged devices and includes a built-in battery that can recharge your Switch up to 100 hours, depending on how much you use it.

Conclusion

Nintendo switch charging is different from other Nintendo consoles because it uses a proprietary charging grip instead of a USB cable.
This means no matter where you are and what you are doing, you can charge your Nintendo Switch.