Since the Gameboy era, I have personally been a fan of the Nintendo Switch. I had been casting steam to Chromecast for a long time but now, I was thrilled when the Nintendo Switch was launched by Nintendo. I just couldn’t resist buying one. The madness even had me pack up my most prized gaming possessions, the Jackbox and the X-box on the shelf and I was ready to alter my gaming experience.
Dreaming about playing the best of Nintendo games on my gaming console at the comfort of my cosy home, I was too high and didn’t want to let it go. So, without waiting any further, I brought the Nintendo Switch home and couldn’t wait to play on it.
However, during my gaming session, my dog, Orio decided that it had compatibility issues with the Nintendo Switch because the Switch had me clinging to the game most of the time. So, it decided to settle the score with the Switch itself and knocked it off the table while I was out for work.
To my utmost disappointment and surprise, while I reached home in the evening, I realised that the Dock wasn’t working. I would have never known how it fell down unless I saw the little cute paws carved in dust on the TV table.
It left me wondering how I was going to connect Switch to TV without Dock. More than that, my big reason to worry was how to charge Nintendo Switch without Dock.
Leaving everything behind, I sat down on my laptop to research how to connect Switch to TV without Dock and I heaved a sigh of relief ! I was comforted to learn that there was a way to connect the Nintendo Switch without Dock.
I tried and tested the techniques and voila ! They worked. That’s when I decided to pen down here what I did to connect Switch to TV without Dock.
Here, in this article, I am going to disclose how to hook up Nintendo Switch to TV without Dock in case you are ever stuck with a lost, broken or damaged Dock and just can’t wait to play.
Is it Even Possible to Connect Switch to TV Without Dock?
I must tell you that the Nintendo Switch can easily be connected to the TV in the absence of a Dock. A ‘Dock’ is an essential part of the Nintendo Switch the way a Remote Control is to the TV.
I have resolved endless such queries of my friends when some had lost the remote( in the house itself) and some had it slip off their hands. They were glad to receive help with Connecting their TV to Wi-fi, changing the Volume or even as basic as switching ‘on’ their TV. There is always a way around when technology gives you a blow. In the worst case, there is always an option of using a universal remote if someone is totally remote-dependent.
Similarly, you won’t be deprived of the fun of playing games using the Nintendo Switch gaming console if the Dock is lost or damaged like mine.
The Nintendo Switch actually, cannot be directly connected to the TV in the absence of a Dock because it cannot support display over USB-C. For connecting Nintendo Switch to TV without Dock, you’ll require a USB-C to the HDMI connector if HDMI is the display output.
So, explore this possibility of how to play switch in TV without Dock here with me and you won’t miss having the Dock anymore by the Switch’s side.
How a Nintendo Switch Normally Connects to a TV
For the first-time readers here and the users of the Nintendo Switch, I feel the need to elaborate about how the Switch actually works in normal circumstances i.e. when the Switch and the Dock are together and everything is great.
The Nintendo Switch has a power and a video cable which gets inserted into the backside of the Dock. This was an essential step in setting the Nintendo Switch up for the first time, if you remember. The HDMI and the AC adapter ports are hidden behind the back door of the Dock. There is also an HDMI input, the USB-C power input and a USB 3.0 output for additional storage.
The power and data from all these connections that you make in the Dock, convert to the USB-C which then routes them around the Dock’s bottom. When the Nintendo Switch is kept in the Dock, it is connected with a small, single USB–C port. This little port is responsible for charging the Switch’s battery and keeping it powered on while it’s been Docked.
The video data is also routed to your TV by the HDMI and the data is managed through the USB storage.
That’s all that goes on while the situation is plain and simple, meaning the Nintendo Switch is ‘Docked.’
Now, you have understood how the Nintendo Switch works when ‘Docked’, you’ll realise the importance of HDMI cable and will know what’s missing. That realisation itself makes the replacement easier and the troubleshooting quicker.
So, now, head on with me to figure out how to connect Switch to TV without Dock in a simple and hassle-free way.
How to Connect Switch to TV Without Dock
The Nintendo Switch can be easily connected to the TV. In this case without a Dock, an extra USB-C cable will be required to the HDMI Connector. Check out how it’s done.
What you Require to Connect the Switch Without the Dock
1. Nintendo Switch Adapter
2. A HDMI Cord
3. Tripod Stand or Holder
4. A USB-C Cord
5. A Charging Adapter
HDMI Cable : A good quality HDMI Cable is required for a table and clear audio transmission so that absence of the Dock won’t be noticed while you play the game. The ones used for connecting the Digital TVs and the Playstations can easily be found in the house. If you can’t find one, get a new, hi-quality HDMI cable.
Adapter : At the time of buying a suitable Adapter , ensure that it should be compatible with the Console. Use an adapter which offers 4K streaming resolution. A weak adapter will be of no use for gaming so you must check the specifications before you buy one.
Charging Adapters also come handy if the Dock is damaged any day due to its fragility. Many users have complained that their Dock ceased to work soon after they purchased it and was very fragile. So, a good charging adapter must be with you for a rainy day if you have the Dock stop working suddenly.
The good adapter of a gaming console must have the following features :
- USB Type-C power output
- An HDMI output
- A USB 3.0 Slot
- USB Type-C connector
The one I have linked above supports all these essential features and can be used for multiple purposes.
Before you begin to play, ensure that the console should be fully charged.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Connect the Switch to TV Without the Dock
1. The HDMI Cable and the USB Type-C cord must be inserted in the backside of the Dock. Remove both of them. I
2. Place the Switch on a TV near the table. You can also place it on a Tripod Stand or a phone stand.
3. Now, connect the USB-C and the HDMI connector to the adapter.
4. Now, close the backdoor of the Dock and keep it aside.
5. Now, connect the Nintendo Switch to the Adapter where the USB-C and the HDMI Cord is attached.
6. Now, remove the Joy-Con Controllers from the Console.
7. I hope the Joy-Con Controllers were registered to the Nintendo Switch while setting the Switch up. Else, you won’t be able to use them as Wireless Controllers.
8. Now, switch the TV ‘on’ and select the corresponding HDMI input on the TV.
9. Now, switch ‘on’ the Nintendo Console. The power button is located on the top of the device.
Bang! You are all set now to use your Nintendo Switch console on the TV without the Dock.
It’s relatively a simplified process but largely depends on the adapter. If you have connected a suitable and compatible adapter, you won’t miss having a Dock while playing the games and won’t worry now about how to play Switch on Tv without Dock.
How to Charge Nintendo Switch Without Dock
So, you are now well-versed with how to connect Nintendo Switch to Tv without Dock. The Nintendo Switch can still be used well for playing in the absence of a Dock but most of the time, the users get worried trying to figure out if the Nintendo Switch can be charged without the Dock. And if yes, then how can it be done?
Worry not, just like other issues, this one also will be fixed here in this article. Stay with me to learn how to charge Nintendo Switch without Dock.
The Nintendo Switch’s battery can easily last from some two to six hours, depending on the game you are playing. While I was playing The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild, I received some three hours of playtime.
If you want to keep going, the Switch is required to be juiced up. Since you have to manage it without the Dock as of now, it can easily be done over USB – C Cable which is also popular as Portable charger.
Now, the battery drains faster on a heavy-duty game like The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild but if you are playing a lighter game like Snipperclips, the battery will charge up fast and will stay for a longer time.
How to Charge:
1. Simply connect the USB-C cable at the bottom of the Switch.
2. Now, insert the other end of the USB-C cable to the power adapter.
3. Now, power on the adapter by plugging it in a power switch.
4. When the adapter powers ‘on’, the USB-C charges the Switch connected to it.
I want you to remember that the charging with a USB-C cable will not be as fast as with the Dock so keep your patience in check.
In case you don’t want to buy a USB-C cable additionally and own a Power Bank, that also can be used very well to charge the Nintendo Switch.
In the similar way as mentioned above, just connect one end of the USB-C cable from the Power bank into the Nintendo Switch and let the Power Bank be connected to the Power Switch if it’s not charged up recently.
So, here I rest my pen for today and I hope you will find connecting the Switch to the TV an easy task even in the absence of a Dock. The Switch can still be used as a gaming console and even be charged up in that case. Keep playing and let me know how many levels you crossed in Stardew Valley.
FAQs
Q1. How can I use a connect switch to TV without the dock?
Answer – Basically, a ‘connect switch’ is a small box that is used for connecting the TV to the internet. It will allow you to stream content like Netflix or Hulu in the absence of a Cable connection or satellite subscription.
Q2. Is the OLED Nintendo Switch the Switch Pro?
Answer – Nope, the OLED Nintendo Switch isn’t a Switch Pro. Actually, the Switch Pro is a more powerful version of the Nintendo Switch which comes with a dock used for holding a larger gaming console.
Q3. How does the Docking station get its power?
Answer – An AC outlet gives power to the Docking station. When the device is plugged in, a signal is sent by the Docking Station to the device which sets it on charging.
Q4. Why can’t I connect my Switch to the Docking Station?
Answer – There can be many reasons why the Switch is not getting connected to the Docking Station. One main reason can be that the Dock is not properly connected to the Switch. In that case, try connecting the Switch to some other power outlet in the house or use an additional power supply, if possible. There is also a possibility that the USB which came with Dock is not compatible with the Switch you are trying to connect. To fix such an issue, either buy a compatible Dock or a new USB Cable.
Wrapping Up
Innovations are weird ! Once you buy a tech-device, you feel that you have everything that’s required. If even one part goes missing, your heart sinks at the realisation of your money gone down the drain but there is always a way around for the hurdle you face. This makes me always wonder that the manufacturer knew from the beginning only that one day, this-or-that part will go dead and then what ! That’s how ‘emergency’ hacks are innovated like the ones above.
You won’t find yourself in the middle of the sea if the Dock of your Nintendo Switch is lost. With my article above, you will always be able to hook it up to TV and continue your gaming session. Just keep your pets away and the Nintendo Switch Dock very safe ! 🙂
As an engineering graduate (and a full-time layabout), I am always looking for smart technological innovations to make my life simpler and more automated so that I can be even lazier than usual.
2 thoughts on “Solved : How to Connect Nintendo Switch to TV Without Dock”