The Nintendo Switch differs from the other big consoles out there in that it can be a handheld device or one that you play through your TV like any other – the choice is yours with the Switch as long as you don’t buy the Lite version.
And while the process is quite simple, we are finding many are searching for how to connect the console to the telly – we aren’t all tech-minded – and we’re here to give you the lowdown on that very question, as well as answering definitively whether there is a way to connect the Switch Lite.
So read on for all you need to know about connecting your Switch to your TV!
How to connect Nintendo Switch to TV
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As shown in the image above, taken from the Nintendo website, connecting your Switch to the TV is quite simple. You’ll need to plug the Switch dock into the wall, connect the dock to your TV with the included HDMI cable, and slot your Switch into the dock itself.
We’ve also got some steps for you, if that isn’t making sense, so check out these tips on how to connect your Nintendo Switch to your TV:
- Open up the back cover of the Nintendo Switch Dock.
- Connect the USB plug from the Nintendo Switch AC adapter to the top terminal of the dock (it is labelled as AC ADAPTER, just so you know what to look for)
- Now connect the other end of the AC adapter to the wall outlet.
- Connect the HDMI cable to the bottom terminal of the Dock that is labelled HDMI OUT
- Now you will need to connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI port of your TV or monitor of choice
- Close the Nintendo Switch dock’s back cover.
- Remove the Joy-Con controllers
- Insert the console into the dock but the LCD screen needs to face the front. The LCD screen will turn off after getting docked so you know you’re on the right track.
- Now turn on your TV, head to the correct HDMI source and you’re good to go!
Note: the steps above will work for the original Nintendo Switch and the newer Nintendo Switch OLED Model, but you cannot connect a Switch Lite to a TV in this way (or any other official way).
Can you connect a Nintendo Switch Lite to your TV?
No, you cannot connect your Nintendo Switch Lite to a TV in any official capacity. There’s no beating around the bush needed here. The Nintendo Switch Lite is not designed to be played on your TV and it actually does not even have the hardware in there to make it happen.
Over on Reddit, however, of course fans are sharing their unique ways to circumvent the hardware in the Switch Lite to (sort of) get it running on a TV.
I finally connected my switch lite to my tv! It’s a bit dumb and definitely could look better… but it’s not like I’m finding a regular switch anytime soon. from NintendoSwitch
To make that method work, you’ll need a phone-to-TV cable, a tripod for your phone, a 3mm audio cable to output your Switch sounds into some headphones or speakers, a spare controller to connect to your Switch Lite, and the patience to set all of that up! And even then, you’ll have to put up with some lag between the console and the display. Not worth the hassle, we’d say, but you’ve got to admire the effort.
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