We’re nonetheless ready to see if there will likely be a follow-up to the Nintendo Switch OLED, and even the unique Switch or Switch Lite. Until then, you may have to make use of what it’s a must to play The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While you are taking part in, it is time to brush up on use it. There are loads of hidden options and little methods that may provide help to get probably the most out of the console, and we have rounded up the most effective ones right here.
We even have 11 Nintendo Switch Lite suggestions in case you have the handheld-only model of the console.
Updated May 2023: We’ve added a few new suggestions and a bit about Nintendo Switch Online.
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Turn on Your TV
True to its identify, the Switch will flip in your TV for you, or change its enter if you boot it up. Booting it up can be wi-fi. Just press the Home button in your Joy-Con or Pro controller. If you don’t just like the function (not all TVs are appropriate with it), you may flip it off in Settings > TV Settings > Match TV Power State.
Find a Lost Joy-Con
If you lose a Joy-Con controller, the Switch has a panic-free solution to discover it. Click on the grey Controllers button on the house display screen, then click on Find Controllers. Once there, you can also make any paired Joy-Con or controller vibrate at will. Grab the Switch and tip toe round, urgent vibrate on and off till you discover that sucker.
Make Friends and Play With Them
The Switch technically has a web-based service, however it’s nonetheless a ache to play with mates. Every recreation is slightly completely different, however usually, you’ll need to first discuss to them over textual content or in actual life and get their pal code. To discover a pal code, click on in your Mii image within the higher left of the house display screen then faucet Add Friend. Tap Search with Friend Code and kind of their digits. If wanted, you too can see your pal code within the decrease proper. Once you’ve got established friendship, be sure you each personal the sport you wish to play, then enter it and begin a web-based room or battle with mates and invite them. You will want a Nintendo Online subscription to play on-line multiplayer and save video games to the cloud.
Voice Chat With Friends
Once you’ve got turn into Friends with somebody (see above), you may voice chat with them utilizing the Switch Online cell phone app. A couple of video games like Fortnite help their very own on-console chat, however for some Nintendo video games you may have to obtain the Switch Online app or your Android or iPhone. All gamers might want to have it open if you start a play session after which you may chat collectively utilizing your telephones. No, it isn’t probably the most intuitive system.
Our Best Gaming Headsets and Best Wireless Gaming Headsets guides have suggestions for Switch-compatible headphones and mic combos.
Pair Bluetooth Headphones
It took a very long time, however the Switch lastly helps Bluetooth audio. If you wish to hearken to your video games with out having a wire dangling out of your ears, you may lastly achieve this by heading to System settings > Bluetooth Audio > Pair Device and join your headphones. You can take a look at our guides to the most effective wi-fi headphones and the most effective wi-fi gaming headsets to search out those that work greatest for you.
Pair Joy-Cons With an Android Phone, Mac, or PC
Joy-Cons stay as much as their identify. I couldn’t assist however smile after I found I might pair my Joy-Con or Pro Controller with an Android cellphone. Better but, it really works with Mac and PCs, too (although you’ll want an app like JoyToKey to map the buttons accurately on Windows). They work as a result of Nintendo makes use of Bluetooth to attach them. Just maintain down the small sync button on the highest of the controllers for just a few seconds and the lights on them will flash, letting they’re in pairing mode. Find them within the Bluetooth menu of your cellphone or pc and also you’re good to go.
Remap the Buttons on Your Joy-Cons
If the best way sure buttons are configured is troublesome so that you can use, otherwise you simply wish to optimize your format to get a greater Hades time, now you can remap any button on the Switch. Head to System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Change Button Mapping. Here, you may change any button to another. So should you’d relatively swap ZL and ZR, or use one of many triggers as a bounce button, you are able to do it. You’ll additionally discover choices to swap the left and proper management sticks, or change their default orientation.
Check Your Battery Life Anytime
The Switch OLED will get barely higher battery life than the unique Switch because of its comparatively extra environment friendly OLED display screen, however neither will final so lengthy you will not have to test the battery on occasion. To see the battery life, and regulate just a few different settings like quantity and brightness, maintain down the Home button whereas taking part in a recreation. After a second, the menu will pop proper up! You may also have the Switch present the precise % of battery remaining within the higher proper of the house display screen by holding ZL and ZR collectively, or toggle it on completely in Settings > System > Console Battery (%).
Save Battery by Changing Sleep Settings
The greatest battery drain on the Switch (like most units) goes to be the display screen. If you dock your Switch that is not an issue, however in handheld mode the display screen will keep on for 10 minutes earlier than going to sleep. You can lower down on loads of wasted cost should you decrease this setting. Head to System Settings > Sleep Mode > Auto-Sleep (Console) and you may set your Switch to sleep after as little as one minute of inactivity.
Make Weird, Fun Sounds on the Unlock Screen
The Switch enables you to unlock by urgent any button thrice. Have you tried it? If you will have, you’ll discover this software program Easter egg. Most buttons sound the identical, however the left management stick, proper management stick, ZL set off, and ZR set off make odd, enjoyable noises, like a clown horn. One different factor to strive: the clicky noise that the Switch makes if you faucet in a random location is strain delicate. It will get deeper or larger pitched relying on how laborious or smooth you contact.
When the novelty wears off and also you’d relatively simply unlock your Switch instantly, disable the display screen lock solely by heading to System Settings > Screen Lock and disable the “Lock Console in Sleep Mode” choice.
See How Long You’ve Played a Game
Ever surprise simply what number of hours you sunk into Zelda? It’s simple to test. Click in your Mii image within the higher left nook of the Switch house display screen. Click Profile when you’re in there to see a tough estimate of how a lot time you’ve wasted accumulating Korok seeds. If you’ve added mates (you want their Friend Code), you may see what they’ve performed currently, too! You could make a profile or cease sharing your playtimes in Settings > Users > (*21*) > Friend settings.
Change Your Region to Access Region-Restricted Games
The days of needing a Japan-specific console to play some Japanese video games are over. You can simply toggle your area in Settings > System > Region. Most video games are normally accessible globally, however some titles might arrive in a single area first. This checklist would possibly assist, if there’s a selected recreation you’re trying to play. One different good thing about switching from US to a area like Europe: the field artwork modifications for some video games, like Breath of the Wild. You might additionally create a brand new person for every area.
View the Menu in Dark Mode
Try out the Dark Mode by deciding on “Basic Black” in Settings > Themes. It could also be simpler in your eyes than the default white background, particularly should you’re utilizing the Switch in handheld mode.
Attach a USB Keyboard or Headset
There are three USB ports on the Switch dock. You can plug in most any USB keyboard and it ought to work, letting you sort in menus to enter stuff like passwords. Just remember the fact that you may’t truly play video games with the keyboard. USB Bluetooth headsets additionally work. We have been stunned to search out that a few of our outdated PS4 headsets plugged proper into the Switch.
Make Another Profile for an Extra Save Slot
There are a lot of video games that solely offer you one save slot. If you need extra, there’s a straightforward repair. Just make a second User (Mii). Navigate to Settings > Users > Add User to make an additional person. Once made, it should seem as a selection if you open loads of video games. Choosing the brand new person will create a brand new, separate save file.
If you need the precise reverse, you may eliminate the User Selection screens and get the system to all the time default to your core account in video games by turning “Skip Selection Screen” to On.
Transfer Data to a New Switch
If you upgraded to the brand new Switch OLED (or simply have to switch to a brand new unit), you may convey your outdated profiles, recreation save knowledge, and even your screenshots and recordings out of your outdated console to your new one. We have a full information to the method right here and it is price studying the entire thing since there are steps you will not wish to do out of order, however be sure you have each consoles useful if you get began.
Send a Screenshot to Your Phone With a QR Code
Sharing screenshots was a ache on the Switch, however now there’s a neater method. From the Home menu, open up your screenshot Album. Then you may choose Sharing and Editing, then Send to Smartphone. This offers you a QR code that you could scan along with your cellphone’s digital camera app that may direct you to a web page the place you may obtain your screenshots and movies. Much simpler than posting them to Twitter!
Move Game Save Data to Your MicroSD Card
By default, your recreation save knowledge will likely be saved on the interior storage of your Switch. However, if you wish to clear up some house on the system, you may transfer your recreation saves to a MicroSD card. Head to System Settings > Data Management and select “Move Data Between System / MicroSD Card.” Select “Move to MicroSD card” after which you may select which video games you wish to transfer over.
Note: While this can retailer your recreation saves on the MicroSD card, you will not be capable to simply swap that card to a different Switch and entry recreation saves on that console. If you simply bought a brand new console, see our information on How to Transfer Save Data From One Nintendo Switch to Another.
Perform a Hard Reset if It Freezes
The Switch is fairly steady, however it’s not resistant to the occasional freeze. Turning the Switch off normally works by holding Power for just a few seconds, till the restart menu opens. If that doesn’t occur, the most effective answer is to do a tough reset by holding down the ability button for about 12 seconds or so (simply maintain holding). Once it powers down, wait at the very least 30 seconds and energy it again up.
If your issues proceed, you may strive booting it into Maintenance Mode by holding the ability button as you flip it on after which when the Nintendo brand seems, additionally urgent down on each quantity buttons proper subsequent to it. This will allow you to manufacturing facility reset it, or clear it out whereas making an attempt to avoid wasting your knowledge. Good luck!
Use Your Joy-Con Like a Wii Remote
If you’re feeling nostalgic, the Joy-Cons can be utilized with movement controls in some video games. For occasion, seize World of Goo on the Nintendo eShop, set up it, and open it with a Joy-Con. The recreation will ask you to set the Joy-Con on a flat floor, then level it on the display screen. Do this after which you should use it similar to a Wii Remote, with an onscreen cursor and every thing!
Consider a Second Dock
It’s not strictly essential as an adjunct, however should you continuously journey or play in a number of rooms of the home, shopping for a second dock could be top-of-the-line choices you make. I’ve a spare dock I maintain in my suitcase for after I journey so I can play video games on the TV in a lodge room. But anyplace you need one other dock, an additional could be extraordinarily useful!
Accessories You’ll Need
Be positive to take a look at our checklist of Must-Have Nintendo Switch Accessories. You will most positively want a 128-gigabyte MicroSD card (many video games are 10+ gigabytes and the Switch has 32 – 64) and may additionally wish to purchase this display screen protector (I’ve used it and it doesn’t bubble) and a USB 3.0 Ethernet Adapter if you wish to velocity up your web connection on the older dock, although the brand new Switch OLED dock comes with its personal Ethernet port in-built, which is handy!
Should You Get Switch Online?
Nintendo’s Switch Online service is without doubt one of the most cost-effective subscriptions in gaming and appears virtually like a no brainer. For $20 a 12 months (or $35 a 12 months for a household plan), you may play on-line, save your video games within the cloud, and use voice chat in sure video games. Also embrace is a library of NES and SNES video games.
There’s additionally the Expansion Pack which prices $50 per 12 months for a person and $80 per 12 months for a household. This model provides a collection of N64 and Sega Genesis video games, plus some Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC. This is not fairly as apparent of a deal, however should you’re trying to play Banjo Kazooie, Majora’s Mask or Goldeneye 007 in your Switch, that is the best way to do it.
Overall, Switch Online is not strictly essential until you play video games on-line or desire a retro gaming library, however the primary model is an absurdly low cost worth, and the Expansion Pack is a strong purchase for followers of the N64 technology.
Games to Own
Finally, should you’re attempting to find video games, test our Best Nintendo Switch Games information. Here are just a few random enjoyable ones to strive apart from Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, which needs to be your first three purchases: