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how to charge nintendo switch controllers

You charge Nintendo Switch controllers either by attaching them to the console or by plugging them in with a USB cable to power, depending on which controller you’re using.

How to Charge Nintendo Switch Controllers

Joy-Con controllers (the small side controllers)

1. Charge Joy-Cons on the Switch

This is what most people do by default.

  1. Turn the Switch on or wake it up (not strictly required, but helpful to confirm they’re recognized).
  1. Slide each Joy-Con down the rails on the sides of the Switch until you hear/feel a click.
  1. Put the Switch into the dock, or plug the official AC adapter into the USB‑C port on the bottom of the console and then into the wall.
  1. Leave the console in at least Sleep mode (not completely powered off) so it can charge the controllers.

Key details:

  • Joy-Cons take about 3.5 hours to fully charge.
  • You can check battery levels on the Home screen by going to the Controllers icon and viewing each Joy-Con’s battery bar.

2. Charge Joy-Cons with a Joy-Con Charging Grip

If you want to play on the TV while your Joy-Cons charge:

  1. Slide the Joy-Cons into the Joy-Con Charging Grip (this is a special grip that has a charging port, not the plain one that ships with some bundles).
  1. Connect the Charging Grip to the Switch dock or AC adapter using the included USB cable.
  1. Play as normal; the Joy-Cons will charge while you use them.

3. Charge Joy-Cons with a Charging Dock

Third‑party or official Joy-Con charging stands are handy if you have multiple controllers.

  1. Plug the Joy-Con charging dock’s cable into one of the USB ports on the Switch dock or a USB power adapter.
  1. Slide up to four Joy-Cons into the dock slots.
  2. Confirm indicator lights: typically red while charging and green when fully charged.

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

1. Charge with USB‑C cable

  1. Plug the USB‑C end of the cable into the top of the Pro Controller.
  1. Plug the other end into the Switch dock USB port or directly into the official AC adapter.
  1. An orange LED on top of the Pro Controller lights up while charging and turns off when fully charged.

Details:

  • A full charge usually takes around 6 hours.
  • You can use the Pro Controller while it’s charging, though the cable length might limit how far you can sit.

2. Charge with a Pro‑Controller Dock / Charge Block

Some docks use a small dongle that stays in the controller.

  1. Insert the charging dongle into the USB‑C port on top of the Pro Controller.
  1. Connect the dock’s USB cable to a power source (Switch dock USB or wall adapter).
  1. Place the controller on the dock; the light on the dongle usually turns orange while charging and turns off when done.

Charging without the main Switch dock

If you don’t have the main dock (for travel or a Switch Lite, etc.):

  • Joy-Cons:
    • Attach them to the console and plug the console directly into the wall with the AC adapter; the Joy-Cons charge while attached.
  • Pro Controller:
    • Plug a USB‑C cable from the controller to any compatible USB power source (official AC adapter recommended).

Quick HTML table (methods & estimated times)

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Controller</th>
      <th>Charging method</th>
      <th>Power source</th>
      <th>Approx. full charge time</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Joy-Con</td>
      <td>Attached to Switch console</td>
      <td>Dock + AC adapter or AC adapter directly</td>
      <td>~3.5 hours[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Joy-Con</td>
      <td>Joy-Con Charging Grip</td>
      <td>USB from dock or AC adapter</td>
      <td>~3.5 hours (similar to console charging)[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Joy-Con</td>
      <td>Joy-Con charging dock/stand</td>
      <td>USB from dock or USB power adapter</td>
      <td>Typically ~3–4 hours (varies by accessory)[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Pro Controller</td>
      <td>USB-C cable</td>
      <td>Dock USB or AC adapter</td>
      <td>~6 hours[web:1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Pro Controller</td>
      <td>Charging dock/charge block</td>
      <td>USB from dock or AC adapter</td>
      <td>~6 hours, often indicated by LED turning off[web:1]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Little story-style example

Imagine you get home, your Joy-Cons are flashing low battery red, and you want to be ready for a multiplayer session tonight. You slide both Joy-Cons onto the Switch, drop the console into the dock, and go make dinner. By the time you’re back and you’ve watched an episode of a show, they’re close to full. Later, you plug your Pro Controller into the dock with a USB‑C cable before bed; in the morning, the orange light is off and everything is fully charged and ready to go.

Meta description (SEO):
Learn how to charge Nintendo Switch controllers the easy way. Step‑by‑step tips for Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers, with and without the dock, plus charging times and accessory options.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.