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You can have endless fun on any games console, and in our opinion, the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic choice. It’s portable, and allows you to play on the go, but it can also be placed into a dock and played on the big screen.
So, nothing can be more frustrating than when your Nintendo Switch stops working, and you have no idea why it happened or how you can fix it.
If your Nintendo Switch won’t work, in this article we’ll discuss all the reasons why that may be, and – potentially – how to fix it.
Why Do Nintendo Switches Stop Working?
There are actually many common reasons why your Nintendo Switch may suddenly stop working. Let’s take a look at some examples!
Lack Of Battery Life
Sometimes, you’re just not charging your Nintendo Switch properly, meaning your battery has totally drained. When the battery of your Nintendo Switch is completely drained and you put it to charge, then it will take a while for the screen to light up.
This does not mean that the Nintendo Switch is broken, and provided you have put the Switch on charge correctly it will work fine in a few hours.
Problems With The Charging Cord
This is probably the most common problem with Nintendo Switches that won’t work. If you suspect the charging cord to be broken, try looking for damage to it, and invest in a new one should any damage have occurred.
Issues With The Firmware
Sometimes the software or firmware causes the issue. If you suspect it to be a firmware issue, then you will need to perform a force restart. If that does not work, then you will need to do a hard reset.
Hardware Failure
If none of the other issues appear to be present with your Nintendo Switch, then the only answer is a problem with the hardware. If this is the issue at hand, then the only thing you can do is take your Nintendo Switch to be repaired.
How To Fix Your Nintendo Switch
So, now you know the most common issues that may cause your Switch to stop working, let’s go through the ways to fix the console in more detail.
Step
Check The Charging Cord For Damage
The first thing you should do is check the charging cord for any damage or problems. It is inevitable that the charging cord will degrade over time, and this is particularly true if you play your Switch while it’s charging.
You should lookout for a bent adapter or pins, any fraying wires, or any exposed wires.
If you can, try to use an official Nintendo Switch charger, as these will last longer and will prevent any long-term problems with the battery from happening.
If you notice damage to your charger, then you must stop using it immediately and invest in a new one.
Step
Charge The Switch
This should be the second thing you try to do. If there is no sign of damage to the Nintendo Switch charger, you can go ahead and plug it into the console and let it charge for a few hours. It should charge with no issues and turn on after a few hours.
Alternatively, you can slot it into the dock, which has a charging port. Provided the charger is plugged into the dock, then the Switch should charge like normal.
Please note that the Nintendo Switch may take longer to charge if you do not have a Nintendo Switch charger, or if your charger is very old.
Step
Force Restart
If charging the Switch didn’t work, then it is best to try and enact a force restart. This will check for and fix any issues with the firmware. A force restart is when you press the power button in such a specific way that it forces the console to turn on.
Here’s how to do it:
- Press and hold the power button (at the top of the Switch) for 12-15 seconds.
- Release the button and then press it again 3 times in quick succession. The third time you press it, you need to hold it down until the switch turns on.
- Now that the switch is on, you need to see if you can go past the home screen. If you can – great! If you can’t, then you will need to try and perform a hard reset.
Step
Hard Reset
This is also known as a factory reset. Here’s how you can do it:
- At the same time, press and hold the power button, and the up+down volume button for 5 seconds.
- Now, you will have entered “Maintenance Mode.” Here, use the Joy-Con to initialize the video game console and press “OK”.
- Follow the simple, remaining instructions on the Switch screen to complete the factory reset, and then test the Switch to see if it will work.
Step
Professional Repairs
If your Nintendo Switch still won’t turn on, then you probably have a hardware issue and need to seek out a professional to get it fixed.
Final Thoughts
Your Nintendo Switch may not work for a variety of reasons, but we hope this article provides some answers and solutions so you’re no longer faced with a black screen, and your Nintendo Switch is up and running again.
