You can charge a Nintendo Switch with a phone charger. As long as the charger has a USB-C output, it will supply a charge to the console. But you should pay attention to the charging output of the charger to keep the Switch battery in good condition.
This post will explore if you can charge a Nintendo Switch with a phone charger. I’ll tell you how this is possible and what you need to make it happen. I’ll also provide you with some other relevant information to keep in mind.
Time to get started.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- You can charge a Nintendo Switch with a phone charger, so long as the charger has a USB-C output that can plug into the console.
- Using a USB-C phone charger for the Nintendo Switch is generally safe, but you don’t want to use a fast charger with a high output that the Switch isn’t designed for.
- High-output fast chargers can cause the battery to heat up, which can degrade its lifelong performance.
- A low-output charger might not supply enough charge to keep the console at full battery while using the Nintendo Switch.
Can You Charge a Nintendo Switch with a Phone Charger?
The Nintendo Switch is typically charged in the dock supplied with the console or the charging cables that come with it.
But can you charge it with a phone charger if you don’t have either of these options?
Yes, you can. As long as you have a USB-C style charger, you’ll be able to get your Switch charged up without needing the chargers specifically designed for the console.
But you should know a few things about using a phone charger or any other type of charger with your Nintendo Switch.
First, using a fast charger can be a bad idea. If the fast charger has a high power output, it can heat up the battery in your Switch during charging. This can degrade the battery over time and result in a lower lifelong performance.
If the charger you use puts out more electricity than the chargers designed for the Switch, you might run into this issue. You aren’t going to ruin the battery with a single charge. But if you use this to charge the console all the time, it can cause issues.
You also might run into issues if you use a phone charger that doesn’t supply enough output. While this won’t harm the battery, the Switch might not charge up during gameplay, and the battery can run out even though it’s plugged in.
But if you have a standard USB-C phone charger that doesn’t put out too much or too little juice, you should be just fine, and it will charge up your Nintendo Switch like usual.
It’s also good to know that Nintendo doesn’t officially recommend charging the Switch with any other charger than the one supplied with the console. If you want the best performance out of your Switch, you’ll want to stick with using those chargers.
Do I Need a Power Bank for Nintendo Switch?
That depends on how much play time you plan on getting while away from an electrical outlet. The battery in the original Nintendo Switch typically lasts between 2.5 to 8 hours, depending on how intensively you’re running the hardware.
There are more than a few situations in which having a battery pack for your Switch might come in handy:
- You’re going to spend a day outdoors or on a camping trip.
- There’s a power outage in your neighborhood.
- You take long commutes on the train to work.
- You’re spending a long time on a plane or waiting at the airport.
- You’re in bed and too tired to get up and find the charger.
If any of the above situations apply to you, you’re likely going to want a backup power source so you can continue your gaming. There might even be situations where having a battery pack will come in handy just because you forgot to charge your console the night before.
How to Choose Portable Battery Pack for Nintendo Switch
Here are a few factors that we recommend you take into consideration.
Budget
The cost of a battery pack tends to be proportional to how long it takes for devices to charge. So the faster it charges your device, the more expensive it will be.
Capacity
Capacity is also proportional to price. The higher the capacity of your battery pack, the more playtime it will provide for your console.
For this reason, the higher capacity devices are also more expensive. This also has a relationship to the speed with which you charge your devices, because the faster the charge, the shorter the bank will last.
Charge Speed
The charge speed of your battery pack depends on your connection type and protocol. Apart from the power banks with the lowest power output, most should work to help to charge your Switch.
Airline Battery Regulations
In the US, there are rules and regulations that determine what kind of batteries you can bring on your flight. If you stick to smaller battery packs, such as 26,800mAh, you shouldn’t have many issues.
Overseas, in international airports, the limits might be different. Countries such as China have been known to confiscate large power banks because they can be a fire hazard. In the US, lithium batteries must be in your carry-on luggage and should not be in your checked bags.
Support for Multiple Devices
Though using your battery pack to charge your switch might be your original purpose, you might also want to use it for your other devices, to charge your iPhone, Android, tablet computers, or laptops.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to if you can charge a Nintendo Switch with a phone charger.
Can you charge a Switch with a fast phone charger?
You can charge a Nintendo Switch with a fast phone charger if it has the proper USB-C output to plug into the console. But fast chargers have a high output, which can cause damage to the Switch battery with long-term performance in mind.
What is the best way to charge a Switch?
The best way to charge a Nintendo Switch is to use the charger supplied with the console or the charging dock. These will deliver the proper charge to the console to keep the battery in good health for as long as possible.
Can you charge a Nintendo Switch with a Samsung charger?
Most Android phones, like many Samsung models, use a mini USB charger. This won’t work for a Nintendo Switch because you need to use a USB-C charger. But if you get the right cable, you can still use the charging block.
Why doesn’t my Switch charge with USB-C?
If you are having problems with your Nintendo Switch charging and are using a USB-C charger, you most likely have issues with the electrical source or the charger itself. Try a different wall socket or a different USB-C charger to troubleshoot the problem.
How do you charge a Nintendo Switch without a charger?
If you don’t have the charger or dock supplied with your Nintendo Switch, you can use any USB-C charger to supply the battery. You should just ensure that the charger doesn’t have too high of output to potentially damage the battery.
Final Thoughts
It is possible to charge a Nintendo Switch with a phone charger as long the charger has a USB-C output that can fit into the charging port on the console. This can help you charge up and play games when you don’t have the proper chargers.
Always keep in mind that using a fast charger has the potential to cause damage to your Switch’s battery. And it’s also important to remember that Nintendo does not officially recommend using any other charger than those that come with the Switch.
Have you ever used a phone charger with a Nintendo Switch? Did you have any issues? Let me know in the comments below.
