Not sure how to charge up the Joy-Cons for your Nintendo Switch? In this guide, we'll show you a few ways to get your Nintendo Switch controllers back to 100% using the console itself, or with a few neat gaming accessories. You can even charge while you play, so you won’t have to hit pause! We’ve also got tips on how to get the Switch Pro Controller recharged if it's running low on juice.
Charging Joy-Con controllers with the console
The easiest way to charge up those Joy-Cons is by using your Switch console and its dock. Just follow these steps:
Attach the Joy-Cons to the console: Make sure your Nintendo Switch is on and slide the Joy-Con controllers into either side of the console until you hear them click.
Place your Switch in its docking station: The dock will need to be plugged into the mains and turned on to charge your Switch and the Joy-Cons.
Put your Switch in sleep mode: Press the power button on the top left of your Switch once so it enters sleep mode. The Joy-Cons won't charge if your Switch is completely powered off.
Wait for the Joy-Cons to charge: After about three and a half hours, your Switch controllers will be fully charged so you can get back in the game.
Using a Joy-Con charging dock
A pretty cool Switch accessory you can get is a dedicated Joy-Con charging dock like the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2 Joy-Cons Charger. It can charge up to four Joy-Cons at the same time — perfect if you have a second pair of controllers on hand for those Mario Kart multiplayer marathons!
Aside from charging more Joy-Cons at the same time, this accessory lets you completely power off your Switch too if it needs a rest.
Plug in the Joy-Con charging dock: Using the included cable, plug the Joy-Con charging dock into the USB port on your Switch's main dock (and make sure this is powered on at the mains).
Slot in your Joy-Cons: Pop your controllers in the dock and wait around three and a half hours for them to charge up. The LED indicators will let you know when they're full charged and ready to use.
Charging while playing
It's super annoying when you pick up your Switch, turn it on, then realise the Joy-Cons have run out of battery. But you can still go ahead and play Pikmin, Pokemon, or whatever game you're digging at the moment while the controllers charge up.
Plug your Switch into the AC adapter: You know the power adapter that's plugged into your Switch's dock? You can take it out and plug the USB-C end straight into the port on the bottom of your console instead. The cable's not very long though, so make sure you're near a mains socket so it'll reach.
Slot in the Joy-Cons: Attach the Joy-Con controllers to your Switch and they should work as normal. That's because the AC adapter will be charging your console and controllers while you play.
Using a Joy-Con charging grip
That previous method lets you charge your Joy-Cons and play your Switch at the same time in handheld mode. But what if you want to use your Switch through your telly while the controllers charge? No problem, you'll just need to get yourself a Joy-Con Charging Grip.
This is nearly identical to the Joy-Con Grip that came with your console. If you don’t know what that is, it’s the controller-shaped accessory that you can slot the Joy-Cons into so you can play Switch games with a traditional feel. But the Joy-Con Charging Grip is different as it can be plugged into your Switch's dock, letting the Joy-Cons charge up as you play.
All you have to do is use the included USB cable to get the Charging Grip hooked up to your dock. Then slide the Joy-Cons in and the controllers will charge. Easy!
Charging the Switch Pro Controller
If you own a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller then you'll know how amazing it is — I have one, so I can vouch for it! If you mostly play Switch through your TV then it's a no-brainer as it's super comfortable, wireless, and offers around 40 hours of playtime. That's twice as long as Joy-Cons can manage.
What's more, it's really easy to charge up — not that you'll have to do that very often since the battery life is so good…
Plug the Pro Controller into your Switch dock: Grab the cable that came with your controller and plug the USB-C end into the port on the top of it. Then plug the other end into the standard USB port on your Switch's dock.
Wait around six hours for the controller to charge: An orange light will shine on the controller to tell you it's charging. This light will disappear once the battery's full.
It's worth saying that you can still use a Switch Pro Controller while it charges. But the cable that comes with it is pretty short, so you'll have to be sitting close to where your Switch dock's located.
FAQs
How long do Switch controllers take to charge?
According to Nintendo, Switch Joy-Con controllers take about three and a half hours to fully charge and last for up to 20 hours. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller takes longer to charge at around six hours, but its battery goes for up to 40 hours.
How do I check how much charge my Nintendo Switch controllers have?
It's easy checking the charge on Switch controllers, whether you're using Joy-Cons or the mighty Switch Pro Controller. Just fire up your Switch and click on the controllers icon on the home screen. You'll then see the amount of battery life your paired controllers have. If you're in the middle of playing something, just hit pause and press the home screen button on your controller to check.
Any more questions?
Now that you know how to charge up your controllers, why not learn more about your Switch? Check out our how to reset a Nintendo Switch guide so you know what to do if your console starts acting up. Or find out how to stream from your Nintendo Switch if you want to share your gameplay footage online.
Pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2!
The Switch 2 is coming June 5, 2025. So, register your interest to find out about the next set of Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order dates.
