For anyone who has ever experienced their Nintendo Switch cutting out while playing on their TV, you know the frustration that comes with it. After my own Nintendo Switch kept cutting out on my TV screen, I decided to do some research to find out what was causing the problem and what I could do to fix it.
In this blog post, I’m going to share with you the causes and fixes I discovered through my research, as well as some tips and tricks that may help you if you ever find yourself in my shoes.
A faulty TV, HDMI cable, or AC adapter are some of the most common causes of Nintendo Switch cutting out on TV. If none of these are the cause of the problem, the Switch unit or its dock could be the culprit.
Continue reading to learn more about the issues that can cause the Nintendo Switch to cut out on TV and how to fix it once you’ve identified it.
| Cause | How to Fix |
|---|---|
| Faulty TV | 1. Test the Switch on another TV. 2. Test a different gaming console or external device on the TV. 3. Power cycle the TV. 4. Consult a professional if the issue persists. |
| Loose or Faulty HDMI Cable | 1. Check if the HDMI cable is loose in any of the ports. 2. Use the HDMI cable that came with the Switch or one with a similar or higher rating. |
| Faulty AC Adapter | 1. Use the AC adapter with the same specifications as the one that came with the Switch. 2. Test the Switch with a borrowed Nintendo Switch adapter to see if the issue persists. 3. Replace the AC adapter if necessary. |
| Faulty Dock | 1. Test the Switch in table-top or handheld mode. 2. Clean the dock connector pins with compressed air. 3. Repair or replace the Switch dock if necessary. |
| Faulty Switch Unit | 1. Update the Switch software. 2. Perform a soft reset by unplugging the Switch, holding the power button for 12 seconds, and waiting 30 minutes before turning it back on. 3. Perform a factory reset as a last resort, keeping in mind that it will erase all data on the device. |
Table of Contents
Turn on or off Auto-scan
Some people have had success by turning on or off the auto scan in the aspect ratio settings.
Change the resolution settings on your Nintendo Switch
Some people also have had success by changing the resolution settings on the Nintendo Switch. To do this do the following:
Settings -> TV Output -> Resolution
Turn RGB to limited in the settings
Some people have also had success by selecting RGB as limited in the settings on their Nintendo Switches.
In the Switch’s tv settings, turn RGB to limited. System Settings -> TV Output -> RGB Range
5 Common Causes of Nintendo Switch Cutting Out on TV
Gaming isn’t that enjoyable when the game keeps cutting out. So, here are the top five most common causes of Nintendo Switch cutting out on TV, as well as how to fix them.
- Faulty TV
If there’s an issue with the TV to which the Nintendo Switch is connected, one of the side effects could be the Switch cutting out.
If you have more than one TV, connect your Nintendo Switch to another one. Use it similarly to the TV that cut out and see if it does the same thing. If the Switch doesn’t cut out on the other TV, the first TV may have a problem.
You could also try connecting a different gaming console or external device to your TV. If they also cut out on your TV, you’ve got a faulty TV on your hands.
There are numerous reasons why your TV isn’t functioning properly. Usually, a power cycle can resolve any minor issues.
Here’s how to power cycle your TV:
- Keep your TV turned on
- Unplug the TV from the power source for 30 seconds to a minute
- Press the power button if your TV has one for five seconds
- Plug your TV into the power source
Then, you can turn on the TV and reconnect your Switch to see if it still cuts out.
If a power cycle doesn’t resolve the problem, you may need to have a professional inspect your TV.
- Loose or Faulty HDMI Cable
The HDMI cable that connects your Switch to the TV could be the source of the problem. For this potential problem, you’ll need to check a few things about the cable.
There’s always the possibility that you didn’t properly connect your Switch to the TV by plugging the cable into either or both of the Switch’s and the TV’s output holes.
So, the first thing you should do is check to see if the HDMI cable is loose in any of the holes.
If that’s not the case, the next step is to make sure you’re using the correct HDMI cable for your Switch and TV. There are old HDMI cables that support lower resolutions. These can significantly affect the transmission between your Switch and TV.
That’s why it’s essential to use the HDMI cable that came with your device.
If you don’t have the HDMI cable that came with your Switch, you should get one that has a similar or higher rating.
- Faulty AC Adapter
Similarly to the HDMI cable, you shouldn’t use an AC adapter that doesn’t meet the same specifications as the one that came with your Switch.
AC adapters are in charge of supplying the correct amount of electricity to your device. Using an AC adapter that provides less or more electricity than needed can result in several problems.
So, if you’re not using your Switch’s adapter, you should use one that has the same specifications.
Another issue could be that the Switch’s AC adapter is faulty. Whether it’s old or malfunctioning, a faulty AC adapter can also result in several problems.
Since there isn’t an easy way to determine that the AC adapter isn’t working, it’s best to borrow a Nintendo Switch adapter and check to see if the Switch still cuts out on TV.
If the problem resolves, you’ll need to replace the Switch’s AC adapter. Luckily, it’s usually inexpensive and available online.
- Faulty Dock
So far, the possible causes of Nintendo Switch cutting out on TV have had nothing to do with the Switch itself.
That said, the Nintendo Switch is unfortunately not faultless. However, before blaming the Switch unit itself, let’s take a look at the dock.
To find out if the dock is the root of the problem:
- Take the Switch out of the dock
- Set it up in table-top mode or handheld mode
- Play a game
If the Switch no longer cuts out, the issue is with the dock.
Usually, the dock’s problem lies within the connector pins. So, try cleaning the connector pins with a burst of compressed air to remove any dirt or dust.
If the Switch still cuts out after you connect it to the dock, you may need to repair or replace your Switch’s dock.
- Faulty Switch Unit
If the Switch still cuts out on TV after you take it out of the dock, the Switch unit itself may be the problem.
You can resolve any software issues by trying some solutions:
Update Software
If your Switch is out of date, a bug may be to blame. So, update your Switch to the most recent version.
Soft Reset the Switch Unit
- Unplug the Switch from the power source
- Press and hold the Switch’s power button for 12 seconds
- Leave the Switch turned off for 30 minutes
- Turn on the Switch to see if the problem persists
Factory Reset the Unit
If all else fails, you should factory reset your Switch unit:
- Click “System Settings” from the Home Screen
- Scroll down the menu and choose “System”
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and choose “Formatting Options”
- Click “Initialize Console”
- Click “Next” to continue
- Click “Initialize”
Keep in mind that this should be your last resort because factory resets erase all data on the device.
Conclusion
There’s no need to worry if your Nintendo Switch cuts out on TV. The cause is usually not a serious problem that you can’t resolve on your own.
So, you can read through our article to familiarize yourself with the most common causes of the Nintendo Switch cutting out on TV and how to resolve them.
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