Nintendo Switch Disconnects From TV (Causes and How to Fix)

As a Nintendo Switch owner, I have been frustrated by the device disconnecting from the TV. After doing a lot of research and testing, I’m here to share how I solved this issue and some other solutions I discovered. In this blog post, I’ll be exploring the various causes of why the Nintendo Switch disconnects from the TV, as well as providing helpful tips on how to fix it. Hopefully, if you’re having this problem too, this post will help you get back to gaming on your Switch with no more disconnects!

Several reasons your Nintendo Switch may disconnect from your television include being incorrectly linked to the Nintendo Switch Dock Station, faulty cables, and more. Furthermore, your Switch has system settings that will help automatically detect your TV’s output settings.

Tips:
– Double-check all of your Nintendo Switch settings, as well as the connections, to ensure everything is properly set up.
– Make sure you have all the necessary components to set up your Nintendo Switch to the TV, including the Nintendo Switch Dock Station, AC power cable, and HDMI cable.
– Check that the HDMI input is correctly fitted in both HDMI ports and that the TV is switched to the correct HDMI channel.
– If the issue persists, try using a different HDMI cable, connecting the Switch to a different TV or computer monitor, and adjusting the TV Output settings on the Switch.
– Perform a firmware update on both the TV and the Nintendo Switch.
– Soft reset your Nintendo Switch, and if none of these solutions work, contact Nintendo for a repair.

Table of Contents

Nintendo Switch Not Connecting To TV: Hardware Troubleshoot

Many gamers have reported problems connecting their Switch to televisions, which they were able to remedy the same day. As a result, we will begin with minor fixes to see if you can get back to gaming without interruptions.

Begin by double-checking all of your settings, then move on to the connections. If everything looks to be in order, concentrate on the Switch and the television in the issue. As a result, ensure you have all the necessary components.

Besides from the Switch itself, to connect your Nintendo Switch to the TV, you will need the following:

Nintendo Switch Dock Station

AC power cable
HDMI cable

Remember that the Switch Lite cannot be used as a secondary display when connected to a television. In addition, these solutions are only compatible with Switch models that can connect to a Dock Station.

Now that you’ve made sure you have all the required components to set up, let’s take a closer look at some TV display troubleshooting.

Ensure That Your Have Connected The Device Correctly

One of the first issues users find to be the solution is double-checking the inputs. First and foremost, ensure that you have correctly connected your Nintendo Switch console to the Dock Station.

You could also try gently detaching and reconnecting the Switch on the Dock Station a few times to ensure it is correctly placed.

Check that it is correctly seated in the Dock and that the Dock is on a sturdy, flat surface. If you’re on something bumpy, unstable, or similar, the motion may be causing the Switch to detach from the Dock.

Furthermore, the Switch connects to your television through HDMI, which supports numerous input kinds.

So check that you’re using the correct HDMI connection and that your TV is switched to the correct HDMI channel. If you are unsure that you have followed the process correctly, try unplugging and retrying with the following steps:

Connect the HDMI cable to the Switch and the television. Check to verify if the HDMI input is identified on the connector on the back of the TV; ensure that it is correctly fitted in both HDMI ports.
Switch on the television and ensure that the Dock Station is turned on. The Dock Station has a small green light on one corner of the device to indicate that it is powered on once you plug the AC cable into a power source and the Dock Station.
Place your Switch in the Dock Station. To know that your Switch is placed correctly, face the Switch display towards the Switch JoyCon logo found on the Dock when inserting.

With your TV remote, press the Input button or source on your remote until you locate the same HDMI connection number as where the Switch was inserted on the TV. If they aren’t labeled, move on to step four.
Begin with HDMI 1 and wait for the TV to load that connection fully. If it does not display the Switch home screen, try HDMI 2. Work your way through each possible HDMI connection, allowing each to load before moving on to the next.

Remember that switching between connection types on a television or monitor might take some time. There is often a visible blink once the connection is established; however, this is not always the case.

In addition, remove any accessories or external devices connected to the Dock station, such as an external hard drive or any other USB cable or device, since this can often interfere with the display signal being transmitted to the TV. Once removed from the Dock station, restart your Dock, and try again.

If you can’t establish a connection with the first HDMI port on the TV, you should try replacing it.

One port on your TV may be broken, but it does not indicate they are all. After you’ve relocated the cable, restart the TV and choose the new port as the input.

Troubleshooting The TV And HDMI Cable

If you have tried all the basic setup steps above and still have display issues, then you can try a new HDMI cable since there may be a problem with the HDMI cable you’re using.

If you’re using an outdated or damaged HDMI cable, I recommend that you replace it with an aftermarket HDMI cable. On the other hand, a higher-quality HDMI cable might provide a better user experience.

If the same thing happens with the new HDMI cable and you end up with no result, try troubleshooting the TV.

If possible, connect your Nintendo Switch Dock to a separate TV or computer monitor with HDMI capability and with both HDMI cables, as there may be an issue with the present TV.

If the culprit is the HDMI cable, it may be due to it being incompatible or outdated, damaged from wear and tear, and the simple solution would be to invest in a new HDMI cable.

If the present TV is the culprit, and the Dock station works on another display monitor or TV, there are several reasons behind this. Worst case scenario, you are dealing with a faulty HDMI port on the TV, and if it only has one HDMI port, then the port will need to be replaced.

However, if there are multiple HDMI ports, chances are that they are not all damaged, and we can move on to the following possible fixes, which may have to do with the Nintendo Switch or TV’s settings.

If you have no results with attempting to get a display with a different TV or monitor, then the issue may be with the Nintendo Switch or the Dock Station itself.

It’s also worth noting that a faulty Docking Station might create a variety of connection concerns. As a result, it’s best to always check for malfunctioning dock stations and replace them (if necessary).

If your Nintendo Switch is still under warranty, you can request a replacement dock station or just purchase a new one from the online or offline market.

Before you send it in to get replaced, there may be a simple fix: adjusting settings found on the TV or Switch or updating the software on both devices. That said, let’s examine the software-related solutions.

Nintendo Switch Display On The TV: Software Troubleshoot

Users often find that when they have sent their Nintendo Switch in for repairs, they were given feedback that there was nothing wrong with the Dock or the Switch and only required to adjust the TV Output Setting on the Switch or perform a software update on either TV or Nintendo Switch.

Furthermore, in rare cases, a simple soft reset of the Nintendo Switch – which completely refreshes the device software – was all that was required. That said, if it is not a hardware-related problem, try the following software solutions that may be your TV’s leading cause of display difficulties.

Ensure Your TV Settings On The Nintendo Switch Is Correct

Your Switch has basic settings that allow you to manipulate the display output settings for your TV. To edit these settings, you will need to use the hand-held display on your Switch and do the following:

Select System Settings (gear icon) on the Nintendo Switch’s Home Menu.

Select ‘TV Settings’ from the left Menu and set TV Output to Automatic from the right Menu.
You may also change the RGB Range setting to Limited or Full and try to see if this helps.
Finally, turn off the Power Sync option and see whether the problem is resolved.

Occasionally users have reported that manually changing these settings helped to fix display issues on various TV models.

Perform A Firmware Update On Your TV And Nintendo Switch

I recommend upgrading the firmware on the TV and the Nintendo Switch to the most recent version available because an older firmware version or build might cause many performance or stability issues.

To check for any available updates on your Nintendo Switch, do the following:

Ensure that your Switch is connected to the internet
Next, from the home screen on your Nintendo Switch, tap the System Settings icon
On the left-hand side of the screen, scroll all the way down to System and select it

On the right-hand panel of the screen, find and select System Update and follow the prompts for your Switch to update.

While you are there, it would be best to switch on Automatic Updates found in the same list of options under System Updates to avoid any problems occurring in the future.

That said, you may want to do the same with your TV. Again, most smart TVs are different, but most have the option to update the software too.

For example, with most Samsung TVs, you will need to do the following:

On your TV remote, select Menu
On the settings panel that pops on your TV screen, head over to Support

A Support panel will pop on your screen; head over to Software Update and follow the prompts to update your TV’s Software.

Soft Reset Your Nintendo Switch

Soft resetting your Switch can resolve software issues, such as preventing it from connecting to a television.

It’s so simple that it’s worth a shot each time you’re having issues with your Switch. First, you must press and hold the Power button until the Switch goes off. It may take some time, so be prepared to hold it down for 15 seconds until it shuts off.

Next, use the same power button to restart it. After that, you can connect all the connections correctly to establish the TV connection and then reseat the Switch in the Dock to see if it works.

Pros:

Can diagnose and fix the issue without contacting Nintendo.
Simple troubleshooting steps to follow.

Can check the software updates.
Can troubleshoot hardware issues.
Can soft reset the Nintendo Switch.

Cons:

In some cases, may need to replace the HDMI cable.
In some cases, may need to replace the TV port.
In some cases, may need to replace the Nintendo Switch Dock.

In some cases, may need to contact Nintendo for a repair.

Conclusion

It’s always good to troubleshoot faulty tech to find the culprit, address it and prevent it from happening again.

With that in mind, beat the frustration by ensuring that your hardware and software are well maintained and regularly updated.

Still, anything can happen with technology these days, and when it comes to TV to Switch display interruptions, this guide has some of the best solutions to troubleshoot and fix the potential problem.

If you still can’t get the Switch to connect to a TV after going through all of these procedures, you should contact Nintendo regarding a repair. They offer an internet gateway via which you can contact them and begin the procedure.

References

https://www.getdroidtips.com/nintendo-switch-not-connecting-tv/

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22372/~/how-to-connect-nintendo-switch-to-a-tv