How Long Does It Take a Dead Switch to Turn In?
If you’re like many Nintendo Switch owners, you’ve encountered a dead Switch at least once in your gaming adventures. It’s frustrating when your console refuses to power on, leaving you to wonder how long it takes to come back to life. In this article, we’ll explore the timeline of when a dead Switch might turn on, so you can get back to gaming faster.
Pre-Charging Checklist
Before we dive into the pre-charging process, take a quick glance at this checklist to ensure you’ve performed the basic troubleshooting steps:
- Has the Switch’s battery drained completely?
- Are there any signs of physical damage or water damage?
- Have you restarted the Switch by pressing the power button and holding it for a few seconds?
If you’ve checked and double-checked these points and your Switch still won’t turn on, it’s time to move on to the pre-charging phase.
Pre-Charging Phase: 15 to 30 Minutes
- Power Cycle: Charge the Switch for at least 15 to 30 minutes, even if you’re using a wall outlet or charging dock. You can skip this step if you’ve already charged your Switch and it still doesn’t turn on.
- Hold the Power Button: After the pre-charging phase, press the power button and hold it for about 10 to 15 seconds. You’ll hear a faint charging sound and see the white light indicating that the power is flowing.
Supervised Charging: 30 Minutes to 2 Hours
If the Switch shows no signs of life or doesn’t turn on even after the pre-charging phase, it’s essential to continue charging it.
- Leave it alone: Set the Switch charging for at least 2 hours, or until you see the charging icon () next to the battery icon in the top-right corner. You can check the official Nintendo Support website for precise charging times, but generally speaking, the Switch takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to completely charge.
- Regularly Check: Keep a close eye on the progress by periodically checking the switch’s power button. A fully charged Switch will register a change in the status icon when it’s approximately 2 hours into charging.
Hard Reset Option
In some cases, a dead Switch might fail to charge or turn on due to software issues, so we’ll explore hard reset options.
- Power Off: Press and hold the power button until the Switch completely powers off, then wait for about a minute to ensure the memory is flushed.
- Press the Power Button : Restart the Switch, and this time, let it fully charge for around 3 hours. Alternatively, perform a hard factory reset to wipe out stored data, which might clear up software-related issues causing the problem.
Tips and Precautions
Before concluding, here are some helpful tips and guidelines to keep in mind for your Nintendo Switch:
Charging Tips
- Never leave your switch unattended while charging to avoid damage.
- Make sure the surface is clear of any heat sources, flammable substances, or electrical devices.
- Keep the wall adapter, charging dock, or other charging accessories safely stored to prevent damage from water, dust, or other contaminants.
When your dead Switch finally kicks back into life, always remember that a fully functional Switch with a healthy charge can recover from most low-battery situations. Have you encountered any issues during the process? Share your experiences or ask questions to help you troubleshoot similar problems.