After 800 charge cycles, your Nintendo Switch battery life will start to degrade a bit. This means that you’ll need to charge your console more often. Additionally, the battery will drain faster when playing resource-demanding games.
How long should my Nintendo Switch battery last?
How long your Nintendo Switch battery lasts in handheld mode depends on your console model and the game you’re playing.
When playing lightweight games, your Nintendo Switch battery should last for 4 to 7 hours before needing another full charge.
When playing resource-demanding games, your console will need a charge after 2.5 to 4 hours.
For example, The Witcher 3 is a heavy game. After 2.5-3 hours of gameplay, you’ll need to charge your battery.
On the other hand, if you’re playing Animal Crossing, the battery should last for 3 to 4 hours.
Old Nintendo Switch consoles barely reach 2 hours when playing low-resource intensive games. If you’re playing resource-demanding games, the battery won’t last more than one and a half hours.
The battery life of Nintendo Switch consoles varies depending on the model you’re using.
- Nintendo Switch model HAC-001, serial number begins with XAW → battery life is 2.5 to 6.5 hours.
- Nintendo Switch model HAC-001(-01), serial number begins with XKW → battery life is 4.5 to 9 hours.
- Nintendo Switch Lite model HDH-001 → battery life is 3 to 7 hours.
- Nintendo Switch LED model HEG-001, serial number begins with XTW → battery life is 4.5 to 9 hours.
How long does Nintendo Switch battery last in Sleep mode?
Your Nintendo Switch battery will drop between 10-15% while in Sleep Mode. Without running any games or updates, the battery should not drop more than 15% in 24 hours.
Your Nintendo Switch console is powered by a lithium-ion battery. Its battery life will gradually decrease over time.
According to Sony, after about 800 charge cycles, your Nintendo Switch battery life will decrease to about 80% compared to a new console.
Rest assured, this is normal. Your console and battery are working fine. After all, batteries are consumable items.
How can I make my Nintendo Switch battery last longer?
To make your Nintendo Switch battery last longer, lower the screen brightness, enable Airplane Mode, and disable Vibration and Motion Controls.
Adjust screen brightness
Lower the screen brightness to a comfortable level. The brighter the screen, the more battery it consumes. You can adjust the brightness in the settings menu.
Enable Airplane Mode
When you’re not playing multiplayer or using online features, enable Airplane Mode. This disables Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, reducing battery drain.
Disable Vibration and Motion Controls
Vibration and motion controls can be fun but use up battery life.
If you don’t need them, consider turning them off in the system settings.
Go to System Settings, navigate to Controllers and Sensors, and disable Controller Vibration.
Use Sleep Mode
When taking breaks from playing, put your Nintendo Switch into sleep mode by pressing the power button once.
This conserves battery power and allows you to quickly resume your game later.
Keep your Switch updated
Regularly update your Nintendo Switch system software. Updates often include performance improvements and optimizations that can help extend battery life.
When not using your Nintendo Switch for an extended period, make sure to fully charge it and then turn it off. Avoid leaving it in a completely discharged state for too long.
If you’re planning to play for an extended period while away from a power source, consider using a compatible power bank to charge your Nintendo Switch on the go.
By the way, if your Nintendo Switch console won’t change, activate the Recovery Menu, perform a hard reset, and check your charger.
References:
This guide was updated in June 2023.