If a Nintendo Switch dock won’t charge your console, it is probably because of faulty AC adapter, bad wall outlet, wrong order of cables or a temporary glitch.
Power cycling the AC adapter, changing the power outlet, power cycling the dock, connecting the cables in the correct order, or restarting your Nintendo Switch will solve the charging issues.
I assume that you are using the official USB-C AC adapter that comes with the Switch, which is what Nintendo also recommends.
But, if you are using any 3rd party cheap AC adapter to power the dock, replace it with an official Nintendo adapter. This will solve the charging issue.
Reset AC Adapter
If you are experiencing this not charging issue while using the official AC adapter, try resetting it.
Here’s how to do that:
- First, remove the AC adapter from the power socket and the dock for 1 minute.
- After 1 minute has passed, connect it to the dock and then to wall outlet and see if it charges your Nintendo Switch.
Check AC Outlet
Another thing to do when your Switch dock isn’t charging the console when docked is to check the AC power outlet.
For that, plug some other device into the same outlet and see if it receives any power. If it doesn’t, your outlet is the culprit.
Power Cycle the Dock
To power cycle your Switch dock, follow these steps:
- Disconnect the HDMI cable from the dock.
- Next, unplug the power adapter from both the dock and the power source and wait for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Then, plug the USB-C end of the adapter directly into the console, bypassing the dock.
If the console starts charging, the adapter is working properly. At this point, charge your console for 1 to 2 hours before plugging the AC adapter back into the dock and check if it charges the console while docked.
If it’s still not charging, continue reading.
Connect Cables in the Correct Order
Call it a bug or a safety feature, but the Switch dock only works when you connect the cables in a specific order.
So, disconnect all the cables from your Switch Dock and connect them in the below order:
- First, connect the power cable to the wall outlet.
- Now connect the power cable to the Switch Dock. Check its power LED.
- Connect the HDMI cable to the monitor or TV.
- Plug the other end of the HDMI cable into the Switch dock.
- Lastly, insert your Nintendo Switch console into the dock.
Make sure that all the cables are securely connected to the dock.
If the Switch dock is still not charging your console, then try restarting your Switch.
Restart your Switch
To restart your Switch console, press and hold the Power button on your Nintendo Switch for 5 seconds until a menu appears. Next, select Power Options and then choose Restart.
If you can’t see the Power Options menu, press and hold the Power button for 15 seconds to force shutdown your console and then turn it On again.
Contact Nintendo Support
Lastly, if you have tried all the above methods, but the dock is still not charging your console, it may be faulty and needs to be replaced.
If your Nintendo Switch is under warranty, the best course of action is to claim its warranty, as you will be entitled to a free repair or warranty.
To check your Nintendo Switch warranty status, visit the Nintendo warranty status page and enter your Switch console’s serial number.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.
