The usual way to connect a Nintendo Switch to your Tv set is to place it in the dock. Merely what if you don't have the dock with you? Or worse – what if your Nintendo Switch dock breaks? Tin you connect a Switch to your TV without the dock?

Yes, you can.

This workaround lets y'all hook upward your Nintendo Switch to a Tv set without the dock.

Why Connect a Nintendo Switch to a TV Without the Dock?

If you lot accept a nice, fully functional Nintendo Switch dock, information technology might seem pointless to worry near connecting the console to a TV. Afterwards all, this is one of the primal purposes of the dock, aslope charging he Switch.

But what if the dock is broken? After all, it's a pretty lightweight slice of kit. It could easily end up snapping, getting crushed, or bang-up following a fall.

Nintendo Switch Dock

At that place are other reasons, too. If you have your Nintendo Switch on vacation and find there is a large Tv y'all tin utilise for multiplayer activeness, you lot're stuck. You probably didn't pack the dock, after all.

Non to mention, it's quite nice to accept the Switch in full view instead of hidden in the dock. If y'all like to play Switch games with the console mounted on a stand, having the option of swapping to the big screen is adept. It's too an option you lot don't usually take.

How a Nintendo Switch Normally Connects to Goggle box

The video and power cabling on a Nintendo Switch is routed into the dorsum of the dock. You probably recall from setting the device up that the ports are covered with a hinged door. Behind here you'll find, in lodge, the USB-C ability input, a USB 3.0 port for boosted storage, and the HDMI output.

Power and information for all these connections are converted to USB-C which is so routed around the bottom of the dock. Here, a single USB-C port connects to the docked Nintendo Switch. This single port charges the battery and keeps the device powered when docked. It likewise routes video data to your TV via HDMI and manages information from a USB storage device.

How to Connect Nintendo Switch to a TV Without the Dock

Clearly, you lot need a USB-C to HDMI adapter to connect your Nintendo Switch to a Goggle box without the dock.

To effort this out, I ordered a standard USB-C to HDMI adapter from Amazon. It has three inputs, just similar the back of the Switch's dock, and a single USB-C output.

To connect your Nintendo Switch to your HDTV without using the dock:

  1. Disconnect the USB-C and HDMI cables from the back of the dock
    Disconnect cables from Nintendo Switch
  2. Mountain the Switch on a stand up or lay it flat on a table near the Boob tube
  3. Connect the USB-C power cable and HDMI cable to the USB-C to HDMI adapter
    Connect Nintendo Switch to a TV without the dock
  4. At present connect the adapter to the Nintendo Switch
  5. Select the correct aqueduct on your TV
  6. Start playing games
    Connect Nintendo Switch to a TV without the dock

You can use the Joy-Cons individually, connected to the Joy-Con Grip, or utilise a Switch Pro Controller, just as y'all would normally. In that location should be admittedly no difference to the feel, other than the absenteeism of the Nintendo Switch dock.

As you tin can see, this is a relatively straightforward procedure. Nevertheless, it won't piece of work with all USB-C to HDMI adapters. You need to make certain you have an adapter that is uniform with the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch Compatible USB-C to HDMI Adapters

Which Switch-compatible USB-C to HDMI adapters should yous use? The device yous're looking for should have:

  • USB-C input for power
  • Standard HDMI output
  • Optional USB 3.0 port
  • A USB-C connector

A ton of options are available online. Non all of these are suitable for the Nintendo Switch. Some are completely incompatible, while others don't support 4K. Two of the best options are:

  • RREAKA USB Type C to HDMI Digital AV Multiport Hub—a multipurpose travel docking station that handles the Nintendo Switch as well as mobile phones, tablets, and travel TVs.
  • Switch HDMI Adapter Hub Dock—a compact replacement for the Nintendo Switch dock, with an aluminum blend instance to dissipate heat.

Whatever device you lot cull, ensure it is intended for replacing the Nintendo Switch dock.

Tin Yous Cast Your Nintendo Switch to TV?

Y'all probably know that information technology is possible to wirelessly cast mobile telephone and tablet displays to Tv. This is typically done using Google Chromecast, which also works with computers running the Chrome browser. Diverse wireless HDMI options are currently available, with TVs and media streaming devices capable of receiving video data and displaying it.

Chromecast and Apple Airplay are the most famous examples, although Miracast is supported by more devices and platforms, including Windows 10.

If you've ever bandage video from an app running on a phone (say, Netflix), you're probably wondering if the same feature is bachelor on the Nintendo Switch. Better still, can you stream games to your TV wirelessly?

Sadly non. Currently, information technology isn't possible to wirelessly connect or cast the Nintendo Switch display to your Idiot box. However, there is a crowdfunded campaign, the Genki ShadowCast, which lets y'all hook any game console up to a calculator with a USB-C input.

From here you could potentially output the video to a Tv over wireless HDMI, although latency might have a hit.

Connecting the Nintendo Switch to a Tv set Without the Dock Is Unproblematic

So, y'all don't really need the Nintendo Switch to exist docked to play games on a Boob tube. All you need is a compatible USB-C to HDMI adapter and a suitable stand up (optional). In short, if you're away from home or the dock is damaged, you can play Nintendo Switch games on a big screen.

And with the possibility of wireless streaming for the Nintendo Switch on the horizon, having the Switch docked is increasingly an selection you can motion away from.

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