So one moment everything was fine. You were playing with your Switch and having a grand ol' time. Next thing you know, something has gone terribly wrong. You put your Nintendo Switch in its dock and suddenly the green LED on the front of your dock starts blinking. Even worse, your Switch doesn't seem to be outputting a signal to your TV or even charging while in the dock.
It seems that you have encountered what is beginning to be colloquially known as the blinking green light of death. Well, before you throw your Switch down the garbage disposal and sit down for a nice long cry, there are a few things you can try to get your Switch back in working order. Don't worry, in no time at all you'll be able to get back to the best Nintendo Switch games you've been playing!
What you'll need
Having problems with your Nintendo Switch's dock? You might need to purchase a new one. While you're at it why not treat yourself to a brand new Nintendo Switch OLED which comes with a dock in the box?
Check for updates
- Undock your Switch
- Go to the Settings menu to ensure that there are no updates available for your Switch.
- Once you are certain that you are up to date, restart your Switch by holding the Power button for three seconds, selecting Power Options, and choosing Restart.
Power Cycle
- Unplug the HDMI cable from your dock.
- Unplug your power cable from the wall and your dock and wait for 30 seconds.
- While you are waiting the 30 seconds, take this opportunity to inspect your power cable to ensure that it is not damaged in any way.
- Plug everything back in and see if that resolved the issue.
Skip the middleman
If none of these things so far have worked for you, plug the power cable directly into your Switch. If it begins to charge, the dock is the likely culprit.
If you have a faulty or malfunctioning dock, you're unfortunately going to have to send it in to Nintendo for repair. If you're not under warranty, you're going to have to pick up a new one. New Switch docks are still a little pricey, but you can find them for a little over $100 from various retailers. It's worth noting that you can now get the Nintendo Switch OLED dock separately, so if you want to upgrade and get a LAN port, that's the way to go.
Hopefully, you were able to get your dock back in working order. If not, I wish you all the best and I hope that everything will come to a quick and simple resolution. You can always contact Nintendo to get assistance with the issue.
Connect your Switch to your TV
If you enjoy playing your Nintendo Switch games on the big screen, a dock is a must. These docks are compatible with the V1, V2, and OLED model Nintendo Switch systems.
Includes a LAN port.
Although this new dock has one less USB port, what it does offer is a built-in LAN port. This is great for anyone who enjoys online multiplayer games and wants the best connection possible.
