However, some users have asked—“Why won’t my switch connect to the TV?” while attempting to connect their Switch to a TV. This issue can be attributed to various reasons. In this guide, we’ll show you the most common reasons why won’t your Nintendo Switch connect to your TV and how to fix it. Read this guide to learn more.
“My Switch Won’t Connect to the TV” — Most Common Reasons
As mentioned earlier, your Nintendo Switch cannot connect to your display due to various reasons. Some issues can be related to the TV input settings, cable connections, and the Nintendo Switch itself. Here are some of them:
1 “My Switch Won’t Connect to the TV” — Most Common Reasons2 How to Fix Nintendo Switch Won’t Connect to TV2.1 Fix #1: Restart your Switch and Smart TV2.2 Fix #2: Connect the Cables in the Right Sequence2.3 Fix #3: Soft Reset your Nintendo Switch3 Final Thoughts
Damaged HDMI or USB-C Cables – It’s important to check the HDMI cable that you’re using to ensure a proper connection between the Switch and the TV. Similarly, this also applies when you’re using a USB-C connection from the Dock to your TV.
If you see any tears and damage on the connectors, replace them and see if the issue is solved. Also, ensure that the cables are compatible with your Switch and are properly connected.
Improper Connection – Sometimes you’ll need to follow specific connection patterns to connect portable devices—like the Nintendo Switch—to your TV. An improper connection to the Dock will not be recognized by your Switch.
TV is in the Wrong Input – When setting up an external input device to your TV, it receives the device in various input ports. Most of the time, your TV will have more than one input; so, it’s important to try them all out first and see where your Switch displays properly. Dock is not working – If the Dock is not working please read our article which explains How to Connect Switch to TV Without a Dock.
How to Fix Nintendo Switch Won’t Connect to TV
Before going straight to the fixes, first, ensure that you’re not owning a Nintendo Switch Lite. This console model is specifically designed for console use only and won’t connect with external displays when on the Dock. if you’re certain that you have a Nintendo Switch and a working Dock, here are some fixes that you can try.
Fix #1: Restart your Switch and Smart TV
Most minor issues with your Nintendo Switch can be fixed by restarting it. To restart your Switch, first, unplug its AC adapter and remove it from the Dock. Then, follow these steps: Also, you can proceed to do a power cycle on your smart TV to re-initialize its components, including the input ports. To do this, follow the steps below:
Fix #2: Connect the Cables in the Right Sequence
For some reason, your Switch won’t connect to the TV when you’re not following the right sequence when connecting the cables. But don’t worry since it’s easy to follow and can work when you have a working Dock, AC adapter, and HDMI or USB-C cables. To connect the cables on the Dock in the right sequence, proceed to these steps: Important: On the step where you connect the HDMI cable to the TV, take note if there’s a label on the HDMI port that indicates its number or sequence on the Input feature. For instance, it may be labeled “HDMI Input 2”, in this case, try searching for the second HDMI input on the TV. Also, try reinserting the HDMI cable on other HDMI ports on the TV once the current one doesn’t work. And it’s recommended to wait for a while before you switch the HDMI cable to another port, as it can take time to load or have delays.
Fix #3: Soft Reset your Nintendo Switch
When your Switch experiences glitches and bugs, you can do a soft reset. It forces your console to restart and reset all processes and apps that may be preventing it from connecting to the TV. It doesn’t affect your console’s internal data and is a safe thing to do after trying out a normal restart. To do a soft reset on your Nintendo Switch, do the following:
Final Thoughts
Connecting your Nintendo Switch to a TV is a great step to making the most out of your console. Although most games work well when played on your Switch, certain games work better when you play them with an external display. Hence, these fixes can hopefully help you in connecting your Switch to a TV. If these fixes didn’t work, you can get in touch with Nintendo Support to diagnose any problems with your Nintendo Switch.
