We all agree—there is a lot to love about the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo’s winning console is one of its bestsellers and has even earned the title “Best Gadget of 2017” by Time Magazine. Hands down, the Switch is Nintendo’s new superstar, and even a year after its release, there is no sign of it slowing down. However, while the Nintendo Switch is a reliable console, there are still a few problems that many players experience. Today, we are going to examine the most common problems players may encounter while playing the Nintendo Switch and give our solutions to fix them.
Problem #1: The handheld can be uncomfortable
With the Nintendo Switch, players don’t have to be at home to play quality games on their console. They can bring the Nintendo Switch almost anywhere with them, whether it be in their car, their friend’s house, or even just in the comfort of their own home. Although players can pretty much use the console everywhere, it doesn’t mean that it’s the most comfortable device to use. When being used as a handheld console, players may encounter cramped fingers or a hunched back, which can cause them to experience both pain and discomfort while playing.
Luckily, there are plenty of stands on the market that are built to prevent this from happening. One of them being the SQWID. The SQWID is a hands-free stand that you can adjust around your neck or waist. Just like the Nintendo Switch, gamers can take the SQWID anywhere with them, and it’ll also bring the console right up to your eye-level, which will allow you to fully immerse yourself into the game as well as let you use all those motion controls the wireless Joy-Cons allow you to do!
All you have to do is simply attach the Nintendo Switch onto the ABS plastic cradle, secure it around your neck or waist, then sit back and relax while you enjoy your game in utmost comfort.
Problem #2: The left Joy-Con loses its signal almost constantly
This might be one of the most notorious problems of the Nintendo Switch. Many players complain that the left joy-con, randomly, loses connection while playing. This doesn’t happen while players are in handheld mode, but it does happen while you play in front of your TV. Now, why is this even a problem? Well, Nintendo has placed the left Joy Con’s Bluetooth inside of its circuit board. When you’re squeezing the controller, covering it with your hand, or placing it behind your back, the Joy Con can easily lose its connection.
The easiest fix to this problem is to send it back to Nintendo. But, if you don’t really have the time to send it back, you can also fix this problem at home. All you have to do is simply open the controller and place a conductive foam over the antenna. Conductive foam will protect the controller from losing its connection.
Problem #3: Dead pixels
On any screen, dead pixels can be an annoying issue, especially on portable screens where it’s your primary focus. In fact, dead pixels can ruin any player’s gaming experience. However, while it’s a concern for many players, Nintendo doesn’t have a way to fix this. On their site, they refer to dead pixels as “a characteristic of LCD screens” and that it shouldn’t be considered as an issue.
Currently, Nintendo isn’t fixing this issue for players because they do not view this as a defect. However, the company did fix this issue years ago with the original DS systems. So, maybe Nintendo will reverse their views on screens with dead pixels, but right now, there is no way to fix this issue.
Problem #4: The dock scratches the screen
It takes seconds to move the console onto the dock, but it’s also very easy to put it in the wrong way. If you don’t put your console in perfectly straight, then you are leaving it vulnerable to permanent damage on your screen. This is primarily caused by two pieces of plastic that stick out from the inside of the dock.
This is why players must have a screen protector on their Switch at all times. But, the original screen protector kits released for the Switch reportedly cause bubbles. Tempered glass wouldn’t have this issue, however, if you do plan to use tempered glass, you have to wait 24 hours before placing the console into the dock. If you do not wait the full 24 hours, then the adhesive on the glass can melt.
Problem #5: The screen freezes and flashes at random times
This is also happening to a number of players. At times, the Switch’s screen might flash and cause the console to have a high-pitched sound. Other times, the Switch’s screen may temporarily freeze and cause games to crash, making players lose their progress.
The short-term solution to fix this issue is doing a hard reset of the Switch. To do this, hold down the Switch’s power button for about 15 seconds to completely shut down the system and then turn it back on. This does fix the issue, but it only does so for a short period of time. If it returns shortly after, Nintendo does have a one-year warranty on all of its consoles. Instead of constantly doing a hard reset, call the company to get a replacement as soon as possible.