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Nintendo Switch (Switch, OLED, Lite and Switch 2): what each light means

On a Nintendo Switch the lights people ask about are the TV output light on the front of the dock and the player lights on each Joy-Con or Pro Controller. The dock light says only whether the picture is going to the TV: Nintendo says it is not related to charging and does not go out when the console is full. The player lights show your player number, and flash while a controller connects or when its battery is low.

The dock light is on the front of the Nintendo Switch dock (HAC-007), the Nintendo Switch dock with LAN port (HEG-007) and the Nintendo Switch 2 dock (BEE-005). Player lights read in a line across when a Pro Controller or a single Joy-Con held sideways is used, and down the rail when a Joy-Con is held upright or as a pair.

A controller

  1. Player lights steady

    The controller is connected and the lit light shows its controller number.

    Joy-Con, Joy-Con 2 and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Nintendo gives no step for this light.

  2. Player lights flashing

    The controller is connecting to the console, or its battery is low. Nintendo gives both meanings for the same flashing and no separate pattern for each.

    Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Nintendo gives no step for this light.

  3. Player lights do not light after pairing

    Once paired, the player light for the controller’s number should stay lit. If it stays dark on a paired, registered controller, Nintendo treats it as a fault to work through.

    Joy-Con 2 and Joy-Con on Switch 2, Switch, Switch – OLED Model and Switch Lite. 5 steps from Nintendo on its page, then its repair line.

  4. Pro Controller charge light beside the USB port goes out

    The Pro Controller is fully charged: the charge light beside its USB connector shuts off. A full charge takes about six hours.

    Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. 1 step from Nintendo on its page.

The dock

  1. Dock light flashes when you plug in the adapter, then goes out

    Normal. When the AC adapter is first plugged into the dock, the TV output light flashes and then shuts off.

    Nintendo Switch, Switch – OLED Model and Switch 2 docks. Nintendo gives no step for this light.

  2. Dock light solid green

    The console is docked and sending its picture to the TV. The light is about TV output only: it is not related to charging and does not go out when the console is fully charged.

    Nintendo Switch, Switch – OLED Model and Switch 2 docks. Nintendo gives no step for this light.

  3. Dock light keeps flashing

    A problem getting the picture to the TV. A flash is only normal once, when the adapter is plugged in; a light that keeps flashing needs the troubleshooting below.

    Nintendo Switch, Switch – OLED Model and Switch 2 docks. 7 steps from Nintendo on its page, then its repair line.

Sources

Nintendo’s own support pages only, read on the date shown. Nothing here comes from forums, videos or “lights explained” sites.

Find a light by what you see on any console or controller →