Few problems are more annoying than a device that doesn’t work. And while the Nintendo Switch Lite is surprisingly reliable, it does occasionally goof up. One of the more alarming problems is when the Switch Lite will not charge. Since there’s no option to dock or connect it to a TV, when the battery goes, the Lite is toast. What can you do to fix a Switch Lite that is not charging? Read on to find out.
How to fix a Nintendo Switch Lite that will not charge
If your Nintendo Switch Lite is not charging, chances are good there’s a fault with your AC adapter or power supply. You’ll need to switch to a different power cable or AC adapter to charge the battery successfully. Otherwise, you may need to send in your Switch Lite for repair.
The charging system on the Switch Lite works basically the same as in most modern rechargeable devices. Electricity from the AC adapter is delivered through the port and various bits of circuitry into the batteries. Any fault with charging ultimately boils down to one of those three elements: Power adapter, cable connection, or battery.
However, the Nintendo Switch Lite does not have a user-serviceable power port or battery. As such, the only fault in the system that you can fix yourself is in the AC adapter. As it so happens, faulty power supplies, bad cables, and poor cable connections are the main reasons why a Switch Lite might not charge.
Nintendo’s official advice is to try another officially licensed Switch Lite power supply. However, most people probably don’t have spares of those sitting around. Instead, just about any relatively modern USB-C charger should do the trick — several good options are listed among our picks for the best iPhone 12 chargers. Alternatively, you can buy a replacement aftermarket charger just for the Switch Lite.
Test out whatever you’ve got on-hand to see if anything charges the system. And while you’re in there, check the port for lint: Debris inside the USB-C port can easily prevent the charging cable from connecting properly.
If a different cable or AC adapter charges the battery, your Switch Lite is fine, it just needs a new charger. If the Switch Lite won’t charge regardless of power supply or charging cable, then your Switch Lite needs repair. Once the charging port or battery faults, only Nintendo will be able to fix the problem.
