Nintendo Switch is everyone’s favorite piece of a handheld device that has the capability to play numerous games with plenty of exclusive titles under its belt.
Its quirky design has attracted everyone around the globe regardless of age because of how easy it is to use it without the need for any fancy gimmicks.
It is super compact and versatile and you can just whip it up wherever you need it, the possibilities of joy are endless.
However, when it comes to playing your favorite games on an external physical screen, things might be a little more complicated than you think.
You may ask why? Well, this nifty gaming handheld device isn’t particularly made to connect to a laptop screen, just like you would with a physical television.
So in order to successfully connect it to display your favorite games on your laptop, I have briefly curated the steps on how to connect Nintendo switch to laptop.
How to Connect Nintendo Switch to Laptop Step-By-Step
- The first and foremost thing you need to do is boot up both your laptop and Nintendo Switch and make sure it has plenty of charges.
- Now use the Nintendo dock to connect it to your handheld gaming console through a Type C cable.
- Depending on the type of Capture card you might have, use the In port to plug in the HDMI cable directly from your Nintendo Dock to form a connection.
- Now connect the same Capture Card to the laptop so that the link is complete.
- On your laptop, install the screen capturing software, preferably the proprietary one, and open it.
- Proceed to look for your Nintendo device and click on it.
- You will notice that the Nintendo switch will immediately start to cast its display onto the laptop screen.
- Have fun and enjoy playing your favorite games in the comfort of your bed.
Note: Depending on the quality of your HDMI cable and the type of your resolution format, you may notice some form of input lag or image quality downscaling, this is pretty normal and if you want a better quality connection, then you might want to invest in a better cable or Capture card.
And all you have to do is simply follow them and you will be good to go to enjoy your favorite games like Smash bro ultimate and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Things You Would Be Needing
Please consider a couple of things such as,
- A working Nintendo Switch
- Laptop with HDMI ports
- HDMI Cables
- Capture Card from any reputable brand
- Nintendo Switch Dock
- Some patience (Optional)
Capture Card? What Is That?
So before we proceed, let me tell you the fact that you can buy any Capture card and it doesn’t matter which ones you invest your money in because almost all of them allow you to connect your Nintendo Device to the laptop.
Although you may argue that a capture card isn’t necessary to do the deed but let me tell you that a capture card like an Elgato Game Capture HD60S or Razer Ripsaw HD has plenty of benefits such as enabling you to record and stream your gameplay to the internet in HD resolution.
So, trust me, a decent capture card from a reputable brand mentioned above will reap you plenty of benefits and is totally worth the money.
And one more thing to keep in mind, you will be needing screen Capturing software which you have to install on your laptop in order to detect your Nintendo Switch through Capture Card.
What Is Nintendo Dock?
You need a Nintendo Dock to connect Nintendo switch to laptop.
By the time you reached this far in the article, you might be thinking to yourself that this whole ordeal isn’t worth the effort because of the fact that you need so many things just to emulate your Nintendo games on a laptop screen.
This is why I told you to have some patience because things might get tricky. Speaking of tricky, A Nintendo Dock is a uniquely designed hardware that enables you to connect to the capture card which in turn connects to a laptop to allow the projection of output on the laptop screen.
Now that you have a general understanding of the workflow of all the parts mentioned above, let us proceed without wasting any further time.
Can I plug my Nintendo Switch into my laptop?
Yes, however, you have to use Nintendo Dock in order to do the deed otherwise you won’t be able to do it.
How do I connect my Nintendo Switch to my TV wirelessly?
In order to connect your Nintendo Switch to a TV wirelessly, buy a Bluetooth adapter and plug it into your handheld device, and pair it with your TV to cast it onto your screen.
Final Words
Coming to the final words, I would advise you to use emulators in order to play Nintendo Exclusive titles on your laptop or desktop but then again these emulators are quite buggy and tend to have plenty of issues and the variation of games is very limited as there aren’t many ports available to be played on an emulator.
But it’s all about preferences and taste, so feel free to choose whichever gaming style you see fit for yourself.
But if you want to use your laptop screen for your Nintendo Switch, then this article on how to connect Nintendo switch to laptop is surely worth the read, trust me.
