Many people opened a shiny new Nintendo Switch under their Christmas tree this year, adding yet another electronic device to what may be a cable-cluttered home. Some new Switch owners might try to cut back on the wires and take a wireless approach by using Bluetooth, though Nintendo doesn’t officially support wireless audio devices. Regardless, can Bluetooth headphones work with a Nintendo Switch?
The Nintendo Switch was likely designed with the expectation that it wouldn’t need Bluetooth speakers because of its two modes; handheld and docked. Every Switch comes with a 3.5mm audio connection and an HDMI port, but doesn’t offer the option to connect to headphones through Bluetooth anywhere in its options menu.
However, the Nintendo Switch’s 4.0.0 update slipped some minor, unannounced additions that have enabled a workaround so that people can listen to their systems wirelessly. Specifically, it allows USB dongles to transmit sound. The addition was slid in with the same update that enabled video capture for several games. It should be noted that since this isn’t an official feature, Nintendo might disable this function in a future update. Additionally, it doesn’t work with every kind of wireless headset, but Lifewire collected a list of headsets that do. Many of the gaming mainstays like Turtle Beach and Logitech work (several of which appear in our list of the best Nintendo Switch headphones), but still be sure to do your research before making a purchase.
How To Bring Wireless Audio To The Nintendo Switch
The methods for getting wireless sound out of the Switch depends on whether it’s connected to its docking station. An additional step is necessary if it’s being used in its handheld mode. If it’s docked, simply plug the dongle into the Nintendo Switch’s docking stations USB ports located by the tv output LED. However, a USB-to-USB-C connector will be needed to have wireless audio on the go. USB-to-USB-C connectors can be found online for as low as $9. Just plug the USB dongle into the connector and the headset should work if it’s compatible.
If a compatible headset does not work with the system, try using one of the Switch’s extra USB ports. There’s one hidden by the dock’s back lid. It’s above the HDMI port and below the AC adapter port. Just remember that as of right now, the Nintendo Switch does not officially support Bluetooth devices. Maybe a future update will broaden the range of enabled devices, but as of now, it’s only a select few.
Source: Lifewire