Your Nintendo Switch's Battery Has A Hidden Risk If You Forget To Use It

If you don't use your Nintendo Switch often and leave it off the charger or unplugged, you're likely exposing the console to a rarely discussed risk, and the outcome probably won't be good. The hidden risk to your Nintendo Switch's battery is damage from being undercharged.

To understand why, let's back up a little. Malfunctioning or failing batteries are an unfortunate commonality with modern electronics. When you get a spicy battery, or one that's swelling or bloating, the best thing to do is to remove it from the device in question, if you can, and get rid of it or dispose of the device appropriately when you can't. You deal with electronics that are no longer safe the same way you deal with a failing battery, and they can't go in the regular trash. Many of us have heard of this problem by now. But you may not realize that batteries can also fail because of how you maintain them or use your devices, not just because of poorly constructed or low-grade hardware. That includes not using them often enough. Battery degradation happens over time as you repeatedly charge and discharge a device, or, conversely, when you neglect devices and leave them powered off and uncharged for extended periods.

Charging batteries too often and exposing them to extreme temperatures adds mechanical stress, but so does leaving them depleted. That's precisely why experts recommend the 20% to 80% rule when charging your devices. Keep your Switch's battery within that range, and get in the habit of charging it at least every six months.

According to Nintendo's official support page, consider a few things when charging your Switch and its battery. For starters, keep the temperature between 41 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and not just while charging. Avoid extreme temperatures while using your Switch, too, which may mean protecting it from the elements if you're somewhere cold or very warm. Also, if you're not using it for long periods, charge your Switch's battery once every six months. A fully depleted battery will slowly lose its total capacity, which means that if you don't keep it charged, it may eventually lose the ability to retain a charge at all.

These rules should actually apply to any electronics you own with a lithium-rechargeable battery. The same mistake is likely killing people's laptops and other devices; fully depleting batteries, either too often or for extended periods, kills them. That also means the same rule applies to the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch Lite, other consoles like the Steam Deck, retro handhelds, and mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. The good news is that, with the proper care and handling, the Nintendo Switch can last for up to ten years or longer, according to many users. My family's Switch, purchased in 2018, is still going strong, and the battery still holds up well.