Are you encountering Nintendo Switch black screen problem? Then don’t worry as you can easily fix this problem by yourself. Go through this guide to learn what to do.
Due to the failure of the previous console Wii U, the company introduced this new generation console called Nintendo Switch in 2017. It’s a hybrid video game console with over 5000 exclusive games. Nintendo Switch comes with TV mode, tabletop mode and handheld mode to enjoy gaming the way you like.
However, the Nintendo Switch screen sometimes goes black after turning on or waking up from sleep mode. You may hear sounds from the console but there’s nothing on the screen. Let’s first understand what causes it.
What Causes Nintendo Switch Black or Blank Screen Problem?
If you’re seeing a black screen on Nintendo Switch, there could be many reasons causing this issue.
- The battery is dead: You may notice your Nintendo Switch shows a black screen after trying to turn it on. In that case, if the battery indicator appears only for a second, there’s a chance that the battery doesn’t have enough charge to turn on the console.
- Damaged Charging Adapter or Dock: Your console’s charging adapter or charging dock is damaged, causing the black screen.
- Damaged Screen: The hardware components of the Nintendo Switch are very similar to that of smartphones. Meanwhile, if the screen is damaged or broken, the Switch will display a black screen, but you can still hear the sounds from the console speakers. Hence, if your console’s battery is completely charged, possible the screen is the main reason for its going black.
- Software Glitch: A small software glitch in the Switch console is causing the black screen.
- Hardware Failure: You can see a dark screen if the game console is broken due to the failure of hardware components and it must be repaired or fully replaced.
How to Fix Nintendo Switch Black Screen Problem
Here are the troubleshooting solutions you can follow to fix a black screen problem on Nintendo Switch.
1. Force Reboot Nintendo Switch
The first thing you can do to fix Nintendo Switch Black Screen is to perform a hard reset or force reboot. So, follow these steps:
- Connect the AC adapter to your Nintendo Switch and let the battery charge for 15-20 minutes.
- Press and hold down the Power button for 10-20 seconds.
- Press the Power button again to turn on the console.
2. Reset AC Adapter
Another simple way to troubleshoot Nintendo Switch black screen is to reset it. To do it, unplug the AC adapter from both ends and keep it unplugged for about 30 seconds. Now, charge the Nintendo Switch battery with the AC adapter. Hopefully, the charger will start charging the console and turn it on.
3. Check AC Adapter Model
If resetting the AC adapter didn’t help, you should verify if you’re using the original and compatible AC adapter model. The company recommends using Model no. HAC-002.
If your AC adapter is not the same model, borrow an AC adapter from a family member or friend who uses the Switch. Now, charge your console with that adapter for at least 3 hours.
If your Switch turns back on and it doesn’t show a black screen, replace your charging adapter with the original one. You can buy it from Nintendo online store.
4. Perform a Soft Reset
If you want to solve the black screen problem on the console, one of the basic solutions is to perform a soft reset. This will clear the software but won’t delete any saved data, screenshots and videos.
To perform a soft reset, you need to access the Switch’s recovery mode by following:
- Make sure Nintendo Switch is fully shut down, which means it shouldn’t be in sleep mode as well.
- Press the Power button on the Switch for 15 seconds and turn it off.
- Now, press and hold the Power button and both volume buttons until the recovery menu appears.
- Navigate to the option Reset factory settings without deleting save data (it may ask for the PIN if parental controls are enabled).
- Go through the instructions and press Next at the bottom of the screen.
- Wait for the console to end the process.
- Finally, turn on your Nintendo Switch in normal mode and check if that fixes the problem.
5. Factory Reset the Switch
In case the soft resetting can’t solve your problem, you may need to perform a hard reset to remove software glitches that are triggering the black screen. But remember, a factory reset will remove all the data saved on the device.
Follow the steps to complete the process:
- From the Nintendo Switch Home menu, select Settings (in the gear icon).
- Scroll down and choose the System option.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and choose the Formatting option.
- Enter the PIN if asked and select Initialize Console to remove the user profile and other data.
- Lastly, reboot the console, create a new profile and see if the black screen problem is fixed.
6. Test Power Cable
Sometimes it happens that the power cable through which Nintendo Switch is connected to the power socket gets broken or damaged. Since the cable is wrapped by rubber covering, it’s difficult to know if there’s any damage in the wires. Use a different cable to test whether that can power up your console or not. You can also jiggle the cable softly at the console’s connection.
7. Contact Nintendo
If you’re unable to fix the black screen on Nintendo Switch after force rebooting, resetting the adapter and factory resetting, you must contact Nintendo to repair the console for you.
Additionally, ensure that the Nintendo tech person will also check the AC adapter and charging dock. They can verify to cancel them out to be the source of the problem. If there’s no Nintendo store nearby, you can contact them directly from their official website.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped fix your Nintendo Switch black screen problem. You can start troubleshooting it by changing the AC adapter and force rebooting. If nothing works for you and the console is under warranty, ask the company to replace it for you.