Topic: How to turn the Wii U gamepad off when you are using another controller for a game?

I don't know if there is a way to turn the controller off while playing a game that supports other controllers.
I will be sitting playing, lets say NSMBU and I like playing with the Wii remote, so the gamepad just sits there on draining its battery and becoming a distraction. Is there a solution to this?

I'm pretty what you're asking exists. Don't quote me, but I think it's on the home menu under Wii U Gamepad Controller Settings.

You can turn the screen off, but I'm pretty sure the GamePad stays on draining the battery. The one trick I heard is to keep the GamePad outside the range of the Wii U, so it doesn't turn on.

@iphys
I know it is so BS. If there are other controller options and you aren't using the gamepad why does it have to stay on???
The battery life of the thing sucks as it is, so why would I want to ruin it even when I am not using it.
I ahve looked at the settings and there is nothing that I could see @shinesprite

Ok there is no way other people are not having this problem as well....
I wold just love to know if there was a way to make the screen at least turn off. I have tried turning it off, but it shuts the whole system down...

The answer will be a big "NO". There's no way for you to turn off the Gamepad even if you're only using a pro controller. The bluetooth signal on the controller & the console itself needs to sync to the Gamepad for it to work.

That is really dumb...
Not only am I frustrated that it is on when I am not using it, but also because it is quite the distraction if I live it on the charger..
I wish Nintendo would fix that...
@Cheaptrick Thanks for letting me know though!

If you just want to turn the screen off, press HOME, then:
Controller Settings>Display Off>Turn Display Off

You turn the screen off in options, controller settings. That solves the problem. If you then put it in the charger, it will stay black, so what is the problem? The way the system works is that the Gamepad IS the TV and console together basically. You do not turn it off because turning it off shuts down Wii U. It is not really a controller.

It doesn't turn off the screen & conserve power. It will darkened the screen but the Gamepad is still on. The Gamepad is the hub that syncs everything.

Well I think they need to fix it, because it is pretty annoying.
Thanks you guys for the help!

It's SO inconvienient. I mean, there are outlets all over the place, why didn't they make it easy enough so you don't have to walk 3 feet to get the charger and plug it in?

You're a dumb ass we already established this. That was not the problem, the problem is that it stays on when it doesn't need to. Read the description before you post smart ass.

Yup whoever posted that you keep the wii u out of range is correct. I have my wii u in the living room and when i turn on the wii mote the wii u pad doesnt come on as it is indeed out of range. Another thing i noticed is that if you do this correctly the next time you have your pad in the same room turning on the power with anything other than wii u pad it doesnt come either.

If I want it fully off, I get out of the connection's reach so it turns off.

aww i was gonna say that

When i play NSMB.U i put the Wii U on the stand & play with the Pro Controller, but is there a way to map the moves to different buttons ? like mapping run to ZL?