Topic: Switch has stopped charging

My switch I picked up in 2017 has stopped charging and doesn't turn on. I think something's blown, maybe something to do with the charging port. My question is if I send it to Nintendo to fix, will I still have my downloaded games on the system? Iv got a Switch lite and have linked my Nintendo account to that device (but with a different user profile) and haven't brought across my old games. I don't care even if my save data on the original device gets wiped I'm just wondering if I'll still have the games once it comes back from repair. Any advice?

Also, the Switch lite is great!

@BongoBongo123 I dont see any reason that you'd lose games. Even if you did, you can re-download them because Nintendo knows what games you bought digitally.

Sounds like hardware failure. Did you try to charge the Switch with the ac adapter (without the dock)?

I've had a theory that leaving the Switch out docked all the time, even when not in use, leads to dust buildup inside, which can lead to a short. Ive got to open my desktop computer every 2-3 years to air dust the inside parts because that can lead to hardware failure. Anyone is welcome to correct me if I'm wrong.

I've used canned air on the switch vents a couple times a year. And I put it in a drawer or case when not in use.

Sorry to hear about your issue.

It may be worth trying a new A/C adapter rather than sending the system for repair and risk losing most if not all of your save data.

One of my 3DS chargers eventually stopped working, but there was nothing wrong with the console itself.

I bought another official ac adapter and it worked for a while on one side of the head of the charger only, then after a couple of months stopped charging even from that side. If I have to lose data I don't mind too much, the issues been going on for so long that I'd just like to have it working with the games I've downloaded on it and bring it out whenever anyone wants to play smash or street fighter.

@BongoBongo123 The bigger issue right now is that because of the virus, many of Nintendo's repair facilities are closed. Odds are you'd send it in, only to get it back unfixed because there is no one there to do the work.

@Heavyarms55 Yeah that's true. I'm not in a rush to send it in so will probably wait until lockdown is finally over. I've recently got a Switch Lite so can still play games. Speaking of lockdown this years looking a bit barren in terms of Nintendo games as is.

@BongoBongo123 If you are not a fan of Animal Crossing, Xenoblade or Pokemon (how are you a Nintendo fan?) but yeah it does.

Then again, it's very likely that the virus issues plus temporary closure of the ratings board in Japan is causing that delay.

On the other hand - if you believe rumors, Nintendo is about to bury us in like every Mario game ever, and then some.

@Heavyarms55 That would be great if the Mario rumours are true. Do you mean the Pokemon dlc? I do like Pokemon but haven't bitten the bullet an purchased Sword or Shield yet.

There are oads of indie and third party stuff coming which is good.

@BongoBongo123 Yes I do mean the DLC. People on this site seem to love to hate Sw/Sh but I've not had so much fun with Pokemon for a very long time. I consider it the best game in the series since the DS days. (I'd still rank it below Platinum and below HGSS, and consider some parts of it better than BW/B2W2 and other parts worse).

And yeah, we've got a lot of 3rd parties coming still. I'll be getting the Bioshock and Borderlands collections. I wish EA would take the leash off Bioware and give us the Mass Effect Trilogy too.

Anyway back on topic, if you can't get Nintendo to fix it, there are 3rd parties around. You should see if there are any near you.

@Heavyarms55 I really liked fire red leaf green back on the gba, be great if switch had some gba games but probably not gonna happen. I'll check out whether I can go to a third party to fix it.

@BongoBongo123 Oh I liked the GBA games for sure. But they don't rank as high for me. Even after all this time, I still say that the physical/special split that Diamond and Pearl added is the single most important improvement Game Freak ever made. And going back to the old system is just... tolerable.

And GBA in general I love. Advance Wars, Fire Emblem, Pokemon, Golden Sun, Harvest Moon, so many great titles.