Topic: Can I keep joy cons plugged up to AA battery pack, charging grip, or connected to the switch console console to keep the batteries working for a long time?

I have 3 pairs of joy cons and I am wanting to keep their batteries to last a long time.

If I keep a pair of charged joy cons attached to the AA battery pack, charging grip, or the console plugged up, will it help extend the battery to make the console last for ever or will it destroy the batteries to keep them connected?

I heard that we are running out of lithium ions between now and 2025 and I am worried if my switch and joy cons have battery problems I may not be able to replace the batteries after we run out of lithium.

Nintendo stated we can leave the console docked for ever basically and not have problems with the battery but they don't say what to do with controller batteries.

I would always disconnect the joy cons from power when I stop playing.

Is it safe to keep the joy cons to a power source while I am playing games so the batteries last for ever?

Or what can I do to be able to play switch games for years and years?

I would recommend disconnecting any chargeable devices from power sources once they are fully charged in order maximise their potential battery life.

But say if you primarily use the Switch docked, and you use it on a regular basis, then I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Just refrain from keeping your unused devices plugged into a power source for lengthy periods of time. The general advice for devices with rechargeable batteries is to fully charge them at least once a year to prevent the batteries from depleting in the long term.

I have had my Nintendo DS Lite since mid 2008 and the battery life is still great, and while I obviously don't use it as often I as I used to, I am confident that it will be around for a good while yet.

@Silly_G thanks. I use my switch docked usually because people on reddit on April of 2019 replied to a similar to this question and they said they have a launch switch thats 100% docked every since launched and the consoles battery is still holding 2.5 to 6 hour charge.

I want to do the same because I read an article that we may be running out of lithium ions before 2025 and I am worried that if my joy cons or switch is completely dead and needs a battery replacement but no lithium ions and everyone is out of batteries what to do lol.

I would love to have my switch as long as possible.

Like you, I have a DS Lite since launch , DSI XL since launched, New 3DS XL since 1 year after it launched and the batteries are still working great with no sign of battery short lifes.

I am just afraid if we do run out of lithium ions before 2025 will I still be able to replace the batteries before every stores runs out.

So my friend has a switch since launched and she keeps it in the dock usually and I played zelda breath of the wild on it in hand held few days ago and still been able to play it for 3 hours.

so I started playing permanently docked since I brought a new system (animal crossing edition) since may 2021 and as of right now the battery life is holding the same charge like it did.

So the new switch is holding a charge even kept in the dock.

I just hope the joy cons would hold up for years.

Do you think we would run out of lithium ions soon?

@Silly_G so does turning off the power button on my USB charging system that my Joy-Con attached would that also be the same thing as powering off?

@SwitchForce what do you think about my article? I am trying to find ways to keep my joy cons battery healthy for years to come. I am leaving my switch plugged in and found other people said they done that to theirs for total of 4 years constantly on docked and still works and I just want my joy cons to last awhile because in 4 more years nintendo may quit making the switch. I am also hearing that we may run out of lithium and that is making me worried that I may not be able to replace the batteries in 10 years if we run out of lithium.

@Tay205 We're not running out of Lithium for batteries at any point soon. You're misquoting a bit with that assertion.

The only thing surrounding this is that a few stakeholders believe that supply might outpace demand regarding the manufacture of batteries for Electric Vehicles, as reported by the Bank Of America Global Research group.

This is a vastly different supply stream to standard batteries in devices such as mobile phones and Joy Cons, so there is no need to be getting too worried at the moment .
Plus there's some really great innovations in battery recycling technology being developed Worldwide that can hopefully ease some of the pressures further over the coming decades

@alpacatears thanks. It got me worried. If you type in: will we run out of lithium ions? There was a article stating that we could run out of lithium ions and people saying we won't run out of lithium and so it confused me and worried me

@Tay205 That's what I am always wondering unplug laptop power or Joy-Con/Pro controllers or leave plugged in. Still trying to figure what's the best way to do it.

@SwitchForce if you find new ways please share with me. I would love to have my switch for years to come.

@SwitchForce : If you turn the power off, but they’re still attached to the charging device, then there’s nothing for them to be drawing power from, so there would be no need to detach them.

@Tay205 I know. I do recall laptop batteries leaving on charge or not is hard to figure as well. I seen even not doing so will loose charge over time and sometimes leaving it one keeps it staying charged when it needs a charge. So leaving it connected or not is hard to figure out.

@SwitchForce if the joy cons battery is dead and will not charge at all can I still use the joy cons plugged up with the AA battery pack accessory or the joy con charging grip?