Topic: Dock signal issue

Hey guys,

I've seen a few issues about the TV losing signal. Last day my TV lost the hdmi signal for about 20 secs and I had to pull the console from the dock and re-insert it only to lose it again later. The dock was still on, but no audio or video was coming over HDMI.

Other people reported this happening due to the auto-state function, but mine seems going on because of some contact issues; if I wiggle the switch in the dock, sometimes, rarely I lose signal. When I do it again, e.g. pushing gently towards the front side it loses the signal again. Make it a third time, and then the issue disappears like it never happened.

You may ask why I wiggle the switch in its dock but please note that I am only trying to replicate the cause, first few times it was doing this on its own.

I tried canned air and some contact spray and they seemed to do the job, but today decided to give it a gently push after an hour of play and the screen just went black then the image came back then it went black again after finally recovering.

My switch is about 6 months old and never had any issues; that's why I'm a bit afraid to take it back to the store to have it checked, but I'm still under the warranty period.

Any advices, experiences are apppreciated.

@pakkushika Have you tried a different HDMI cable?

My instinct says, your issue may be with the dock hardware or hdmi cable. For the sake of problem solving, I'd also be curious if the same issue happens on a different TV.

@Woomy_NNYes thanks for the prompt reply. I know about how sensitive a Display Port connection is (especially if daisy chained), probably the same goes for HDMI. Triyng a different location (away from the TV's internal power source) and a different cable now on a different port.

I'm also trying either to let it run on it's own to keep the internals heated or starting up cold and then trying to replicate the issue by gently (or sometimes, not so gently ) moving the console in the dock (including switching game cards, removing/attaching joycons). And while doing so, after applying a generous amount of contact fluid again in the switch's connector and then plugging it in while running everything seems rock solid.

I'll keep you updated.

@pakkushika Do you use one of those HDMI switch boxes? The ones that allow you to connect more devices via HDMI when your TV doesn't have enough slots? Because what you describe sounds exactly like the issue I've run into on every one of these devices that I have tried. From what I have read online there is a copy protection built into HDMI devices that sometimes is triggered by these devices causing the signal to drop in and out.

A similar problem could be caused if you're using one of those HDMI extender cables to make the cable longer.

Which HDMI cable you use? Factory or own bought? What kinda TV and does it have video input switch setting? You should first use the NIN OEM HDMI cable to verify the problem before just saying Switch problem. As since sounds like your not using the NIN cable would suffice to say the problem seems to be the cable itself.

@Heavyarms55, no HDMI switch box, no extender. A direct connection between the dock and the tv.

@SwitchForce, I was using the included Nintendo cable. Now I switched to a generic HDMI cable (which doesn't even supports the match state feature, so I turned that off) and I experienced no issues since yesterday.

Kinda weird because as I stated before, the issue seems to show when the switch is wobbling inside the dock for some reason and I thought it's probably a connector issue on the dock or on the console itself.

The TV is a non-smart Phillips full hd tv with both ARC and standard HDMI inputs. Using the second, non-ARC input now.

I'm gonna play later tonight so I'll keep posting and we'll see if I can replicate the issue again with the new setup.

@pakkushika what do you mean wobble it doesn't do that unless the surface it sits on it moving. If the cable is bad you should contact NIN support for a new one. It moves when seating but there is no wobble unless it was damaged when docking. I have 3 Docks NIN and have no wobble issue beyond the user not placing it correctly to dock to the Dock. HDMI cable are more or less the same beyond those specific with GPU graphics card compiant connections. I keep my NIN HDMI around but got a 3rd party shielded HDMI and have no connection with that.

@SwitchForce by wobbling I mean the console is moving a bit back/forth and tilting side to side when touched (e.g. changing game cards, removing joycons while docked). So I mean that the unit is not sitting tightly in the dock, but has a little bit of play. You can feel the connection happening and it's not sliding in/out from the dock very easily, but there is definitely a gap between the screen and the dock. It was like this, from day one and never had any issues.

I just changed back the cable to the original Nintendo cable this morning. For testing, the switch was running in the dock all afternoon and while I was working I had a clear vision on the screen. No issues today.

No random signal losses, no singal loss when fiddling with the switch while docked. Truth is I haven't really used the dock lately and I think it's possible that some of the connectors corroded a bit, just like other connectors on other appliances do so which led to a signal issue on one of the pins.

I guess inserting/removing like a hundred times in the past two days and some good amount of contact cleaner solved the issue for now but I'll keep you guys posted and we'll see if the issue persists.

Meanwhile I contacted the store but they said they had never heard of and never seen anything like this happening to a Switch. They were kind and told me if the issue sticks just grab the console and the dock and they'll send it in for warranty check and replace/repair.

@pakkushika Try using a cotton swab and some Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the connections on your Switch, dock and TV. If you're still having issues, try a different HDMI cable. If still having problems try a different dock. If still having problems, try a different Switch, if still having problems, the issue is your TV. Basically you need to check each component, the cable, dock, Switch and TV to determine where the issue is.

If you're no long having issues - count yourself lucky.

@Heavyarms55 thanks for the advices. I don't really have the option to exchange dock/switch with anyone around me, but I can try a different tv and a different cable.

Anyway, as for now the issue is gone. I mentioned before that I used some cleaning material so that probably solved the issue. I'll keep you guys updated.

@Heavyarms55 okay, I'm back. The last 2-3 weeks were totally fine, rock solid signal every time.

But, today I sat down in the evening to play some Fortnite with my friends and guess what happened: signal issues again. I popped the switch in the dock and upon pressing the home button on the pro controller I noticed the Switch's screen is on! I gave it a little push and then it transferred to the tv. As soon as I moved the Switch, the signal was lost, then came back again, then lost again. Imagine a really, really light touch from behind with a single finger pushing the switch against the front of the dock, and the signal is gone. You release it, you get your signal back.

I grabbed the unit and pulled it out, and used some canned air in the switch's usb port. Blowing air into the port worked like a charm. Popped back in, and played without any problems for hours.

My guess is for now that really small dirt or cloth pieces are blocking the pin in the port sometimes that's responsible for the hdmi signal. Truth is, I keep my switch in my carrying case (which has a cloth/plush inlay) whenever I don't use it so I think it might be my over-protectivity that causing these issues.

I'll leave the whole thing in the dock from now on, unless I actually want to play it handeld. And use my carrying case ONLY when I'm carrying it. We'll see how this works but if I'll keep having the issue I still have like 6 months of warranty so I'm not that worried.

It's just really annoying, I never heard anything like this before.

@pakkushika Well in the time since we talked, I've noticed that it's possible for that to happen to me. Very rarely I set the Switch in the dock but it is just shy of being all the way down on the connector and the Switch still thinks it's undocked. But it's always fixable if I just pick it up and put it back down. It's probably just some dust on the pins for me.

I've been having this issue too. I have two docks. One for the living room which his hooked up to a Samsung tv. I have no issues with it. The one I have issues with is the one in my bedroom. It's the dock that game with my switch and it's hooked up to a Phillips tv. Whenever I'm playing a game, the screen flickers back off and on and is very annoying. But if I'm watching something on YouTube, it doesn't do that. I've checked the HDMI cable and I've cleaned the dock and it still does it.

I've had this happen to me as well. I'll be playing a game and all the sudden the screen goes black. I'm freaking out going WTF!? Then i unplug the HDMI cable from the TV, blow on it a couple times and put it back in and sometimes give it a wiggle or two...(that's what she said LOL!)

Once it happened while playing dark souls and it cost me a life and a ton of souls for upgrading. I was so pissed! TV went out and when i got the picture on again i was back at the last bonfire. I had a rage quit that day let me tell you! GRRRRRRR!

@Aria133 That's strange, I don't really watch youtube on my switch but I'm pretty sure my issue was connection related, yours sounds like it's some other issue where (maybe?) on heavy load the system produces bad signal..

@Zeldafan79, @Heavyarms55 Haha My issue started to show AFTER I finished Dark Souls but I can feel you..

Ok, so a month passed since my last update. I kept my switch in the dock most of the time, I only removed it if I was playing handheld a few times and I carried it like twice in its case. I'm pretty sure some dust/dirt particles caused this issue because in the last month I had 0 issues regarding connectivity. For starters, I didn't really wiggle it anymore to see if I can reproduce the issue, I just play it and don't give a flying f*ck. The last time I used canned air/contact cleaner was about a month ago so I think I can close this issue for now.

For anyone having a similar problem, check the connectors, even if you blow them with your mouth, you might solve your issue for good. Looks like the interfaces are really sensitive, at least on my unit(s). Some other forum threads talk about cable connection order (first power then HDMI then... blablabla) but I moved my dock quite a few times in the past few weeks and I did not have any issues because of not doing the connections in a specific order.

So, actually I have had the same problem for a while, but my switch was not under warranty, I decided to take it to a local repair shop, and it turns out, it is a common manufacturing error on Nintendo's part. The problem resides in the MOBO itself, and needs a soldering job to replace the part, as far as I know, the only place that is trustworthy to fix it, is Nintendo itself, or a store(forget its name) in Washington that specializes in Nintendo repair. I would recommend, if it is still under warranty, just sending it back to Nintendo to get a new switch, as the repair process can charge up to $200 and takes 2-3 weeks.

@soweb147 Wow, never heard of that, thanks for sharing. Sadly I'm not a US customer so my options are kinda limited but let's hope I'll get no errors.

My switch runs ok since then btw.

If you doing this on Switch then it's considered HomeBrew not a Switch anymore. Switch by default has no YouTube on it. Last I seen was Hulu. So if your doing this consider this a reminder that NIN can lock your NIN account or outright Ban you from NIN Online access permanently.

First time I heard of this-so called common problem. If that was true there more about what your saying. I have Three Docks one traveler and one Family room tv and one Gaming room and Gaming room has no issues Docked/UnDocked multiple times. So unless what your saying can be verified that sounds more like hearsay right now.