Forums

Topic: Uh, How long can i leave my WiiU unplugged for?

Posts 1 to 8 of 8

Willax

So i recall a few months back a panic happening because WiiUs were starting to have hardware issues when they have been left unplugged for a long time. From what I also recall, someone found a solution for fixing this.
However, I'm still left in a bit of a situation I need advice for- So I'm about to go on a trip with some friends, and I have this tendency to unplug all my electronics before I leave for days on end to avoid things like fire hazards or a thunderstorm causing issues to anything plugged in. (Yeah, i can get paranoid some times, i know.)
It was recommended when WiiUs started having issues that you leave the system plugged in. But I am also remembering thunderstorms can wreak havoc on electronics plugged in if you're unlucky. So I must ask...
How long can i theoretically leave my WiiU unplugged for before it starts having issues? Does anyone know? Should I just take the chance it will be fine when i get back and leave it plugged in?
Please help me if you can.

Willax

Ryu_Niiyama

I just got mine out of storage for 4 years. Updated and works fine. A few days should be ok for you.

Taiko is good for the soul, Hoisa!
Japanese NNID:RyuNiiyamajp
Team Cupcake! 11/15/14
Team Spree! 4/17/19
I'm a Dream Fighter. Perfume is Love, Perfume is Life.

Tyranexx

If I recall, this issue was hitting some systems that hadn't been used in years. If it's only for a couple weeks, you're probably fine.

Currently playing: Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir (Switch)

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31

Dogorilla

I'm sure a few days unplugged would be fine. It's funny you ask this though because I was just wondering something similar yesterday. I'm going to university soon so I won't be home for months at a time, and I'm not sure whether I should unplug my Wii U while I'm gone, or leave it plugged in and maybe ask my family to go on it occasionally so it's not completely idle (I don't think they would use it if I don't ask them to).

Thank you Nintendo for giving us Donkey Kong Jr Math on Switch Online

Matt_Barber

I'd think you've got to take this in context. People tracking the issue have only found around thirty-odd reported cases out of over thirteen million consoles sold, so it's not actually that common. That's not to say that there aren't many more unreported cases of this, but there are almost certainly far more Wii Us with broken disk drives, power supplies, stuck fans and all the usual issues that come with consoles that are now typically more than a decade old.

I'd suspect that we just saw a sudden spate of NAND failures because lots of people were suddenly taking their consoles out of storage in the run up to the eShop closure. Since then, things seem to have died down a lot and reports of new cases of this have reduced to a trickle.

For what it's worth, I'd recommend modding your Wii U so that you can back up your save games. That way, if the worst happens and your console dies, you'll be able to get another one, transfer everything so you can pick up where you left off, or you can do the same with emulators.

Matt_Barber

Nicolai

What a coincidence, I just unplugged my Wii U a couple days ago because I assumed it would be better for it. Should I plug it back in, then?

Got married.
Nico-loggery! - || - Time Zone: CST (-6:00) - |...

Switch Friend Code: SW-7850-8250-1626 | My Nintendo: nicolai8bit

Matt_Barber

It's a bit hard to play games on it when it's unplugged.

Other than that, I wouldn't worry about it unduly though.

Matt_Barber

Tasuki

I recently hooked up my Wii U and it was packed away for 5 years. It still ran fine after I hooked it all up.

RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.

My Backlog

  • Page 1 of 1

Please login or sign up to reply to this topic