Video: Nintendo Switch Controllers All Have a Power Button Hiding in Plain Sight

So you can power off any controller but not a docked Switch without getting up? Seems like a serious missed opportunity.

You can put the switch into sleep mode by holding down the home button.

I'll be using this, if its actually a true "full power down" button. I hate sleeping systems when I know i wont be using them for a while. I prefer to fully power down to save system lifespan not to mention not wasting electricity.

@GoldenGamer88 why would you ever want to turn off your switch? it uses barely any power and even I as someone who's careful about what devices I leave in standby mode, leave the switch in sleep mode.

The 3rd Secret of Fatima has just been discovered.

Wow was wondering that just yesterday. Brother turned on pro controller and was trolling me and pressing pause over and over. Thought I was going mad. Still couldnt turn it off tho so I told him just to leave it.

@manu0 When I've left my switch in sleep mode and not used it for more than two or three days, it tends to freeze up when I go back to using it.

Useful. Was just wondering if there was something that did this, and it's right there as I booted up the site. Cheers Nintendolife!

@unoclay it doesn't prolong the life span. please give evidence if you know otherwise. (if anything leaving a device turned off for an extended period of time will reduce the battery capacity).
and the power usage of the switch in sleep mode is NOTHING. like literally nothing, it's below 1 W. even I as someone who's consciously thinking about saving money by turning off as many devices as possible am leaving the switch in sleep mode. If you assume that the Switch uses 1 W in sleep mode (which it doesn't, but i'll just use it as a worst case) then it costs me 2 EUR to leave it in sleep mode. PER YEAR that is. or less than 1 cent per day.

@manu0 I've had this discussion oh so many times, on this site as well as others so allow me to skip the details and just leave you with 'That's how I've always done things so why would I ever change it if it doesn't seriously affect my gaming experience, let alone my livelihood?'.

@manu0

Left in sleep mode, in the dock, it continuously changes my TVs input settings back to the Switch and a dark screen. Others have complained about this as well. If I fully turn it off, it does not do this. No big deal, but that's why I sometime turn my fully off. That way it can charge in the dock, without constantly changing the input on my TV.

I have a Wii U, Xbone, PS4 & PS3 also plugged into that same TV and the Switch is the only system that has this glitch.

@GoldenGamer88 well it seems like it is an inconvenience to you. that's why you complained.

@Agent721 have you turned the corresponding setting off under tv output settings? if you have and it's still happening then that's a bug I guess.

@GoldenGamer88 Switch also turns on if you fully turn it off before docking.

It's not new, everyone's seen it and assumed it was a pairing button. I ACTUALLY found out about it today myself thinking my right joycon was broke, it won't even turn on if you put it back in the system, you have to press the button.

@manu0 It's not that much inconvenience (I've already gotten used to powering off my Switch in its dock the week after release) but I'm simply baffled how Wii, WiiU and even Xbox and PlayStation allow their consoles to be powered off from wherever you were playing and for Switch, you have to get up and turn it off like in the olden days of GC, PS2 and Xbox.

@DEZn00ts well it IS the pairing button lol

@GoldenGamer88 you don't have to turn it off.

@DEZn00ts Only if you leave the power cable plugged in. Noticed it once, never did it again.

I like powering mine off completely, as well as closing games, so that any memory leaks that may have built up will be cleared next time I play.

@manu0 It's still my console, though, so I can decide whether I leave it in Sleep Mode or power it off completely.

@GoldenGamer88 WiiU, Xbox One, and I'm assuming PS4 all go to sleep mode when you turn them "off". Thats how your WiiU repeatedly turns itself on to tell you about eshop sales.

@manu0 Yea it's both.

@GoldenGamer what do you mean leave the power cable plugged in, WHY wouldn't you have your power cable plugged into the dock? Yea it is kinda weird there is no option when you hold the home button or on the home screen to power off instead of go to sleep. Yea I also just hold the power button and use the right joycon to turn it off, I play mostly docked.

@manu0 Dude. He already told you he just wants to fully turn off the console. That's his choice and how he has always done things. It's not our right to police how he uses his property.

@Alikan Not if you unplug the consoles from the socket like I do.

@DEZn00ts I meant unplug the power cable from the socket, not the dock. Because if you don't and put a powered off Switch back into its dock, it'll turn back on to charge it.

The off button is very important for both controllers. Your Pro Controller will rumble on the table if you have it on while in handheld mode, and sometimes the right joycon won't sync so you have to turn it on and off until it recognizes it.

WOW that's really cool! I've wished so many times I could turn it off when I'm setting it down but leaving the console running for a while, or on those occasions when one joycon is still on and thinks its connected but isn't recognized after I accidentally turned on another joycon. Thanks for the video!

@GoldenGamer88 "It's not that much inconvenience (I've already gotten used to powering off my Switch in its dock the week after release) but I'm simply baffled how Wii, WiiU and even Xbox and PlayStation allow their consoles to be powered off from wherever you were playing and for Switch, you have to get up and turn it off like in the olden days of GC, PS2 and Xbox."

Wii, WiiU, and XBox were NOT able to be turned off from wherever you were. The console was still very much on in sleep mode just like Switch. If they were not the BT receiver would not have still been running to be able to turn it on again with the soft buttons. The last console that could be fully turned off was the PS3 Fat, by using the hard rocker switch on the rear of the unit. However that also involved physically flipping the switch on the console itself.

If you're unplugging them, of course you were turning them off (by ripping out the power from under them), but that still involved walking to it. You've technically never been able to turn off any console remotely ever. They're all in a low power sleep mode when you do so.

Edit: Actually, the same is true for any device with an IR remote. TV's DVD players, CD players, amplifiers, even VCRs made after the 80's (when they had the wired remotes, PC monitors). They're all always on in low power sleep mode otherwise they couldn't process IR inputs or line signals. Unplugging them all turns them off, but then the remote doesn't work unless you get up and plug it in again.

itd be nice if the controllers shut off after 5 or 10 mins of no use. Nice find though, I didnt know this.

@EternalDragonX Should be doable in a firmware update. It's the console that would really shut it down (the controllers turn off in seconds if they're not actively linked to a console.)

@NEStalgia Finally, someone talking some sense on the issue.

I've only turned my Switch off once since release day, and then that was just to try it...

Um, I've always known this lol. Thought it was common knowledge 🤔 Great for controllers in a MP bag or backpack you accidentally turn on by pressing a button. Don't have to do it from the settings- just press the little button and it blinks off

And even as someone who always turns off 3DS, PS4, X1 and even PC if I know I won't use it for a while, even I leave Switch in sleep mode 24/7. I've heard it's actually more detrimental to the battery to turn on and off than just leave in sleep. It's in such a low power state that it will still be at like 99% 24 hrs later. And it's so so so fast to turn on that way, and far more convenient since it can be done remotely.

I would never presume to dictate to others how to enjoy their Switch, but I would strongly recommend people give it a shot.

@NEStalgia Eh, you're right once again, just like last time. I guess I just feel more of an urgency with powering off the Switch in comparison to the others due to the Switch's screen turning back on (when it for example receives a newsletter or similar). That said, though, I'll more often than not get up to do something else after a gaming session to do something else anyway so it's not really an issue, just something that's bothered me back during launch week because of it.

Thanks for not forcing us to watch the video to find out how, I watched it anyway though.

@manu0 Mine shares a HDMI switcher and it gets confused when the Switch is in Sleep mode, sometimes switch to the Switch while I'm playing something else.

@Angelic_Lapras_King @manu0

That is my exact problem! But every other console is also plugged into the same HDMI Switch, and they don't switch over in sleep mode, like The Switch! I've never had a console do this before.

That's a lot of switches! LoL! I'm sure it'll get fixed with an update.

@GoldenGamer88 Haha, yeah, that makes sense. I didn't even notice the screen powers on with news updates (WiiU infamously does that and chimes loudly. More frequently these days as if to say "see, I'm not dead yet!" ) I think that's a momentary transition from sleep to wake mode when so signaled. Same for when it's docked and downloading a game from the eShop. It goes into an "in between" power state that's not quite the wake state, but it fires up the CPU and networking into full power to actually process the download. PS4 has a weird sleep power state, it has a separate CPU just to run in sort of "tablet mode" while idle. PS4 doesn't really do "sleep" very well at all. "Off" is really sleep, and sleep is "run in a reduced power state that still produces so much heat it needs to run a fan 24/7..."

Switch is just lovely in contrast, though not too different from 3DS. I've had my 3DS running for 6 years, and it didn't need a fan. Sony should be taking notes.

@JaxonH You turn your 3DS off? But why? It's no different from Switch in that regard (though it drains more battery when idle, it's not meaningful in under 24 hours.) I don't think turning a battery on and off versus sleep affects it, though it could affect the percentage monitoring making the system think it has less capacity (a full drain and recharge recalibrates that, or should.) A cold boot consumes more power than sleep however, so it will use more battery.

@Skunkfish Yeah, I personally love the standby/sleep on the Switch/Vita/3DS as possibly my most loved feature. I often pick it up randomly and just play a round of Puyo or kart or something, or just whittle through RPG battles and love that it's always there and ready!

That's a nice and useful tip. Thanks!

Glad the sleep mode stuff got sorted out in the comments! Twas a painful series of comments to read and I was getting poised to comment about it — guess I still did.

@NEStalgia
For one, because I haven't touched my 3DS in 4 months. This isnt a 24 hr thing here. 3DS is old news. For two, it's not hard to turn off since you're holding it in your hand anyways. Why wouldn't I turn it off, especially when Streetpass drains the living heck out of the battery (48 hrs in sleep mode and the battery is dead- that may be ok with you... but it's not for me).

With Switch, I don't have to worry about the battery draining in 2 days from sleep mode. And I also am not always holding it in my hand, so sleep mode offers alot more incentive being able to be done remotely. 3DS doesn't offer any incentive like that.

There's just no reason to have to deal with a dead battery every time I pick up the system. Ya, if I bring 3DS to work and am done playing, I'll utilize sleep mode. But I'm not going out of my way for it. In fact, I specifically avoid it for any time period longer than half a day. That sucker is getting turned off.

Now, if 3DS could last for a month straight in sleep mode like Switch, then it'd be a different story.

@manu0 Hopefully other people will see this as needed (the reply structure here is terrible, all replies should be nested instead, i.e. Nintendo Everything's structure using Disqus).

To your question of why one would ever need to power down a Switch (as opposed to Sleep mode):
It's good to note that all devices benefit from being fully powered down from time to time (helps reset the OS and all).

Potentially more importantly, MAKE SURE you fully power down before attempting to remove (or adding) the microSD. If it's not fully powered down, I hear it can erase data, which would be sad. Note that most of the time when one turns off the Switch, it is actually putting it into sleep mode (i.e. pressing the button up top is Sleep mode).

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I noticed what you did there! Ah

I'll try it once I get my Switch in 2018

I'm actually quite stoked about this. I've amassed a lot of wireless equipment over the years that can be a real hassle to turn off.

@manu0 In order for your argument to have validity, by your own logic, you'd need to provide evidence that it doesnt prolong the lifespan of the hardware. Actually, it seems simple: does leaving a device on wear it down (even by a small amount)? Obviously, the answer is yes. Whether or not this is negligible, is a different question. Agree to disagree, i suppose.

I power it down fully when docked. I sleep it when i'm going to use it again soon, particularly when traveling.

Even if your estimates of wattage are accurate...lets consider. If 10 million Switch are sold, that translates to 10 million wasted watts, per day. I'm not concerned about money. I'm concerned about energy wastage and the effect on the planet.

Fine, dont turn it off. But I think its silly to argue "show me evidence" when, I dont believe, there is evidence against my argument. You only cited battery life in context of long power-downs. I'm talking about powering down for a day or two at most. Which, I stand by, may well prolong my system's lifespan. I havent heard evidence to the contrary.

@iNintendo you've gone two or three days without using your switch?!?!!

I'm gonna have that tune in my head all day now.

@JaxonH True, but isn't that what the included cradle was for, so it was always charging when you put it down and could stay in sleep mode for spotpass? XL and NXL didn't include cradles, but that's the first thing I went out and bought! IMO the cradle was vital to 3DS. Iwata was right about that and everyone mocked it. I imported NXL cradles from japan day one. I haven't used mine in a few months either, but it's always happy on the charger (though my one seems to shut itself down all the time...not sure why...

Interesting topic. I've been playing with the whole power thing myself, and I guess for me, since I know that the Switch has a battery, I tend to leave it off the dock when I'm not playing it and it's fully charged. I haven't known any devices with batteries to not depreciate the battery when they continue to charge even at 100%, so I'm kinda OCD about it as I want my Switch battery to last as long as possible. Also, when it's on the dock, and below 100% charge, I have my CEC HMDI settings on my TV set up so that when I turn off the TV, it turns off the Switch, and when I power on the Switch, it turns on my TV-- I'm still determining if it actually turns off the Switch or puts it in Sleep mode, but I'm thinking this is the truest way to fully power off the Switch without getting up (but testing still in progress). I dunno... just my 2 cents.

Wii U controllers, except the GamePad, turn off after ten minutes of being idle, and Switch controllers never turn off.

Neither ten minutes nor never is perfect. Perfect would be able to choose, like on PlayStation 3! I'd have chosen an hour, because sometimes I want to play a game's credits, like the wonderful DuckTales Remastered, without being interrupted by the Wii U OS after ten minutes of inactivity.

This is a huge oversight by Nintendo, both on Wii U and Switch, just like a dozen other things on the disappointing Switch OS.

I knew this, just use it if joy-con controllers connect that I don't want

@NEStalgia
I have more cradles than I know what to do with... but it's just not worth it cause then it only doesn't drain when you're at home and on the cradle

@BornInNorway81
Um, pretty sure Switch controllers (both joycon and pro controller) do turn off automatically, and way faster than 10 minutes too.

This is just an additional way to do it on demand manually

@JaxonH Are you using an OG 3DS or XL? It's been a long time since I used the OG for more than a quick on and off play session, but I do remember those eating their batteries non-stop. With the XL and ESPECIALLY New XL I can't really remember the last time it ran out of battery for less than a multi-hour marathon.

Also Switch controllers do not turn off automatically so long as the system is on. If you're using it handheld default SYSTEM off time is I think 5min if unused, and the controllers turn off when the system sleeps. But at home the default setting is 1 hour for the system, and the controllers will remain on the full hour (or 5 hours or infinite, wherever you set the system.)

@NEStalgia
Which model? I've bought 14 to date. OG, OG XL, New, New XL... multiples of each.

Model makes no difference. It's the Streetpass that kills it. It's just not a good system for sleep mode long term. Takes 3 seconds to turn off. No reason to sacrifice battery for 3 seconds. Not worth it, never has been. It's fine temporarily closing the lid, but that's all its good for really.

Switching gears, yes it turns off in sleep mode, which I have set for 5 or 10 min, 3 if undocked. So the controllers do turn off, its just that that's not all that happens. System also goes to sleep

I've been using this since day one for the pro controller and also the joy-con to switch controllers easily during a game (power down the joy-con so the pro auto takes over when synced/powered on or vice-versa).

Good feature; just didn't realise this was a 'secret'.

@GoldenGamer88 when you "power off" other consoles you're not really turning them off. Wii U does updates and downloads games while "off" I've purchased games on my work PC and gotten home and it's already downloaded and installed. Wii U can't do that if it's actually off

@JaxonH Fourteen?! Holy cow, I thought I bought far too many! I'm reduced to #2 apparently

Hmm, I never really saw battery problems. I'd have them out and about from dawn to dusk, and play multi-hour marathons....rarely ran out. I'm sure it was happening, but never happened in a way that caused any problem. For me I ALWAYS leave games in suspend mode on it. No need to get to a save point, if I can close the lid and it's always where I left it. Same with Switch. The suspend has always been the most beneficial feature to me (same with Switch.)

Maybe it's only a problem if it's actually getting Street Pass hits? I effectively have none in 6 years so Street Pass never RECEIVED anything at all. That could be a difference. But mine live on the charger when they're not out and about either so it's not like days go by with wasted power.

On switch power off, yeah I don't think that's what @BornInNorway81was talking about. I think the concern is when credits or such are rolling for 25 minutes on a big game the controller stays on while the system is on, so you have to have the timer set for a long time. But you might want the controller off. PS lets you set a time for the controllers to turn off while the system stays on. Though with those measly 5 hour controllers, the PS4 NEEDS that feature

Personally I let the system stay on 1 hour (might even set the timer higher) because if I let the system turn off my HDMI switch goes berserk and makes my display cycle on and off constantly flashing a blue screen each time, and will wear the power supply in the display, so I generally don't want it to turn the Switch off unless I really am away for a long time. Knowing I can turn off the controllers manually is a big big bonus now!

This will come in handy when I'm switching between games and changing grip orders. I would like to be able to press it with another button so I can go to the home menu regardless of what joycon I'm holding.

So far that seems to be my biggest problem with the system. Switching grip orders for different co-op games and explaining what the buttons do. You can't say "press the A button" when someone is holding the L joycon

@Agent721 @Angelic_Lapras_King @manu0
Exactly the same for me! I have a Switch, Wii U, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 on a HDMI Switcher and ever since the Switch is on there, it 'switches' to it at random times whenever I play another console. I guess it really likes to 'switch' more than is needed, lol. The HDMI Switcher box tries to prioritize the latest input that powers on and automatically changes to that, so that means the Nintendo Switch dock strangely sends a rogue signal through the cable at times.

I just press the Home button on my Pro controller or Joy-con to turn my system on, though this way is useful as well. Prior to finding the Home button method it would seem somewhat backwards to need to stand up, walk over to the Switch and press the console's power button. I mean since the Wii we have had the ability to power our Nintendo systems on and off with the controller.

@Agent721 Yeah I have every console as well and the Switch is the only one that does this, as well as my MiBox, but that's not a game console just an Android TV box for Kodi, Youtube, Netflix, etc. I'm sure it's a HDMI CEC power option that will be addressed in a future firmware update.

@unoclay you presented me with a claim for which i asked evidence. that's how it works. you can't just flip it.

but you obviously have no idea what you're talking about because your statement "10 million wasted watts, per day. I'm not concerned about money. I'm concerned about energy wastage and the effect on the planet." makes absolutely no sense.
If you have 10 million switches in stand-by with 1 W power usage that run all day you have a power consumption of 10 million * 1 W * 24 h = 240 MWh per day (that's 240 million watt hours).
impact on the planet? zero. absolutely zero. it's not like there is one big power plant that powers all those sleeping switches. the sleeping switches are distributed all over the world and not a single power plant will run at a higher output power just because there are a couple of sleeping switches connected. if you really wanted to help the environment you wouldn't have bought a switch. because its production is what's probably the most impactful on the environment in the switch's lifecycle. operation of the switch not so much, it's very efficient.
even if you would play the switch 24/7 it wouldn't make any impact. it only uses about 10 W when you're playing in portable mode. that's nothing. it's amazing how efficient this little thing is really
(compared to other consoles which use like 80W - 150 W for the PS4 pro)

@leo13 Sorry, mate, you seem to be a little late to the party because A. I've already said that I also unplug my consoles from their socket once I've 'powered them off' in a timely fashion; and B. was already reminded that that's the case.

@GoldenGamer88 oh sorry I didn't read the entire conversation. I guess I should have. Sorry, Nintendo has never been good at pleasing everyone.

This is dumb,we all already know this, the very first time using the switch the help window pop up saying how to connect a Joy con and how to power it off pressing the sync button so i dont really see the secret here

Off topic question: How do I FULLY turn off my Switch? I mean, no sleep mode.

@RaphaBoss Hold the Power button on the top left of the console and wait for a small menu to pop up. From there, you can select the option to power it off. Should you put it back into the dock, I'd suggest you first check if the power cable isn't plugged into a socket anymore as it'll turn back on to charge it if it's still plugged in.

@GoldenGamer88 That menu only has sleep mode

@NEStalgia IIRC, the original PS2 and original PS3 had power buttons on them that had to be shut off to completely cut power to the system. The Switch like other similar devices tend to stay in a sleep mode and rarely need to be shut down completely.

@RaphaBoss Sorry, forgot a step: Power Options (the second option below Sleep Mode) and then Power Off.

With all of this random stuff happening on the Switch, WHERE IS MONSTER HUNTER?!?!....asdfadsfjjk?!

I mean really, I understand Capcom not wanting to cannibalize potential selling success on the 3DS, but the Switch doesn't even have enough games to justify purchase right now. I got mine at launch and I have played it exactly four times and went right back to the 3ds to play MHX. It's a license to print money, Capcom, so make it happen soon please.

Thanks

Putting the Switch in sleep also turns the controllers off, so this isn't really needed.

What the hell is wrong with some of you folks? if someone wants to turn off their console they want to turn it off, discussion over no need for justification on their part. Swear word.

@SetupDisk

Seriously! It's ridiculous that anyone would get their knickers in a twist because others don't do things the same way they do. I turn off my Switch as well when it will be unused for an extended period (usually the work week as I don't have long enough breaks at work for satisfactory Switch play though I do use my 3DS at lunch). My Switch is powered off during the week unless I get home early enough in the evening to assist with homework, get kids to bed after dinner and baths and still have decent time for a little gaming. Otherwise, my weekends are when the system is used nonstop.

Honestly... Didn't think it was a crime to power it off. But most rechargeable batteries can warp over time from overcharging. It's one of the reasons even my phone and tablet isn't charged every night.

@manu0 You seem pretty hostile so I'm going to leave it alone. Thanks for the input. Seems counterintuitive to propose that power consumption has no impact since it's widely distributed. But hey, whatever man. Apologies for suggesting that people turn off devices.

@Nico07
With Slaz and Nico on this. I have my Switch attached to an HDMI switch box and if I don't unplug the Switch when I want to watch my Shield TV, it will flip to a blank screen--as if trying to switch over to the input for the (sleeping) Switch--then back to the Shield TV. This stops YouTube playback, which gets annoying after a very short time.

@iNintendo
not use your switch for 2 or 3 days? somebody get a doctor!

A simple image would have done the job just fine, why make a video?

"Hidden features are a staple of Nintendo consoles; where other manufacturers may drag you through a twenty minute tutorial after ever major update,"

What is this about lmao? I've had every Xbox and Playstation and have never seen an update tutorial

This is actually very useful for changing the order of controllers. Power them all down, then back up again in the desired order.

Wait, that's a sync button? I just thought it was the power button. I've synced my controllers to another Switch just by attaching them to the console. How do you use the button do to it?

@unoclay well at least i don't live in the illusion that we can save the environment by turning off all of our switches

@Baker1000 you go to the add controller screen and press the button

I thought this was common knowledge? or rather I just assumed it was the power button when I first started playing with the joycons.

@DEZn00ts That happens to me fairly regularly which is how I found this butto after having a panic attack.

That's cool. It you want to play mario kart sideways by yourself (although who would?) you can save battery for one

Nice little secret, I'll keep it in mind for when I finally get a Switch!

@GoldenGamer88 You can long-press the home button on the controller to bring up an on-screen option to power-off the Switch.

@SuperC142 Tried it out, all I get is Sleep Mode and Flight Mode (which can't be used when it's docked), not a Power Off button. Thinking about it, though, even if there was a remote Power Off option, the Switch'd just turn back on as I always have to have the power cable plugged into a socket to play docked.

@GoldenGamer88 pour water on it

Gucci gang!

@CurtBro I don't know. That doesn't seem like a good solution to whatever problem I had eight months ago.

@GoldenGamer88 whiskey?

@CurtBro No, I doubt heavily drinking is a solution. Btw, I got used to Sleep Mode long ago. I only power it off completely when I go to sleep and even then I sometimes forget to power it off.

@GoldenGamer88 trust me it twerks

@CurtBro Twerks!? Quickly turns around (as sober as a dried fish) and looks at his docked Switch No, I don‘t think it does.

@GoldenGamer88 a dried fish? Don’t bring yer mum into my twerks

This doesn't even shut them off though, just puts them to sleep :/

I wish there was a way to actually shut them down for storage.

@AlexOlney your left pro controller stick had a hell of a lot of wear.

Size. Similar to existing Switch, but lighter and thinner, (it will look smaller than the new larger screen Pro), no dock, same game cards and 3d. It must have 3d.

Did I mention 3d, a must.