PSA: Experiencing Switch OLED Blackouts In Docked Mode? Swap Your HDMI Cable

No Drifts.....but now blackouts...what can be had next....

This just became an issue for me, so I'm thankful for this article. It gives me a start to research it, and I have countless HDMIs to try for a fix.

I'd say this is more of a tv issue than an issue with the cable. A lot of even relatively new tvs don't like 2.0 hdmi cables.

I wondered why mine had been doing this lately. Thanks.

Been a thing for me. Freaked me out! I thought something is wrong with the OLED Switch. Thanks for this!

Have this with the original Switch.

Wish that was as simple as my PS4 and 5 blackouts. Tried everything. Something to do with handshaking between sony consoles and Samsung TV's. Guess they just couldn't get on 😂

@Kidfunkadelic83 I assume you tried changing the HDMI speed to –2 in settings? Or turning off HDCP? I'm in the process of trying to fix blackouts on PS5 (and, yes, a Samsung TV), and maybe, hopefully, –2 helped…?

Ok, so just buying a Sony TV is the way to go.

@xmkbest ive tried both over the last couple of years over ps4 and ps5. It actually seems to wor better doing it the way you said on -1. It happens alot less frequently now but still happens all the same. Next TV defenately wont be a Samsung.

I’ll have to try this since any of our switch’s do this when playing in our launch dock but a Vizio tv. It never used to, but Vizio sent an update through, and ever since, there is a 4-5 sec black screen that occurs about 5-10 seconds after it’s docked, like it’s recalibrating or something. It does only right after being docked, and never again so we never really cared.

You don't even need HDMI 2.0 with the Switch so it was either cheaper to ship these or some other reason. HDMI 2.0 is for 4K output and 3D. It was introduced almost a decade ago, so it would be interesting to know if these are non-4K TVs causing this issue.

@bonjong23 That doesn't make sense as HDMI 2.0 came out almost a decade ago. Makes me think it's non-4K TVs maybe or just cheaper low-end models. I've never seen this blackout issue.

This has never happened to me, I wonder how true or common it really is.

I did have a couple of cases recently where the console would not turn on when docked, but it did eventually. Wonder if this was it?

This happened to me with the regular Switch

@xmkbest @Kidfunkadelic83 I’ve had to unplug my Samsung 4K TV for a while after turning off HDMI-CEC. According to Samsung, it clears some sort of settings retention bug. All of my devices (PS4/5, Switch, AppleTV, etc.) go haywire with flashing blackouts when it gets stuck in the weird HDMI-CEC loop. Unplugging the TV for 10 minutes or so usually does the trick.

One of the plague of Smart TV:s I miss the old days when stuff just worked and you didn't add stuff like firmware in your TV:s as another source of faults.

@Kidfunkadelic83 I have the problem with my PS4 and a Toshiba TV. I wonder if this will help.

Software bugs in TVs. Gotta love it. I occasionally have to hard reboot my TV, as either an app gets broken or it seems to run out of RAM. Sigh.

I have this problem but with a generic hdmi cable. Will a "better" 2.0 cable fix this? My setup is with a surround receiver and a projector, so no smart things to cause problems.

@Kidfunkadelic83 Go into Screen and Video settings and change the 4K transfer rate, if you haven't done that already. I have mine set at -2 and it stopped the intermittent black screen

Samsung TVs in particular can be a bit odd. I'm guessing it's down to the device detection process they try to go through. I know someone who's modern Samsung weirdly just wouldn't work with any Xbox One S whatsoever, we tried multiple consoles and cables. Samsung even replaced the logic board for the TV several times. It just wouldn't work. Dropping an Xbox One X in fixed things instantly.

Absolute oddness.

PLEASE READ IMPORTANT That's NOT it!! I actually know what the problem is. Most people think it's their TV, the HDMI Cable, the new Dock, damage to the USB-C port, or the console getting over heated. IT IS NONE IF THOSE THINGS. The problem is the AC adapter. Replace it with a 3rd party adapter that is rated for at least 65 Watts and has, (this is extremely important), a PD (power delivery management) cable. It will be labeled as USB-C PD.
This issue is also not limited to the OLED model but affects regular Switch too. I got suspicious when I noticed that the OLED model for the AC adapter is labeled as "Version 002". I was like, "Why would they redesign the power adapter?" It was causing intermittent black outs. That's why. And they didn't even fix the issue really. Replace the adapter and problem solved. The temporary black outs will go away.

@thinkhector
This is terrible advice. There is a chance you could brick your switch if you use third party power sources, whether it be a dock or a ac adapter. Wulf den has good videos on the subject if you are interested.

@blindsquarel Wufl Den has a follow up video where he now recommends third party docks. The video you are referring to was accurate at the time, but not anymore.
I have been using a third party AC adapter now for quite some time.
The main issue was using a USB to USB-C adapter cord. I recommend getting an AC adapter with non-detachable cord, so basically another brick style cord . The Switch also uses USB-C PD which is not the same as USB-C. USB-C PD regulates the voltage matching it with the device that is attached. The market was already full of normal USB-C cable and people thought they could just use what they already had laying around which is not the case. I recommend that you watch the updated Wulff Den video on third party docks for further reference.

I turned off "match TV power mode" or whatever it's called and that worked for me.

@Zimon That makes some sense, but you shouldn't have to do that either. The reason I know it's the AC adapter that's the problem is because I was using the same TV, the same HDMI cable, and the same dock from the original Switch that I kept. I only thing I changed was the AC adapter the OLED model came wit and I started getting intermittent black outs. Had the original Switch for years and never had that problem.
I actually already had a third party AC adapter around, but was reluctant to use it. (I was using it to charge the Switch while in handheld mode.) Anyways, I plugged it into the Switch and the problem disappeared. And it was the only thing I changed. This has to be where the problem originates. Even if you, luckily, found another work around.

@SwitchForce,

Oh don't worry, there will be plenty more issues with the Switch, brought up an various forums, with only anecdotal evidence to suggest it's everyone.

@thinkhector,

Great advice for a none issue, I have had every version Switch, connected to normal and OLED T.V's, and have had no issues whatsoever, used basic and the higher spec HDMI cables as well..... still no issues. even changed docks.. there are many things on individual set ups that could be causing this, hard to pin it down to one solution for everybody.

I hope they can fix that, I'd like to use the latest HDMI cables with the new console.

@Nintendo4Sonic just did it, luckily

@johnvboy A none issue??? Ther is literally an entire article above this about the issue. I haven't ever experienced Joy-Con drift, but I don't go around saying it isn't an issue.
When you see playing Mario Kart 8 online and the screen goes black for 5 seconds and you fall out the race course, yeah it's a real issue. It's a real problem.

@InkIdols good job. I bought a 65" Full Array LED from Sony a few months ago and I absolutely love it. Awesome smart TV, awesome Gaming TV. Everything with 120Hz and VRR on board for PS5. HDR and Dolby Vision on board. And also love it for my Switch.
Can't go wrong with Sony, it seems.

@johnvboy

It is as issue and not just with OLED model it seems to be newer consoles came packed with bad HDMI cables.

My older switch no issues. My girlfriends switch has issues with the HDMI cable. I had to switch it out because of lack of picture. It is nothing to do with the actual switch or dock it is the cables they come with now.

I haven't had this problem. I don't dock my Switch OLED, but I do dock my ACNH Switches to both of my LG C1 OLED TV's. I'll keep this in mind if i have any problems playing Switch docked. Thanks for the info...

@thinkhector,

Sorry, minor issue at best, no proof this is a massive issue in the slightest.

@johnvboy According to who?? You? You have zero knowledge about how many systems this affects. We still don't even really know how many consoles experience Joy-Con drift. In order for you to declare this a minor issue you would actually need to know if this is affecting 1% of systems 10% or 25% of systems? And NO ONE knows what the number is.
Also think about this for one second, let's say it effects only 1% of consoles. That would be 1 million people having the issue. Would that still be minor? The point is no one knows just how many consoles are affected. So it's impossible to make blanket declarations.
That's like saying, " I don't have cancer, so it MUST only be a minor health issue."

@thinkhector,

Just as you have no evidence whatsoever that it's a widespread issue, or zero knowledge, as you put it.

So let's suggest it only affects 0.08 % of consoles, which is just a random figure I picked out of thin air, which is no different than your 1 %, so really no idea whatsoever.

Not sure your argument is any more convincing using cancer as an example, and to be honest not related at all, as this is a minor first world problem at best, whereas cancer is a really serious issue.

@johnvboy I never said it was a widespread. And that why you lose the argument. Don't make up lies about what I said. I said it was impossible to know for sure. You insist that it's not without AND you will not back down from that statement for some reason. You have no idea how many people are affected by this, you admit that, and then claim AGAIN that it's a minor issue instead of admitting that it's to early to know.

@thinkhector,

Fair enough, in my opinion this will only be a minor issue, you may feel otherwise, not so sure we need to suggest winning or losing, in what is only ever going to be a difference of opinion.

True you have never stated this is a major issue, but as you were responding to me saying I felt it was only a minor one, So it's not a massive leap for me to assume you feel it's much bigger.

But do not want to fall out with you, so thanks for the dialogue.

Well that was very big of you. I appreciate this response. Disagreements can be disagreements without turning ugly.or personal. I'm sure we will be hearing more about this issue in the future, and hopefully it doesn't get as big as the Joy-Con drift problem.

This is definitely a real issue. And it's not just low-end or old TVs. I have an extremely recent and higher-end LG OLED model TV and I've been having the issue described in this article ever since I've upgraded my original Switch to the Switch OLED. No flickering issues with my other gaming consoles on the same TV. It's been driving me nuts. After reading this, I've switched out my HDMI cable that came with my Switch OLED for the one that came with my original Switch. Going to keep my fingers crossed!!

Never read this article at the time because I had a base model Switch and it didn’t affect me. But can confirm, this issue is still present on the new Splatoon OLED. And it’s p***ing me right off.