Poll: Is Your Third-Party Switch 2 Dock Still Working After This Week's System Update?

Ah yes, the first vote. My power is all encompassing. Democracy is a thread woven exclusively by me, or at least for the time being.

I just use the Nintendo Dock, and no problem here, yet. Hopefully it keeps working fine. I do like the way the Switch 2 shows if the game is a card or digital. Even though I know it, it is still a neat little extra (a very Nintendo thing).

I'm surprised people have been getting 3rd party docks this early into the Switch 2's lifetime, considering what happened the first time around.

@charliecarrot I think the smaller docks make a lot of sense for people traveling between places a lot that prefer to play on TVs with the pro controller. My hands get wrecked with regular joy one and my split pad pro is massive.

Why would anyone even risk a third party dock this early in the consoles life cycle.

I don't own a Switch 2, but I'd never want to use a third-party dock out of fear that stability updates would render them unstable. And that would be bad.

Now, I don't yet have a Switch 2, but I still gotta say this given what I do with my original Switch (and what I plan to do with
a Switch 2 once I actually get one)...where's the option for "I don't use a dock at all"? What are us handheld-only players to whomever came up with these polls, chopped liver?

I had been using a Universal dock that is compatible with both Switch 1 and Switch 2, specifically for our upstairs TV so that my wife could play her Switch for our daughter and I could use it for my Switch 2 in the evenings (the main TV downstairs has the official Switch 2 dock). Up until now, it worked beautifully, allowing us to swap freely between the two with just a simple flip of a plastic board on the back.

Since this past week, two things have changed:
1) Her Switch still works, but running YouTube mutes the audio when using the dock. Playing it in handheld (or using the official Switch dock) plays YouTube audio just fine. Very strange.
2) My Switch 2 now just charges when on the dock, with no TV functionality anymore. It's like the latest update killed that functionality entirely. It does still work on the official dock (thankfully).

So yeah... Very frustrating. I bought this dock because it had glowing reviews and was under $100, but I've been using it successfully for so long, I don't know if I'm able to return it. I hope this gets fixed.

It's the switch docks and chargers drama all over again😒
I get why people want to buy a third party dock but we never learn.

Why is the first poll so lacking in options? Do better, NintendoLife.

Yeah I'd never touch a third party dock. If they can find a way to make it miserable to use the knockoffs, they will. Sucks, but I'm definitely not principled enough to deal with that headache just to make a meaningless wallet vote about dock options so I'll pay the premium when the time comes to get a second one.

Why is the only YES answer has to be "it's my main" ??

Of course it's not. Everybody Switch 2 owner has a Nintendo dock as "main".

3rd party docks are always used for that 2nd or 3rd TV set, or as a portable solution. Why move the bulky Nintendo dock around and always mess with the camera, ethernet, etc.

A 3rd party dongle was perfect on the go.

The hilarious thing is, I just bought a 3rd party dock a few days ago LOL!! Got it home.... ran the update.... no workie... lol

I returned it for an official dock. I actually didn't know Nintendo sold Switch 2 docks on their own or else I would have purchased that from the start (I'd heard horror stories about 3rd party docks frying Switch 1s).

So, the official dock was obviously a lot pricier, but I'm just glad to have something that confidently works and won't kill my system.

All's well that ends well!

No but I have issues with my regular dock working correctly with the 120 hz ports on my TV, has ghosting but works fine with the 60 Hz ports.

I'm not surprised this is happening to third-party docks. This is why I don't buy third-party accessories for my Nintendo consoles unless it has this on the packaging:

@TrueBlueYoshi this is why it's not worth the risk to buy unlicensed third party docks or other unlicensed accessories. These are not tested by tested or approved by Nintendo, problems may happen in the future or like the latest update, render it unusable.

It's not really that big of a deal if the third party dock is bricked due to the update. If it did prevent your third party dock from working just play your Switch 2 on the official dock for the time being and wait until the third party company workout an updated firmware for their dock and then return to it later.

@JJtheTexan Yep it's quite crazy to be honest how Nintendo can get away with this, while companies like Apple have been under constant fire and pressure to get rid of their proprietary tech.

Looks like there's a bit of a cat & mouse game going on; several 3rd party manufacturers have already released firmware updates for their dongles, including Jemdo and TANATRA. It's floating around reddit.

My cabletime adapter was not working, but they have stated they have new firmware ready and to send them an email to get it.

I also have the Antank Dock, and that too is working fine.

Edit: just got the firmware, updated, and now everything works fine with the cable time adapter as well.

I don't like fire hazards, so a third-party dock will never happen.

Where's the poll option that says "I've never purchased a Nintendo game or system but like to complain about their poor business practices in every post online" ?

Could add an option in the second poll of "hey, no, I liked the GameCube that was a serious console, I played resident evil 4 on my friends one"

As for the dock stuff, have no issues but as with a few places 2 people in this household have switch 2 systems so one of our docks is on one screen and the other screen got the spare. Last Gen by the time the OLED model was out I think only one of those docks came out of the box here for the wired LAN port. Both Mariko docks were never unboxed.

I don't use a third party dock. But its really weird that there are these mixed reports about them working/not working after the update. How is that.

Others have said it already, but I will too — getting a third party dock not even a year in seems… brave. I didn’t trust third party docks for the original Switch enough to get any until just a few years ago. I imagine it’ll take me at least that long before I try to get any for my Switch 2 as well.

I use a portable cable adapter that I bought off of AliExpress for travel and in the bedroom. The official dock stays in the living room.

After the update it stopped working, but I applied a firmware update and now it's working again. The company that put out the update didn't match the branding on the cable, but it was the same electronics.

@charliecarrot The main thing with early Switch 1 3rd party docks was that the Switch 1 used an unusual PD wattage which the 3rd party docks didn't use so it ended up bricking a lot of systems. Once they caught onto this a lot of 3rd party docks worked just fine.

The Switch 2 uses a standard PD wattage now - it's moreso that Nintendo have different protocols for the HDMI out from the Switch 2 that a lot of 3rd party docks find hard to match. Antank for example have a firmware updateable dock so if something changes they can update the dock via a firmware update and users can download it and apply to their dock via usb C. Although Antank had no issues with the system update so no need to update in this case.

3rd party docks aren't really as bad as they used to be. Just ensure you use the correct wattage of plug for Switch 2 (preferably official plug)

~26% using a third party dock. A pretty big SMH IMO.

So many Nintendo fans are so used to the company’s anticonsumer behavior that they actually understand and justify these shady practices. Unbelievable.

I love my Switch 2 but deliberately messing with a USB-C port just to screw people over because Nintendo refuses to release (affordable) portable docks (which is mind-blowing considering the whole portable nature of the Switch) is pure BS.

Thanks for nothing, NINTENDON’T ❤️

This is why instead of a 3rd party dock, I went for a replacement chassis kit. Much smaller form factor, but still using official chip taken from the official dock. You know its always going to work

Come to think of it. I’ve hade problems with my official dock. The picture just goes black for a couple of seconds. It can be quite irritating in both Mario Kart and Silksong.

I have a third party dock but I rarely use it so I have no idea if it works now or not.

Not only 3rd party docks might mess your console, but the insanely expensive Nintendo ones aren't even available here anymore, although the sale is allowed just once for each account. They produce less to keep the price high.

The worst aspect of all this is how Nintendo is smartly avoiding to explicitly and clearly disallow the use of 3rd party docks to not be fined by antitrust authorities like DG COMP, but they still do so in practice.

@liamdoolan with polls like this could you have a conditional /branching option so that only people who vote yes I have a third party dock get to then vote in the second "does it still work after update" poll?

Honest question: why even use a third-party dock if you get the official one with the system? Are there extra features or something? Cheaper if you want extra docks?

@rallydefault Yep. People get extra docks to take with them, but since the official one is extremely overpriced (as was the original Switch dock), people look towards third parties to do the job.

@rallydefault - yeah they're cheaper and are handy for a travel dock/second TV dock. Just have to do your research on them though

@TrueBlueYoshi I was actually wondering if these docks have the seal of quality on their packaging. I'm too paranoid to use anything but Nintendo's official accessories; I accidentally bricked my launch day Switch 1 by using a phone charger with it.

@rallydefault I have connected my official dock to my PC monitor because it is in 4K and the TV isn't. It would still be nice to have a second one for the TV and third party docks are a lot cheaper.

I couldn't even buy an official dock if I wanted to. Amazon and Co. don't sell it and the official Nintendo Store for my country is always out of stock.

If I Docked my Switch 2 then I'd have to walk all the way over to my dock to get my switch and play it, madness

I'm waiting for my Covert Dock 3.

I bought a 15 dollar one cheapo third party dock two months ago, to be used as a secondary unit and avoid the hassle of disconnecting my main setup every time I take my Switch 2 house to play with my nieces. It did perfectly until I updated the console which blocked Switch 2 compatibility (still worked with Switch 1 though)...for a whole day XD. Then I downloaded a quick and easy to install updat and it is now back at working without issues. VERY pleased with my purchase as of now in terms of price and usefulness.

I camp a lot, and work from my camper, and game in my camper. The Switch is connected to the monitor from behind a removable plastic panel so it's not in the way, invisible to thieves and just looks sleek. Portable docks are the only way this method would work for me. No more mini dock, no more Smash with the girlfriend in the mountains.

I noticed that in all the hullabaloo, no one has bothered to inquire about my Switch OLED dock.

...it's fine, by the way. Not that any of you care.

...even though you should, because today is its birthday. 😠

@SpaceboyScreams I don't like to comment more than once in a row, but your setup looks and sounds pretty slick; love the color scheme and "smuggler's panels." Nice job. Did the latter come built-in? And any other interesting "camper hacks" you can share with someone who's never been camping (or even in a camper, for that matter, haha)? I'm curious about the kinds of things people like you do to protect yourself. Seems essential and fascinating, and I don't know anything about it.

People apparently didn't learn their lesson from messing with third party docks with the first Switch.. What a surprise

Oddly enough, after the update, my official switch 2 dock wasn't outputting to the TV. Thankfully resetting my TV fixed the problem, but the fact that it was working before the update and then suddenly wasn't working had me scared for a moment, since before updating, I had heard that third party docks were having problems.

@GinMiguel

Easy: Its not some magic malign malware. Its a firmware update. Some unlicensed accessories react badly to it, and some don't. Because part of being "unlicensed" is that they had to engineered their own compatible design, and different companies come up with different solutions.

My SIWIQU dock is working just fine with v21

I don’t yet own Switch 2, but I am watching the launch of Switch 2 closely and understand why so many have opted for a cheaper dock. Price gouging from the manufacturer.

Admittedly, I don’t ever take chances on any of my hardware whether it be video gaming or musical instruments, etc., but this stuff has truly become luxury items. They always were, but now we’re really paying out for it.

As a long-time Nintendo and home console buyer, I’m having pause for the first time since the mid ‘90s buying the newest hardware without question, interrupting a 30+ year ritual of “I’ll get it up front and be happy later.” I’m not sure I like the direction of Switch 2 just yet, and Nintendo’s not doing many favors for their image, respectfully—in my opinion, of course.

In closing, despite my own personal concerns for Switch 2 and Nintendo as a company at present, you never buy a third party accessory so early, hehe. You’re all very brave! ✌️😃

Yep, my noname AliExpress dock is now just a charging station. Well, at least it's a comfy charging station...

@Noelemahc How does that dock look like? They are basically all coming out of the same factories; I had no issues updating my "2 Need use Switch" dongle with the Jemdo firmware.. 5 minutes and I was good to go.

@Wewewi unfolds from a box into a stand with a fan base, adjustable height and all. Is not recognized by the Jemdo or other updaters, so I'm at a loss.

@Noelemahc Got a picture or a link to this bad boy?

@Wewewi here's the Reddit post about it
I have since found a fix and it works again, so yay!

https://www.reddit.com/r/switch2/s/MDRHnDJnSS

Oooh I went for a dongle for its portability, but as a 2nd "home" dock; considering the price, this is not bad at all!

Also got this puppy from AliExpress; couldnt resist the idea of a dock for my dock.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009235142950.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.119.39171802FEs6Bw