Make your console more comfortable and improve its download speed, battery life, storage, and online performance with these handy tips.
1. Explore Your Handheld Controller Options
The Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons are great, but they can get a little uncomfortable after a while. If you’ve played handheld for hours on end, you will be all too familiar with your pinky fingers going numb or your hands cramping up.
Thankfully, there are plenty more options out there to improve the longevity of your handheld gaming sessions without having to put the controller down. Here are three options.
Satisfye ZenGrip Pro
The Satisfye ZenGrip Pro (pictured above) slides onto the back of your Nintendo Switch, adding handles to the usually flat Joy-Cons. This makes your Nintendo Switch feel more akin to a regular controller which makes it far more comfortable to hold for long periods of time.
The Satisfye ZenGrip Pro is great because it allows you to game comfortably while still retaining all the Joy-Con’s exclusive features, such as NFC support and motion controls.
Hori Split Pad Pro
The Hori Split Pad Pro (pictured above) is a great option if you’re looking for a third-party controller for your Switch. The Hori Split Pad Pro has built-in grips that feel like you are using the Nintendo Switch Pro controller when gaming in handheld mode. The buttons and joysticks are also larger, so the system sits nicely if your hands are more on the larger side.
The Hori Split Pad Pro is missing some key features that you will find in Nintendo’s Joy-Cons, such as NFC support, motion, and HD rumble. But for some, this is a small sacrifice for comfort.
Fixture S1 Mount
The Nintendo Switch Pro controller is many peoples’ controller of choice. If this sounds like you, then the Fixture S1 Mount (pictured above) is a great option. It allows you to use the Nintendo Pro Controller while gaming handheld.
The Fixture S1 Mount operates like a mobile gaming clip, clipping onto your controller while suspending the screen above it. This way, you are able to game handheld without needing to prop the Switch up on another surface.
2. Improve Your Switch’s Download Speed
You can improve the download speed of your Nintendo Switch by changing a few simple settings:
Head into your Switch’s settings. From there, click on Internet Settings. Select your preferred network, then select Change Settings. Head to the section labeled MTU Value. By default, this value will be 1400. Change this value to 1500.
MTU stands for maximum transmission unit. By increasing this value, you are allowing more data to download onto your system at once. As a result, your downloads will complete at a much faster rate.
3. Expand Your Switch’s Storage and Memory
The original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch Lite have 32GB of free space for downloads. The Nintendo Switch OLED has improved storage, providing you with 64GB of available space on the system.
This may seem like a lot. But some games can be very large and will use up your available storage rapidly. For example, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt requires 31.5GB of space to download onto the system. For an original Switch or Switch Lite, that is the only game you’ll have room for.
Purchasing games physically is a great way to get around this issue, as most of the game exists on the cartridge rather than the system itself. But if you mainly download your games from the eShop, you might run across some issues regarding the amount of storage available on your Nintendo Switch. Making the decision of whether to buy physical or digital Switch games can be tricky. There are several options to weigh up to see what could be the best fit for you.
To improve the amount of storage available on your Nintendo Switch, you can purchase a microSD card separately. All you need to do is insert the microSD card into your Switch, and that memory becomes available on your system. The microSD card slot is located behind the kickstand.
The largest microSD card you can purchase for your Nintendo Switch is 1TB. With that amount of space, you would not have to worry about storage on your Nintendo Switch for a very long time.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, steer clear of the Nintendo-branded SD cards. They are more expensive than other microSD cards on the market.
There are many types of SD cards on the market, and not all of them are compatible with the Nintendo Switch. To avoid purchasing the wrong card for your Switch, make sure you go with a microSD, a microSDHC, or a microSDXC.
There is a lot to consider when purchasing an SD card and making sure that you purchase the right one is imperative. They are often rather pricey, so you don’t want to pick up the wrong type.
4. Maximize Your Switch’s Battery Life
The Nintendo Switch has a battery life of around five to six hours, depending on what game you’re playing. And time flies when you’re having fun, so you might want to maximize the amount of time you can play on your Switch before needing to recharge.
To improve the battery life of your Switch, you can activate airplane mode. You will find this option in the settings. Airplane mode stops signals like WiFi from constantly operating in the background and taking energy from your Switch.
When your Nintendo Switch is in airplane mode, you will not be able to play games that require an internet connection. But if you’re taking your Switch on a long road trip or something similar, this is a perfect way to extend its battery life.
5. Improve Your Switch’s Online Gaming Capabilities
When playing competitive games online, a wired LAN connection is the best way to ensure you’re getting the strongest and fastest internet connection possible.
The Nintendo Switch OLED Dock has an Ethernet port, but the original Switch dock doesn’t come with that luxury. There are a couple of ways around this, however, to ensure the best online gaming experience possible.
You can purchase a Nintendo Switch OLED dock separately without having to purchase a whole new Switch. This way, you are able to make full use of the Switch OLED LAN port with your original Nintendo Switch.
If you are looking for a cheaper option, you can purchase a USB LAN connector to use with your original Switch dock. The USB LAN connector plugs into the USB port on your Switch dock, allowing you to then plug a LAN cable into the dongle. This is a great way to provide your Nintendo Switch Dock with a wired connection to the internet without spending upwards of $100 for a new product.
Using an Ethernet connection is a great way to give yourself a boost over your competitors. But not all Ethernet cords are created equal! Choosing the best Ethernet cable could make the difference between winning or losing.
Enjoy Your Improved Nintendo Switch Experience
The Nintendo Switch is an incredible and innovative system, but nothing is perfect. These tips should allow you to better enjoy gaming on your Switch.
We have barely scratched the surface of innovative ways to make your Switch life better. Use these tips and others to help you up your Nintendo Switch game.
