The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles on the market. While it doesn’t offer as much power compared to the PlayStation or Xbox, it does have its own advantages. Nevertheless, the switch can be optimized with just a few settings. We tell you how to do it.
Nintendo itself regularly releases updates that bring new features to the Nintendo Switch or optimize its performance. But what many people don’t know is that gamers themselves can also improve the performance of their console with just a few settings. It only takes a few clicks in the settings.
The Nintendo Switch is available in different versions. The first version of the classic model was launched in spring 2017. An update with more battery life followed later, as well as two completely new models, the Switch Lite and Switch OLED. The tips below to improve performance apply equally to any Nintendo Switch.
More battery life
The Switch is a handheld console. The normal and the OLED model can also be operated with a cable on the dock. But these two consoles – just like the Switch Lite – are clearly intended for mobile use. A good battery life is therefore the be-all and end-all. Due to its compact design, the Nintendo Switch is not known for a huge battery and its enormous performance and endurance. But with just a few steps, the battery can be relieved and the runtime increased.
Disable auto-brightness: This display setting is activated by default from the factory. However, it is advisable to switch them off and turn down the brightness of the display. This saves electricity, which is then available for a longer gaming session with the Nintendo Switch. The corresponding setting for this can be found under “Screen brightness”.
Disable controller vibration: The Joy-Cons will vibrate during certain in-game operations. This allows the player to delve deeper into the gaming world, but the function also affects the performance of the Nintendo Switch and eats up battery. The controller vibration can be turned off under “Controllers and Sensors”. This is especially helpful with the regular switch and the switch OLED. For the Lite version, this adjustment is only worth it if players are using a supported wireless controller.
Adjust standby mode: If the Nintendo Switch is not actively used for a few minutes, it goes into standby mode to save power. This activates by default after 10 minutes in handheld mode or after an hour when playing on the monitor or TV. At least for handheld use, the time can be significantly reduced in the settings under “standby mode”.
Faster downloads
Not only physical games can be played on the Nintendo Switch. Users can also buy numerous titles in the connected eShop and load them onto the console. Sometimes the data packages are enormously large and the download takes a correspondingly long time. However, there is a trick that can improve the Internet performance of the Nintendo Switch and make the games load faster.
In the settings, users can find information about their WLAN under “Internet” and then “Internet settings”. Adjustments can be made by clicking on the network and then “Change settings”. A little further down the list is the so-called MTU value, which determines how much data the console can receive at the same time. By default, the MTU is set to 1400. However, it can be increased, which in turn has a positive effect on the download performance of the Nintendo Switch. The value can be determined manually, but should not exceed 1500.
For more tips to improve Nintendo Switch internet speed, click here.
More memory without memory card and data loss
Let’s stay with game downloads: If you mainly buy your games in the eShop, you may have reached the limits of storage space. The Switch’s storage can be expanded using a microSD card. However, there is a way to free up space on the console even without an SD card. The whole thing works in the menu under “Data management”.
Here you will find the item “Fast archiving”. It is of particular interest for games that players are not currently using, but whose saves should not be deleted under any circumstances. When archiving, the software icon and save data remain on the switch. The game itself will be deleted, freeing up storage space. How much exactly does the Switch show under each listed title. As soon as someone wants to play the game again, it can and must be downloaded again.