How to fix issues with the Switch OLED screen looking dark, washed out and more

With the Switch OLED system, Nintendo replaced the LCD screen from the original system and Switch Lite system with an OLED screen.

If you are experiencing issues with the screen of your Nintendo Switch OLED looking bad, dark, off, washed out or weird, then you can check out this step-by-step tutorial at Seeking Tech.

Before we being, it should be noted that this troubleshooting guide is only intended for the handheld and tabletop modes of the Switch OLED system.

If the Switch games look back when you connect your Switch OLED system to a TV, then we recommend adjusting the TV’s display settings. You can also adjust the TV Settings on your game console in the System Settings menu.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to check to see if your OLED screen issue is related to a certain game or across multiple games.

If it only affects one game, then we recommend going to the in-game menu and then adjust the visual settings, if there are any.

You can also try updating the game to the latest available patch to see if doing so will fix the OLED screen display issues.

To update to the latest software version for a game, you need to take the following steps:

  • In the Home menu, hover over to the game with display issues.
  • With the game in question highlighted, you can then press either the + or – button on the Joy-Con.
  • In the next menu, select Software on the left column.
  • On the right side of the same menu, select Via the Internet.

2. You can also try updating the firmware of your Nintendo Switch OLED system if you haven’t done so already.

In order to do so, you can do the following:

  • In the Home menu, head into System Settings.
  • Inside System Settings menu, scroll down and then select System from the options available on the left column.
  • On the right side of the same menu, select System Update.

3. The next step you can try is to check the Change Display Colors setting.

In order to do so, you need to take the following steps:

  • From the Home menu, select System Settings.
  • In the System Settings menu, scroll down on the left column and then select System.
  • On the right side in the same menu, scroll down and then select Change Display Colors.
  • The Change Display Colors should be set to Default. If it was previously set to Invert Colors or Grayscale, then make sure to change it to Default.

4. Furthermore, you can try adjust the screen brightness by taking the following steps:

  • Go to System Settings from the Home menu.
  • Inside the System Settings menu, select Screen Brightness from the left bar.
  • On the right side of the same menu, you should see the brightness adjustment bar.

5. We also recommend checking the Console-Screen Colors setting. For the uninformed, the Console-Screen Colors is only available in the Nintendo Switch OLED model as the screen will allow you to display more vivid colors.

To check the Console-Screen Colors, you need to do the following:

  • Go to System Settings from the Home menu of your Nintendo Switch OLED.
  • Navigate downwards and then select System.
  • On the right of the same screen, select Console-Screen Colors.
  • By default, the Console-Screen Colors is set to Vivid.
  • If you are experiencing screen OLED issues when it was set to Vivid, then you can change the Console-Screen Colors to Standard.
  • If you are experiencing screen OLED issues when it was set to Standard, then you can change the Console-Screen Colors to Vivid.

How to fix Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED Bluetooth audio delay/lag

Support for Bluetooth earphones, headsets, headphones and speakers were recently added to the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch OLED systems.

When using the Bluetooth connection for audio, you may notice that there is a delay or lag in relations to what is happening on the screen.

You can check out this troubleshooting guide at Seeking Tech to see how you can fix these wireless audio latency issues.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to turn off your console and then turn it back on again.

In order to do so, you need to do the following:

  • Press and hold the power button on your Switch, Switch Lite or Switch OLED until the Power menu shows up on screen.
  • In the Power menu, select Power Options.
  • Select Turn Off.
  • Press the power button again on your system to turn it back on.

2. You can also try turning off the connected Bluetooth audio device, turn it back on again and then reconnect it you’re your Switch system.

To do so, you need to take the following steps:

  • Follow the instructions from the manufacture of the Bluetooth audio device to turn it off.
  • Follow the instructions from the manufacture of the Bluetooth audio device to turn it back on again.
  • On your Switch system, go to System Settings.
  • On the left column of the System Settings menu, scroll down and then select Bluetooth Audio.
  • On the right side of the same screen, select your Bluetooth audio device.
  • In the next screen, select Connect Device.

3. If possible, you may want to factory reset your Bluetooth audio device and then pair it to your Switch system again.

You can do so by doing the following:

  • Follow the instructions from the manufacture of the Bluetooth audio device to factory reset it.
  • Go to System Settings on your Switch system.
  • Scroll down and then select Bluetooth Audio on the left side of the System Settings menu.
  • Next, select your Bluetooth audio device on the right side of the same screen.
  • In the next screen, select Remove Device.
  • In the pop-up notification, select Remove Device again.
  • Follow the instructions from the manufacture’s Bluetooth audio device to set the device to pairing mode.
  • On the Nintendo Switch system, you should be back in the Bluetooth Audio menu. Here, you need to select Pair Device.
  • In the Pair Bluetooth Audio Device menu, select your device.
  • In the pop-up notification, select OK.

4. You can also try updating the firmware of your Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite or Nintendo Switch OLED.

You can do so by taking the following steps:

  • From the Home menu, select System Settings.
  • Inside the System Settings menu, scroll down on the left column and then select System.
  • On the right side in the same screen, select System Update.

5. If the Bluetooth audio latency issue is only happening when you play one specific game, then you can try closing the game and then opening it again.

You can also try updating the game by taking the following steps:

  • From the Home menu, navigate to the problematic game.
  • With the game highlighted, press either the + button or – button.
  • Select Software Update from the left column in the next screen.
  • On the right side of the same screen, select Via the Internet.

6. Furthermore, you can try repositioning the Bluetooth audio device to your Switch, Switch Lite or Switch OLED system.

You should try to move connected Bluetooth audio device as close as possible to the game system.

You should also make sure that there are no solid objects that may block the direct line of sight in between the audio device and your Switch.

Other wireless devices may also interrupt Bluetooth connection between the audio device and the system. Therefore, you should make sure you aren’t near any Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and any other wireless devices.

7. If none of the aforementioned potential solutions help resolve the Bluetooth audio delay and lag issues, then we recommend using a wired connection.

A wired connection will generally have less latency when compared to a Bluetooth connection.

So, if you have earphones, headsets, headphones or speakers with an audio cable, you can try connecting it to the audio jack of your Switch system. You should experience less delay and lag by doing so.

How to fix Nintendo Switch OLED microSD card recognition issues

You can add extra storage to your Nintendo Switch OLED via the microSD card slot. If your system can’t recognize your card, then you can check out this troubleshooting guide at Seeking Tech to find some potential solutions.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to make sure your microSD card is compatible with the Switch OLED system.

For the uninformed, game console supports microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC. The Nintendo Switch OLED should also be compatible with both the UHS-I and UHS-II Ultra High Speed formats. Finally, the card needs to have a minimum read or transfer speed of 60 MB per second.

2. If you are sure that your microSD card is compatible, then we recommend re-inserting the card once again.

In order to do so, you can take the following steps:

Turn off your Nintendo Switch OLED by pressing and holding the power button for at least 3 seconds.

Next, select Power Options and then Turn Off.

With your system powered down, lay it down so that the back of the console is facing upwards.

Open the adjustable stand to access the microSD slot.

Press down on the microSD card to loosen it and then slide it out of the slot.

Look at the connectors on the cards as well as the microSD card slot to see if there are any potential damages. If you see damage on the connectors on your card, then you will need to send it in for repair if possible. If you see that the microSD card slot on your system has been damaged, then you need to send in your Switch OLED for repair.

If both the connectors and slot look normal, then you can re-insert the microSD card back into the microSD slot.

Afterwards, turn on your Nintendo Switch OLED again and then test to see if your system can recognize the card.

3. If your microSD still can’t be recognized, then you and try reformatting it. Keep in mind that this procedure will erase everything stored on the memory card. So, if possible, you may want to move any important files you have on the card before continuing.

To reformat, you need to do the following:

With the microSD card inserted into the microSD slot of your Switch OLED, turn on the system.

In the Home menu, select System Settings from the bottom.

On the left side of the next screen, scroll down to select System.

On the right side of the same screen, select Formatting Options.

You may be asked to enter the Parental Controls PIN, if you previously set one up, to continue.

Afterwards, select Format microSD Card.

You can then select Continue.

Finally, select Format.

Your Nintendo Switch OLED system will automatically reset once the formatting has completed.

4. If your console still can’t detect the reformatted microSD card, then you can try to use another microSD card.

If the new microSD card works, then the recognition issues may be related to the older microSD card.

If the new microSD card still can’t be recognized, then the issues may be related to the Nintendo Switch OLED. If that is the case, then you should consider contacting Nintendo about possibly sending your console in for repair.

How to fix Nintendo Switch OLED Joy-Con disconnections

When playing your Nintendo Switch OLED with the Joy-Con controllers, you may experience disconnections. To stop your gamepads from getting randomly disconnected, you can check out this troubleshooting guide from Seeking Tech.

1. If you haven’t done so already, we recommend checking to see if your controllers are being recognized and registered correctly to your Nintendo Switch OLED system.

If you can’t get your system to recognize and register your Joy-Cons, you can check out this guide to find some potential fixes.

2. If your system can detect the Joy-Con controllers, then next step you can take is to try updating to the latest available firmware of your Switch OLED, which you can manually do with the following steps:

From the Home menu, go to System Settings.

Once you are inside the System Settings menu, first select System from the left side and then select System Update on the right side.

3. You can also try updating the software on the Joy-Cons. In order to do so, you need to do the following:

Go to System Settings from the Home menu.

Select Controllers and Sensors on the left side and then select Update Controllers on the right side.

4. If you are still experiencing disconnects with your console and controllers updated, then we recommend resetting the Joy-Cons. You can do so by taking the following steps:

Detach the left and right Joy-Con from the Nintendo Switch OLED system.

Press the sync button on both controllers.

Next, you can press any other buttons on both controllers to turn them back on.

5. Another potential fix is to enable Airplane mode, which can be done by doing the following:

If you haven’t done so already, detach both the left and right Joy-Con controllers from the Nintendo Switch OLED system.

Using the touchscreen of your Switch OLED, tap System Settings in the main menu.

Tap Airplane Mode on the left column.

On the right side of the same screen, you should see that the Airplane Mode is either turned on or off. If it is set to off, tap that setting to turn it on.

Once Airplane mode has been turned on, go back to the Airplane Mode screen in order to tap Controller Connection (Bluetooth) and then Bluetooth Communication.

You then need to press any button on your left and right Joy-Cons to reconnect them to your Nintendo Switch OLED system.

6. If your controllers are still getting disconnected randomly, then you should check your surroundings.

First off, make sure that there is a direct line of sight between your detached Joy-Cons and your Nintendo Switch OLED system. You should avoid any physical objects, especially metals, from blocking the Bluetooth connection.

Nintendo also recommends that your Switch OLED and Joy-Cons should be at least four feet away from other wireless devices (such as a Wi-Fi router, cordless phone and wireless speaker) as these may hinder the Bluetooth connection between your system and controllers.

If the aforementioned potential solutions could not fix your connection issues, then you may need to send in your controllers and/or system for repair. You can do so with this link.

How to fix long load times, laggy and unresponsive downloadable games on Switch OLED

When playing a downloadable game on your Nintendo Switch OLED system, you may experience long load times, lag or general unresponsiveness. To fix these issues, you can check out this troubleshooting guide at Seeking Tech.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to restart your Nintendo Switch OLED.

  • In order to do so, press and hold the power button on the system for around three seconds. Afterwards, select Power Options and then Restart.
  • If your system is unresponsive, press and hold the power button for 12 seconds to force a shut down. You can then press the power button again to turn your system back on.

2. You can also try checking if the software data for the game is corrupted. In order to do so, you can take the following steps:

  • From the Home menu, go to System Settings.
  • On the left column, scroll down and then select Data Management.
  • On the right side of the same screen, select Manage Software.
  • Select the game you are having issues with.
  • Finally, select Check for Corrupt Data.

3. You can also try deleting and then reinstalling the problematic game. To do so, you need to do the following:

  • Go to System Settings from the Home menu.
  • Select Data Management from the left column.
  • Select Manage Software on the right side.
  • Select the problematic game.
  • Select Archive Software to delete the game.
  • Go back to the Home menu and select the icon of the game you previously deleted to redownload and reinstall the game again.

4. Furthermore, you can try updating the software version of the game. To do so manually, you need to take the following steps:

  • Hover over the game icon.
  • With the game highlighted, press the + or – button on your Nintendo Switch OLED controller.
  • Select Software Update.
  • Select Via the Internet.
  • 5. You can also try updating the firmware of your Switch OLED system, which you can do manually by doing the following:
  • Go to System Settings from the Home menu.
  • Select System from the left column.
  • Select System Update on the right side.

6. The long load times, lag or general unresponsiveness issues when playing downloadable games on the Nintendo Switch OLED may be related to the microSD card.

If your problematic game is installed on a microSD card, then try reformatting the card. To do so, you need to take the following steps:

  • In the Home menu, go to System Settings.
  • Select System on the left side.
  • On the right side, select Formatting Options.
  • You may have to enter the Parental Controls PIN to continue.
  • Select Format microSD Card.
  • Select Continue.
  • Select Format.

7. You can also try removing the microSD card from the Nintendo Switch OLED system.

To do so, you need to do the following:

  • Turn off your system.
  • Open the adjustable stand.
  • Press down on the microSD card and then slide it out from the slot.
  • After removing the microSD card, you can either redownload the game on another microSD card or directly on the internal storage of your Switch OLED system.

Nintendo Switch OLED First-Party Accessory Compatibility Guide

The Nintendo Switch OLED is a new revision for the Switch family of gaming systems. You can check out this guide from Seeking Tech to see which first-party accessories are compatible with the new console.

Nintendo Switch OLED Compatible First-Party Controllers

The Nintendo Switch OLED system should be compatible with the following first-party controllers:

  • Nintendo Joy-Cons
  • Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
  • Nintendo Entertainment System Controller
  • Super Nintendo Entertainment System Controller
  • Nintendo 64 Controller
  • Sega Genesis Controller
  • Poké Ball Plus

Before using any of the aforementioned controllers, you need to sync them to your Switch OLED console.

GameCube Controller Adapter

The new Nintendo Switch OLED dock, which comes with a built-in LAN adapter, should work with the official GameCube Controller Adapter.

To use the GameCube Controller Adapter with the Switch OLED’s handheld mode or tabletop mode, Nintendo recommends using the officially licensed HORI Dual USB PlayStand.

Is the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit compatible with Nintendo Switch OLED?

When it comes to the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit, the Switch OLED system won’t work with the Toy-Con Piano or Toy-Con Motorbike.

Moreover, because the OLED model has a bigger screen, the screen will be partially hidden when you are playing Toy-Con Fishing Rod and Toy-Con House.

Is the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 02: Robot Kit compatible with Nintendo Switch OLED?

The Nintendo Switch OLED system should be fully compatible with the Robot Kit from Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 02.

Is the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit compatible with Nintendo Switch OLED?

As for the Vehicle Kit, the larger screen of the Nintendo Switch OLED system will be partially hidden when you are playing with the Toy-Con Car.

Is the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit compatible with Nintendo Switch OLED?

There are several issues with the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit if you want to play it on the Nintendo Switch OLED system.

For one, the larger OLED screen may hinder the VR effects when using the Toy-Con VR Goggles.

The image size on the screen will also shrink when VR Mode is enabled.

Furthermore, the Switch OLED system can’t automatically detect the VR Mode. Therefore, Nintendo recommends setting “VR Mode Auto-Switch” to “Off.”

Can you use the old Nintendo Switch Dock with Nintendo Switch OLED?

You can use the old dock that came with the original Nintendo Switch model with the new Nintendo Switch OLED model.

Can you use the Nintendo Switch OLED Dock with original Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite?

On the flip side, you can also use the new dock that came with the new Nintendo Switch OLED model with the original Nintendo Switch model.

The new dock that came with the Switch OLED can’t be used with the portable-only Nintendo Switch Lite model.

Can you use original Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite AC Adapter with Nintendo Switch OLED?

You can also use the AC Adapters that came with the original Nintendo Switch system and the Nintendo Switch Lite system with the new Nintendo Switch OLED system.

Can you use Nintendo Switch OLED AC Adapter with original Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite?

Of course, you can also use the Nintendo Switch OLED AC Adapter with the original Nintendo Switch system as well as the Nintendo Switch Lite system.

Where to find the serial number for Nintendo Switch OLED

Like other Nintendo Switch systems, the OLED model comes with a serial number for identification purposes.

In order to find the serial number for the Switch OLED, then you can check out this tutorial from Seeking Tech.

How to find the serial number on the Nintendo Switch OLED

To find the serial number on the Switch OLED console, you need to take the following steps:

1. Turn your system over so that its backside is facing upwards.

2. Fully open the adjustable stand on the back.

3. You should see a white sticker.

In American countries, the serial number for the Nintendo Switch system starts with “XTW” and is then followed by eleven digits.

How to find the serial number on the Nintendo Switch OLED menus

If the white sticker got removed, you can also find the serial number on the menu of the Nintendo Switch OLED.

In order to do so, you need to do the following:

1. If you haven’t done so already, turn on your system.

2. In the Home menu, select System Settings from the options available at the bottom.

For the uninformed, the Home menu is where you can select which game to play. You can get to it by pressing the Home button on your Joy-Con controller.

3. Once you get to the System Settings menu, scroll down on the left column and then select System.

4. On the right side inside the same System Settings menu, select Serial Information.

5. You should find the serial number at the top of the list.

How to fix Nintendo Switch OLED Joy-Con recognition and registration issues

When playing on your Nintendo Switch OLED, you may experience issues with your system recognizing or registering your Joy-Con controllers. You can check out this troubleshooting guide from Seeking Tech to see how you can resolve these problems.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to see if both the left or right Joy-Con controllers will work when detached from the console.

Start be detaching the controllers from the Switch OLED system.

Afterwards, test to see if the system will recognize your inputs from both the left and right Joy-Cons. You can also use the Test Input Devices menu, which you can get to from the System Settings menu by selecting the Controllers and Senors option on the left side and then Test Input Devices option on the right side.

2. If the system still can’t recognize one of both of your Joy-Con controllers when detached, then you can try to reset the gamepads. To do so, you need to do the following:

On the problematic detached Joy-Con, press the sync button, which is the small circular button located in the near the Player LED indicator.

Afterwards, press any other button on the troublesome detached Joy-Con to turn it back on again.

You can then try connecting the problematic detached Joy-Con back onto your Nintendo Switch OLED system to see if it is working normally. Make sure that it is inserted all the way into the correct slot.

3. If the aforementioned solutions do not work, then you can try detaching and reattaching the controller several more times to see if the recognition or registration issues go away.

4. If you are still experiencing problems, then the last step you can take is to see if there is a firmware update available for the Nintendo Switch OLED system.

In order to do so, you can take the following steps:

First off, you should be in the Home menu, which is where you can select which game to play.

In the Home menu, select the System Settings option. (Note: If you don’t have any working controllers connected to your Switch OLED, then you can touch the screen with your finger to select options in the menus.)

Inside the System Settings menu, scroll down on the left column and then select System.

On the right side of the same menu, select the System Update option.

If none of the aforementioned help fix the Joy-Con recognition and registration issues, then you may need to contact Nintendo in order to send in the controller and/or the console for repair.

How to insert, format and remove the microSD card on Nintendo Switch OLED

Like the other Nintendo Switch systems, the new OLED model supports expanded storage through the use of microSD cards.

You can check out this step-by-step guide from Seeking Tech to see how you can insert, format and remove a microSD card into the Nintendo Switch OLED system.

Nintendo Switch OLED microSD card Requirements

Before we begin, it is important to note that the Nintendo Switch OLED only supports microSD cards. The bigger SD cards, as well as other types of memory cards, won’t work with this system.

As for the microSD card formats, the following are supported:

  • microSD (for microSD cards up to 2 GB in capacity)
  • microSDHC (for microSD cards between 4 GB to 32 GB in capacity)
  • microSDXC (for microSD cards of at least 64 GB in capacity)

When it comes to the Ultra High Speed rating, the Nintendo Switch OLED system is designed to work with UHS-I. Although you can also use UHS-II cards, the Switch OLED won’t take advantage of the excess speed.

The system also requires a microSD card with a read or transfer speed between 60 MB per second to 95 MB per second. While there are cards that exceed 95 MB per second, the OLED model won’t take advantage of the extra speed.

If you are looking for a compatible microSD card, then you can check out this guide.

How to insert microSD card to Nintendo Switch OLED

In order to insert the microSD card to your Nintendo Switch OLED system, then you need to take the following steps:

1. Before inserting the microSD into the game console, we recommend moving any important files you have stored on the card.

This is because the microSD will need to be formatted, which will erase all the data that was previously store on it.

2. Once you are ready, turn off the Switch OLED system.

You can do so by pressing and holding the power button on the system for at least three seconds. Afterwards, select Power Options and then Turn Off.

3. Next, you need to lay the Nintendo Switch OLED system down on a soft surface with the screen at the bottom.

3. On the back of the system, swing the adjustable stand open. You should see the microSD slot at the bottom left corner.

4. You can now insert the microSD card into the slot. Make sure that the label on the microSD card is facing away from the system.

5. After the insertion, carefully push down on the card until it clicks into place.

How to format microSD card for Nintendo Switch OLED

In order to format a microSD card for the Nintendo Switch OLED console, you can do the following:

1. With the microSD card inserted, turn on your Switch OLED.

2. In the Home menu, go to System Settings.

3. In System Settings, scroll down and then select System.

4. On the right side of the same screen, scroll down and then select Formatting Options.

5. If you previously set up a Parental Controls PIN, then you have to enter it to continue to the next step. If you don’t have a PIN set up, then you can skip to the next step.

6. Afterwards, select Format microSD Card.

7. Select Continue.

8. Finally, select Format.

After the formatting is completed, the Nintendo Switch OLED system will restart.

How to remove the microSD card from Nintendo Switch OLED

To remove the microSD card from your Nintendo Switch OLED system, you need to do the following:

1. Turn off your Switch OLED.

2. Lay your Switch down with the OLED screen at the bottom.

3. On the backside of the system, open the adjustable stand.

4. Locate the microSD card slot, which should be on the bottom left.

5. Press down on the microSD card to loosen it from the slot.

6. Finally, slide the microSD card out from the microSD card slot of the Switch OLED system.

How to update the Nintendo Switch OLED dock firmware

The new dock that comes with the Nintendo Switch OLED system can get firmware updates. In order to do so, you can check out this step-by-step tutorial from Seeking Tech.

1. Before we begin, it should be noted that only the firmware of the new dock can be updated. The old dock that came with the original Nintendo Switch doesn’t have a firmware to update.

For the uninformed, this new dock should have a built-in LAN port and a model number of HEG-007.

2. It should also be noted that the portable-only Nintendo Switch Lite can’t be put on the new dock. Therefore, you won’t be able to update the firmware of the new dock by using the Switch Lite handheld.

Instead, you need either the original Switch model or the new Switch OLED.

3. The first step is to update to the latest firmware for your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED if you haven’t done so already.

To begin, turn on your system.

4. If your system is connected to the Internet and there is a new firmware available, then your system should automatically download the update file.

If you don’t see a notification for the automatic firmware update and your system is connected online, you can do a manual update by first selecting System Settings in the Home menu.

5. In System Settings, select System from the left column.

6. On the right side, select System Update.

7. If there is a new firmware for your Switch or Switch OLED is available, then the download for the file will start.

8. Now that the firmware of your system is up to date, go back to the Home menu and then select System Settings once again.

9. Inside the System Settings menu, select System from the list of options available on the left side.

10. On the right screen of the same menu, select Update Dock.

11. In the next screen, select Begin Update.

12. If, for some reason, the firmware update for the new dock stops before completion, you need to repeat steps #10 and #11.