How to Connect a Switch to Your MacBook or Windows PC

There are several ways to connect your Nintendo Switch to your computer. If you're wondering how to do it, keep reading. In this article, we will tell you what you need to do if you want to play Nintendo Switch games and use its controllers with your computer.

The ideal solution is to buy a device like an Egato HD60 capture card that will act as a dock that connects your laptop to a Nintendo Switch, allowing you to play games without any lag or connectivity issues.

How to use your Nintendo Switch with a computer

To use your Nintendo Switch on any computer or laptop, you'll need to connect it and start a one-time setup process. Here's what you need to do:

1. If you have a Nintendo Switch cable connected to your TV, unplug it.
2. Connect the HDMI cable with the Egato HDMI capture card.
3. On your laptop or computer, you will need to open the Game Capture HD app.
4. Turn on the Nintendo Switch and press "Home" on either controller.
5. Connect your laptop to an Egato device. Now, you will be able to see the Nintendo Switch home screen on your device screen.

These steps are the same with any capture card device on the market, as they all work on the same principles.

How to Use Switch Controllers with a Computer

Switch controllers work with the computer only via Bluetooth connectivity. You can do this by simply following these steps:

1. Turn on your computer.
2. Click on “Start”, “Settings”, “Devices” and click on “Bluetooth”.
3. Enable the Bluetooth toggle.
4. Disconnect the Nintendo Switch controllers.
5. Hold down the Sync button on the controllers until it starts flashing.
6. Tap "Add Bluetooth or other device".
7. When you see "Joy-Con(R") and "Joy-Con(L)", click "Pair" and "Done".
8. Once you see the controllers on your device list, you need to pair them with your computer.
9. Once they are connected, the computer registers them as separate controllers.

If you want to use them as one controller, you will need to sync them so they work as one device. This is the tricky part as it will involve using other programs, and the entire process will take considerable time.

However, if you need to use them together, one solution will be software called Better Joy that you can download to let you use two Joy-Cons as one.

How to Use Switch Pro Controller on PC

If you're wondering if it's possible to use your Nintendo Switch Pro controller on a PC, know that you can do it, but the process can be complicated. When connecting the Pro Controller, you can choose to use a wired or wireless connection. The wired connection is very simple, while the wireless connection is more complex.

Here is how you can connect the Pro Controller using cables:

1. Connect the cable to the controller and your computer.
2. Windows will automatically detect a new device as a "Pro controller".
3. Continue the setup until everything is ready for gaming.

If you want to use a wireless connection, here's what you need to do:

1. Turn on your Pro Controller and hold the sync button. It is located on top of the controller.
2. When the light starts flashing, it means the controller can be discovered by other devices.
3. Now open the system menu and right click on the Bluetooth icon.
4. In the “Bluetooth and other devices” menu, click on “Add a device”.
5. On the list of available devices, you will see “Pro Controller” and click on it.
6. Then, in the pop-up window, click "Pair".

If you start having Bluetooth problems, you may need to get a more powerful Bluetooth USB adapter. This will ensure a more stable connection so that you can play games without any interruptions.

How to Use the Switch Pro Controller on a Mac

When Nintendo decided to support the Switch Pro Bluetooth controller, many users who love playing games on their computers and laptops were thrilled. Now it is possible to synchronize it and use it on different devices.

Here's how to connect your controller to Mac:

1. Open your Mac and click the Bluetooth icon to open "Bluetooth Preferences".
2. Press and hold the sync button on the Pro Controller located next to the charging port.
3. When you see "Pro Controller" in the list of new devices on your computer, click "Connect".
4. Once the devices are paired, you will see the status of the controller.
5. Now that your devices are connected, you can start using them.

Additional FAQs

Will the Switch work properly with Windows?

Yes, if you use a capture card to connect the two devices, you can play all your Nintendo games on your laptop. Moreover, there is an abundance of PC versions of Nintendo Switch games for all those users who cannot afford to buy a capture card.

Since all commands are compatible with any desktop computer, you won't have to spend extra time learning new commands. To use your Nintendo Switch on any computer or laptop, you'll need to connect it and go through a special setup process. Here's what you need to do:

• If you have connected a Nintendo Switch cable to another, disconnect it.

• Connect the HDMI cable with the Egato HDMI capture card.

• On your laptop or computer, open the Game Capture HD application.

• Turn on the Nintendo Switch and press “Home” on one of the controllers.

• Connect your laptop to an Egato device. Now, you will be able to see the Nintendo Switch home screen on your device screen.

Will the Switch work well with a Mac?

Yes. However, you will need to get a capture card device, then you can enjoy all its features and a variety of games.

Since all commands are compatible with any desktop computer, you won't have to spend extra time learning new commands. To use your Nintendo Switch on any computer or laptop, you'll need to connect it and go through a special setup process. Here's what you need to do:

• If you have a Nintendo Switch cable connected to another device, unplug it.

• Connect the HDMI cable with the Egato HDMI capture card.

• On your laptop or computer, open the Game Capture HD application.

• Now is the time to turn on the Nintendo Switch.

• Press “Home” on one of the controllers.

• Connect your laptop to an Egato device. Now, you will be able to see the Nintendo Switch home screen on your device screen.

What is Game Capture HD?

To use your Nintendo Switch on the computer or laptop, you will actually only need the laptop monitor if you want to operate it. You will need to install a Game Capture HD to create a connection between your Nintendo device and your laptop. It is an external solution that allows you to stream and record your games and enjoy your Nintendo Switch to a new level. It will allow you to play games on the computer screen as if it were a second Nintendo Switch.

Connection switch

One of the Nintendo Switch's biggest selling points is its ability to transition from a portable device to a home gaming console. It helps if you are knowledgeable about all the third-party accessories to enjoy all the games on a big screen laptop, PC or MacBook.

Now that you know more about connecting your new Nintendo Switch to a computer or using its controllers to play games on another device, you'll love it even more. What are your favorite games? How often do you use the Nintendo Switch on the computer? Have you tried connecting it to your PC?

Tell us more in the comments below.