The Nintendo Switch game console (plus Switch OLED or Switch Lite) offers a great gaming experience in both the console and handheld mode. You have many exhilarating games to choose from and exciting gaming features. Like other gaming machines, your Switch console might develop issues which affect the quality of gameplay over time, and one of the most frustrating issues is games lagging from time to time. It’s tempting to rush to assuming this is an issue with the JoyCon, but the situation isn’t that simple.
Nintendo Switch lag is caused by either a slow internet connection or a software problem. Power cycling the Switch and/or your router can potentially fix these. If that doesn’t work, delete and re-download the game you’re playing to clear software issues there, and update Switch’s software.
Some gamers report regular Nintendo Switch lag developing after about six months. You may notice the lagging problem when the screen freezes and clickers or when you push a button. For example, your character doesn’t jump as you wish or does so after a few seconds. This is a frustrating problem, but luckily, you can sort it out in a few minutes with the right tips. Let’s find out what causes this lag and how to fix it.
Why Is the Nintendo Switch Lagging?
Your Nintendo Switch may lag during gameplay for various reasons. Learning about the causes is the first step if you want to fix your gaming machine. Here are some reasons why your Switch console may lag:
Poor Internet Connection
Internet bandwidth is a prerequisite for a smooth gaming experience on your Switch gaming device. If you have slow or unreliable internet connection, you’ll experience multiple gaming glitches, including lagging. When troubleshooting for lagging causes, an internet connection is a good place to start.
Perform a quick internet connection test to determine both the download and upload speeds. For a good gaming experience, you need a download speed of 3 Mbps and an upload speed of 1 Mbps. For a Great experience you really want closer to 30 Mbps down and 3-10 Mbps up.
And consider fi you can swap your Switch to a 5GHz network, which can increase download speeds and improve the overall connection and user experience here. If you can’t connect to WiFi at all, have a look at this guide.
Bugs in a Downloaded Game
As you continue enjoying your Switch console, you’ll download more games from the Nintendo eShop. While the games in the store meet the highest standards, some game updates might cause bugs or glitches.
The glitches affect your console and ruin the overall gaming experience. The corrupted games cause problems including lagging and require a quick fix.
Joy-Con Hardware Issues
Joy-Con malfunction is a common cause of Switch console lagging. If you’ve outdated Joy-Con firmware, you’ll experience more technical glitches when playing. Joy-Con syncing problems are another common cause of lagging issues.
Software Problems
Gamers love Nintendo Switch because of the incredible support offered by its support team. You receive multiple updates that keep your gaming device in the best shape.
However, the software updates might present additional problems if they contain bugs. Software like that can corrupt the data in your console and cause problems, such as lagging.
How to Fix Lag on Nintendo Switch?
If you’ve experienced a frustrating lag on your Switch gaming device, here are some simple ways to fix the problem:
Fix the Slow Internet Connection
Slow internet ruins your gaming experience. For a smooth gaming experience on your Switch console, you require 3 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. If you’re on a wireless connection, try a wired connection using a wired LAN cable.
The adapter allows you to connect an Ethernet cable to Switch through a USB port.
Another quick fix for slow internet when gaming is to change your Switch console’s DNS Settings. You’ll do this from the internet setting where you’ll switch the DNS settings to manual instead of automatic. Input the primary DNS as 208.672.222.222 and secondary DNS as 208.067.220.220 and then check the internet speeds once again.
If the problem persists, power cycle your home network to resolve any router issues. Unplug the power cable and other connections and confirm the router is off. After about 30 seconds, plug the power cable and wait for the router’s light to turn on. Turn on your gaming machine and perform an internet connection test.
If you still have lagging, port forwarding on your router is another possible solution. Port forwarding creates a freeway to external devices providing for easier communication with devices on a private network. You can talk to your ISP to set up power forwarding and keep unwanted traffic off your connection.
Download the Game Again
If you have corrupted data on your Switch console, the most effective solution is to re-download the affected game again. After troubleshooting and identifying corrupted game data as the cause of lagging, check the redownload option to fix the corrupted game file.
Soft Reset for Software Errors
Your Switch console receives a constant stream of updates to continue delivering the best gaming experience. Some updates might have bugs and other issues which might corrupt your console. The lagging problem might occur when downloading the software or during game play.
A soft reset is the first option to resolve the software error problem. Press the small circular power button for about 10 to 15 seconds to turn off the device. Press the power button again and wait for the console to power up and display the Nintendo logo. Try playing and check if the software issue will continue.
If the soft reset doesn’t work, try a factory reset. This is the last option because it wipes off all your data. Before you initialize your console, try all the other techniques to fix the lagging issue.
Re-synchronize the Joy-Con Controllers
Joy-Con issues may cause lagging, and this happens if the controllers aren’t properly synced to the console. To sort the issue, disconnect the controllers from the system preferences and restart your console.
If this doesn’t work, try another set of Joy-Cons or play in handheld mode. You should also check for the most recent Joy-Con firmware update.
Contact Nintendo Support
Nintendo Switch boasts an incredible support team ready to offer solutions to players. If you’ve tried all tricks and the lagging problems still recurs, talk to the support team for a permanent solution. The Nintendo customer support is available via text message, help ticket, phone, or online chat.
Nintendo Switch lag ruins the excellent gaming experience you’ve come to enjoy from this console. With these tips, you can fix the problem and continue playing your favorite games.