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Did Nintendo Discontinue The Switch Dock? (What Can You Use Instead?)

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Have you ever played the Nintendo Switch and wondered why you couldn’t find the dock anymore for it? Maybe you broke yours and have been looking for a replacement. Well, you are probably wondering:

Did Nintendo discontinue the Switch dock?

Although Nintendo did discontinue the dock for the Switch in 2017, in 2019 Nintendo began offering the Switch dock as a separate purchase for the first time.  

You can find an official Nintendo Switch dock set that comes with the dock as well as all of the necessary cables at many online retailers including on Amazon here. You can also purchase many different third-party docks or even cords that you can use to connect your Switch to your TV without using the official Switch dock.

It is important to note that you only need a Switch dock for the regular Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch OLED model. The Nintendo Switch Lite does not have or need a dock since you cannot connect it to a TV.

If you want to know more about the Nintendo Switch and the dock and why it is sold out virtually everywhere, you will want to keep reading.

Want to take your Nintendo Switch to the next level? Then check out this Nintendo Switch accessory bundle by clicking here.

PowerA Pokemon Joy-Con Comfort Grip for Nintendo Switch - Pikachu, Works with Nintendo Switch Lite - Nintendo Switch

Do you love your Switch but want to stand out from everyone else with the same model? Then look no further than this custom Joy-Con grip.

This Joy-Con grip will make your Switch console look amazing and you can even choose the one that fits your style the best!

What Can You Use Instead Of A Switch Dock?

If you are simply wanting to have a way to connect your Switch to the TV but don’t want to spend a small fortune on the official dock then you are in luck! There is a cheap alternative that works exactly like the dock at a fraction of the price.

Instead of a Switch Dock, you can use a USB C Hub 1 in 4 hub to connect your Switch to your TV. These can be purchased in local stores but the cheapest place I have found for it is Amazon.

You can get the exact one that I use for my Switch by clicking here.

I personally use this little dongle/cable in my one room while I keep my normal Switch dock in the other room. This keeps me from having to move my Switch dock back and forth all of the time while also making sure that I can dock my Nintendo Switch console whenever I need or want to.

This cable has multiple HDMI ports that you can use to easily connect the Switch to your TV. Personally, even if I didn’t have an extra TV that I use for my Switch I would still recommend getting this cable as a backup.

You will need to purchase an extra AC adapter to use this cable though as having to move the power cord back and forth defeats the purpose of using this cable.

To see exactly how to use this device to connect your Switch to the TV so you can decide if you want to get it just check out the video that I made below.

Why Is The Switch Dock So Hard To Get Ahold Of?

It would seem that in the US at least, Nintendo hasn’t produced fresh stock of these docks for quite some time, and given that we’re over three years into the Switch’s lifespan and there’s still no sign of new units arriving, it seems that Nintendo has decided that selling the dock on its own doesn’t make a great deal of sense.

Why this is the case, there are a number of potential reasons. Perhaps, outside of a few vocal voices, there really isn’t all that much demand for a second Switch dock. Nintendo’s wish is that everyone in your house owns a Switch, rather than a household just having a single console between everyone. 

It might seem greedy but it’s no different than what we currently have with a mobile phone or tablet ownership. In today’s world, people tend to want their own personal devices. If this is happening in some homes, and we have no reason to suspect it isn’t, then it may be that people actually have more docks than they really need. If there’s only one main TV but three Switch consoles, then two of those docks are going to waste.

We’ve also got to take into account that there are more than a few third-party Switch docks on the market. Despite fears that they are bricking systems, the lower price of these alternative options may well have wiped out any demand for the official dock, which is why Nintendo has stopped producing it. ‘

Ponkor Docking Station for Nintendo Switch, Charging Dock 4K HDMI TV Adapter Charger Set Replacement Compatible with Official Nintendo Switch Dock (No Charging Cable)

Have you had trouble finding a second Switch dock? Or have you simply opted for a cheaper third-party option?

Maybe you’re lucky enough to have a second Switch in the house so you’ve never needed another dock. If not though, here is the best place to buy your second or third official Switch Dock. 

Thankfully, Nintendo of America is offering an official Switch Dock for fairly cheap, and they did not have limits on the docking stations. You will want to remember that they are refurbished and come with a 90-day warranty. This refurbished docking station also does not come with any of the necessary cords and costs almost as much as the console does. 

If you are looking for a Switch Dock, the third-party option is always going to be your cheapest option around. Even with Nintendo saying they could get you a good price on one, there are many people that are still waiting to see when their docking station would get to them.

For many people places like Amazon or eBay are great alternatives to buying an extra Switch dock and the return policies on those sites mean that any issues can easily be resolved.

Does The Nintendo Switch Come With A Dock?

If you are purchasing a new Nintendo Switch and see that Nintendo sells the Switch dock separately you might be wondering whether a dock for the Switch will come with the Nintendo Switch when you purchase it. So do you have to buy the Switch dock separately or is it included when you purchase a Nintendo Switch?

When you buy a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED the console will come with a dock so you can connect the console to your TV. If you purchase a Nintendo Switch Lite it will not come with a Switch dock.

The reason that the Switch Lite does not come with a dock is that the Switch Lite is only designed as a handheld console and cannot be connected to your TV. So if you want to play your favorite Nintendo games on a handheld console and your big-screen TV you will want to buy either the regular Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Can You Put Your Nintendo Switch In Another Dock?

The Nintendo Switch is an incredibly popular console mainly because of how portable it is (while still being able to be played on a TV). With the Switch’s portability comes some additional questions, however.

One common question that many people have in regard to the Switch is whether it can be used with another dock as well.

A Nintendo Switch can be used in any Switch dock that you or your friends own. The dock is just the cords that connect it to the power and TV so the content on your Switch will show on the TV no matter which Switch dock that you connect it to.

For example, if you go to your friend’s house and they have a Switch and a Switch dock you can simply remove their Switch from the dock, slide yours in, and you are ready to play on the TV using your Switch instead of theirs.

This versatility is one of the best things about the Nintendo Switch. You can easily use it on the go, at your home, or even at your friend’s house. The Switch docks are interchangeable since they don’t hold any information and just allow your Switch to charge and connect to a TV.

Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con - HAC-001(-01)

Why Is The Switch Hard To Find?

In 2017, Nintendo announced that it had shut down all production of its newest console, the Nintendo Switch. At that time it was already almost sold out in every retailer. This announcement came after the announcement that they were discontinuing the NES Classic, which was also sold out at every retailer.

Nintendo then released a newer Switch model in 2019 which has been met with increasing popularity. It is because the Switch is incredibly popular and Nintendo’s odd model of not shipping out enough supply to meet the demand has caused the Switch to become incredibly hard to find.

Nintendo is notorious for doing this with all of its platforms including the rereleases of the Nintendo Classic and SNES Classic. People can almost always rely on there being a shortage of everything that Nintendo releases which in our opinion seems like a poor business model.

Back in 2019, Nintendo began offering the Switch Dock as a separate purchase for the first time. The dock was an Authentic Nintendo product, albeit refurbished, so there is no chance of it bricking your Switch as is the risk with many third-party alternatives.

Reliable Nintendo Switch Docks are hard to come across. A brand-new official first-party version is expensive and still has limited availability if it is even in stock in your region.

Nintendo made a point of promoting the fact that yes, you can buy a second dock for your console; despite the high price, it made a lot of sense, as in many households there’s going to be more than one television and logic dictates that you’re going to want to use your system in more than one room. A ‘dock set’ was soon released, and included the dock, a power supply, and an HDMI cable. This was everything you needed to get your Switch up and running on a second TV.

Nintendo Switch Dock Set

Does Nintendo Sell The Switch Dock?

The Switch dock allows you to use your Nintendo Switch to play games on the TV like a home console. This is why the Switch dock is so important to the Switch system. Without it you cannot play the Switch on your TV, and can only use the device as an on-the-go console 

If you own the Nintendo Switch, you know all about Nintendo discontinuing the Switch dock. The question many people wanna know is if Nintendo still sells the Switch dock. 

Nintendo currently does sell the Switch dock by itself. It did stop sales for a short period of time, but you can still buy the Switch dock today if you need an extra one. 

Having the ability to buy a Switch dock for your console is great. If something happens to the one that comes with the Switch you should replace it so you can keep playing games on your TV. 

You can buy a new Switch dock for your system by contacting Nintendo, as well as purchasing it elsewhere. Because they are not sold in stores, you may be wondering where you can find one. You can buy a Switch dock set by clicking here.

Ponkor Docking Station for Nintendo Switch, Charging Dock 4K HDMI TV Adapter Charger Set Replacement Compatible with Official Nintendo Switch Dock (No Charging Cable)

Can You Use Any Dock For A Switch?

When playing the Switch, you obviously know that you can put it on the Switch and play the console on your TV. After all, that is the biggest reason that you bought the Switch in the first place. 

Being able to switch how you play the Switch is what makes it so popular and what makes it something that everyone wants. The question people have is when it comes to putting your Switch on a different Switch dock. Can you use any dock for a Switch?

A Nintendo Switch can not only dock on the docking station that comes with the console but any other Switch dock as well. The Switch works with any docking station designed for the Switch and is not limited to the original one it comes with. 

This means that you can take your Switch to your friend’s house and play on the way there, and also use their Switch dock to play games on their TV with your Switch. 

This is just one more way that Nintendo shows that they know how their customers are going to use the Switch and they are going to help them enjoy it. It would be catastrophic if you could only use your Switch with the original dock that came with the console and not any other dock. 

This would mean that if your console dock ever broke, you would not be able to simply go out and buy a new docking station for your Switch. Thankfully Nintendo thought about this and made the Switch console able to work with any Switch docking station. 

Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con - HAC-001(-01)

Can The Nintendo Switch Dock Lay Flat?

If you like to have a clean entertainment center like me, then you probably hate the fact that the Switch dock station stands upright and just looks bulky on top of your entertainment center. It probably reminds you of what the Wii looked like when you had to have it visible so it could pick up on your motion. 

If you don’t like the Switch docking station you may be wondering about laying it on its side to give it a low profile and look better in your entertainment center. The question is; is this possible?

You should not lay your Switch dock flat on its side unless it is not in use. You can damage your Switch as well as the docking station by laying it on its side while trying to use it. 

Even though it may look better to have it on its side, it is not good for the Switch to be in the docking station and it to be on its side. It can cause the Switch to fall out of the docking station as well as overheat as it is not designed to be on its side. 

The Switch is such a fun gaming system to play games on, and even though the docking station should not be put on its side, it is still fun to play. All you need to do to protect your Switch console is not put the docking station on its side while the Switch is in it. Because the Switch is not that big, even though it does not lay flat, it can still look good while it is being used. 

Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con - HAC-001(-01)

How Wide Is A Switch?

When buying a Switch, there are a couple of things people want to know besides the normal speed and capacity of the Switch. People also want to know how much the Switch weighs and how big it is because it will be used on the go. 

If it is too heavy, or too big, some people may not want to purchase it just because it will not fit in their pocket, or because it weighs too much. With all these questions that impact if people want to buy the Switch, the biggest question is how wide is the Switch.

The Switch is only 4” tall and just over 9” long. It is super thin and is just over ½” thick, and weighs less than a pound! 

Most consoles that can be played at home are big and bulky. Because this device can be used on the go and at home, Nintendo made it extremely small and easy to take on the go. 

Nintendo did something that no other gaming company has been able to do, when they created the Nintendo Switch. That is what makes the Switch so special and loved by people all over the world! 

Mario Party Superstars - Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch’s best games.

 Have you ever wondered what the Switch’s best games are? No matter if you play them on the TV or on the console in your hand, Nintendo has made some pretty great games. Here are a few of the top games for the Nintendo Switch.

You can also watch this short video going over all the games and why they are the best. 

  1. Celeste
  2. Dragon Quest XI
  3. Zelda Link’s Awakening
  4. Fire Emblem Three Houses
  5. Super Mario Maker 2
  6. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
  7. The Witcher 3
  8. Super Smash Bros
  9. Super Mario Odyssey
  10. Legends of Zelda Breath of the Wild. 

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo Switch

Conclusion

Although Nintendo Switches are hard to get a hold of that is true for almost every single console that Nintendo has ever released. For some reason, they have that as their business model to keep demand high by not giving people the consoles that they want to buy.

The pricing for a Switch dock or Switch dock set is still quite high in our opinion but it is certainly far cheaper than the price of buying another Switch!

If you are looking for a good third-party Switch docking station, I highly recommend this place as they have the best prices! 

Now that you know about Nintendo and them discontinuing the dock, you will likely want to go and purchase a third-party dock rather than spend a fortune on one from Nintendo.

Although there is normally no problem with a third-party dock, sometimes they can cause issues. This is why it is so important to look at reviews of the seller if buying from places like eBay and Amazon and not just go and buy the cheapest one.

Most of the time in electronics you get what you pay for so spending the extra 5-10 dollars to buy from s seller with good reviews and a store with a good return policy is certainly worth it! You won’t have to worry about it damaging your console as so many other people before you have tested this product and if there are issues with the dock not working you can easily return it.

No matter if you are playing on the TV, if you are up and moving, or even sitting with the handheld console, you have to give Nintendo credit for how great their game systems are and all the games that come with the console. Not only are they fun to play, but they are also challenging and exciting.