Switch 2 Owners Beware: Your Dock Might Be Baking Your Console!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Turns out the new Nintendo Switch 2 might be running a bit warm while docked, and it's all down to a sneaky setting that keeps the internet connection active even in sleep mode. If you don't want your console turning into a mini-oven, best to double-check your settings, mate!
Right, so the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and it's mostly sunshine and rainbows, yeah? Bigger screen, better graphics, the whole shebang. But hold your horses, mate, because there's a tiny gremlin lurking in the system settings that could be turning your dock into a toasty oven.
Game Rant (cheers to them for spotting this!) has flagged up a potentially worrying issue with the Switch 2's 'Keep Wired Connection Active in Sleep Mode' setting. Basically, if you've got your Switch 2 plugged into the dock with an Ethernet cable, and this setting is enabled, your console might not actually be sleeping. It's staying online, constantly checking for updates and new game downloads, even when you think it's off in dreamland.
Now, on the face of it, this sounds kinda handy. New games downloaded while you're out? System updates installed automagically? Sign me up! But, like any good spell, this one has a side effect. According to some eagle-eyed users (shoutout to Toranorora on Reddit!), this always-on internet connection can cause your Switch 2 to run significantly hotter while docked, even when in standby mode. We're talking 98°F (36.67°C), which, while not melt-your-console levels of heat, is still warmer than a gamer's fridge after a particularly intense weekend.
The weird thing is, this seems to be more of an issue with the Switch 2 than the older OLED model. Toranorora (bless their thermal camera-wielding heart) noticed their OLED Switch didn't get nearly as toasty with the same setting enabled. What's the deal, Nintendo? Did someone accidentally use a fire elemental as the wi-fi router?
Now, before you start panicking and throwing your Switch 2 out the window, the good news is that this setting is apparently disabled by default. If you've never touched it, you're probably fine. But, if you're the kind of person who loves to tinker with every setting (guilty as charged!), you might have accidentally flipped the switch. And if you have, turning it off is dead easy: Just head to System Settings, then Sleep Mode, and uncheck that 'Keep Wired Connection Active' box. Boom, problem solved.
Look, 98°F isn't going to immediately brick your console, and Nintendo will likely release an update to improve the new console’s energy efficiency to cool things down (literally) in the future. But if you’re like me and prefer your gaming gear to not double as a panini press, it's worth checking that setting. Just a bit of future proofing, eh? And who knows, maybe it'll even save you a few quid on your electricity bill. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to cast a 'Cooling Charm' on my Switch 2. Just in case.
Tags: Nintendo Switch 2, Gaming Hardware, Thermal Issues, Sleep Mode, Docking
Original article: Game Rant