Do Joy-Cons Light Up? A Comprehensive Guide to Nintendo Switch Controller Illumination
Yes, Joy-Cons do light up, though not in a way that’s always immediately obvious. The lighting features of Nintendo’s versatile controllers are multifaceted and serve different purposes, from indicating player number to signaling notifications and even charging status. This article delves into all the ways your Joy-Cons can illuminate, answering all your questions about their lights and what they mean.
Understanding Joy-Con LED Indicators
The primary lights on your Joy-Cons are the small LEDs located beneath the buttons. These are often referred to as player LEDs and their main purpose is to indicate which player the controller is assigned to. In the context of the Nintendo Switch, each Joy-Con is considered a separate controller, therefore, a single Joy-Con will illuminate with one LED light, while the other Joy-Con used by a second player would illuminate with two LED lights. These LED lights represent digits 1, 2, 3, and 4, allowing up to eight controllers to be connected to a Nintendo Switch at the same time. It’s important to remember that a single joycon can only display one or two lit LEDs, depending on whether it’s being used as the first or second controller.
Player Number Representation
These LED lights are not just arbitrary. They are strategically positioned to help users distinguish their player number quickly and easily. If you have two players, each holding a Joy-Con, then the first player’s Joy-Con will have one lit LED, while the second player’s Joy-Con will have two lit LEDs. This basic design allows for intuitive multi-player gaming experiences.
The Home Button and its Illumination
Beyond the player LEDs, another significant light feature exists within the Home button. This is the round button located in the center of the right Joy-Con (and also on the Pro Controller). Around this button, you’ll find a ring that houses an LED light. This feature was initially somewhat hidden, only appearing when the Pro Controller connected to Steam. However, with firmware update 9.0.0, Nintendo introduced the “Alarm Notifications” feature, enabling this ring to light up blue to signal alarms and other notifications. This allows your Home button to glow blue when triggered by an alarm you have set on your console, adding a useful visual notification feature.
Charging Indicators
The lighting on your Joy-Cons also communicates essential information about battery status and charging. When attempting to connect to the console, or when the battery charge is low, the player LEDs will start to flash. This is an early indication that you may need to recharge the controller.
When the Joy-Cons are charging, the charging grip accessory will have a recharge LED that remains lit. Once the Joy-Cons are fully charged, the recharge LED on the charging grip will turn off, signalling that your controllers are ready to use. This helps eliminate guesswork and informs the user that the battery is at 100%. It is important to note that the player LEDs on the Joy-Cons themselves do not typically illuminate while charging, as the charge status is represented on the grip accessory.
Troubleshooting Unlit Joy-Cons
If your Joy-Cons are not lighting up as expected, this can be frustrating. Usually, if your Joy-Cons are displayed correctly on the system screen, but the player LEDs remain unlit, the first step is to reset the controllers by pressing the SYNC Button once. After pressing the SYNC button, then press any other button, such as the A Button, to power on the controllers again. If the lights still fail to function, it’s possible that there’s an issue with the battery connection inside the controller. One reported problem includes the battery being jarred loose due to an impact. In this case, opening the Joy-Con using a tritip screwdriver to check that the battery is properly connected can resolve the issue.
Joy-Con Customization and LEDs
For advanced users and enthusiasts, there’s a growing market for third-party LED kits that offer customizable lighting on the Joy-Cons. These eXtremeRate kits allow you to change the colors and effects of your Joy-Con’s LEDs, adding a personal touch to your gaming experience. While these modification kits are not made by Nintendo, they’re becoming a popular option for users wanting even more control over the look and feel of their gaming setup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What do the lights on my Nintendo Switch controller mean?
The player LEDs indicate the controller number, while flashing LEDs indicate the controller is either attempting to connect to the console or has low battery. The Home button ring will glow blue to signal notifications, and the charging grip has its own LEDs to show charging status.
2. Why aren’t my Joy-Con player LEDs lighting up?
First, try resetting your controllers by pressing the SYNC button once and then any other button. If that doesn’t work, check if your system is recognizing the controllers. If it’s not, there might be a battery connection issue within the controller.
3. Does the Joy-Con Home button always light up?
No, the Joy-Con Home button ring will only light up blue when an alarm notification is activated or to signal that a controller is connected via Steam.
4. Can I customize the color of the Joy-Con LEDs?
While the built-in LEDs can not have their color changed, third-party LED kits are available that allow for customizable colors and effects.
5. How do I know if my Joy-Cons are fully charged?
If you’re using the Charging Grip, the recharge LED will turn off when the controllers are fully charged. Otherwise, check the controller charging status in the Nintendo Switch console menu under Controllers.
6. Do Joy-Cons charge in sleep mode?
Yes, the Joy-Cons will charge when attached to the console if the console is either powered on or in Sleep Mode, as long as the console is connected to an AC adapter.
7. How long do Joy-Cons take to fully charge?
Joy-Cons typically take around three and a half hours to fully charge when connected to the console, or the charging grip.
8. Can you overcharge Switch Joy-Cons?
No, the Joy-Cons have built-in safeguards preventing overcharging. It’s safe to leave them charging overnight or past the point of full charge.
9. How do Joy-Cons know what color they are?
Joy-Cons report their HEX color and side (L/R) during the Bluetooth handshake process with the Nintendo Switch console.
10. Why is my left Joy-Con not connecting?
Try reattaching it firmly to the console. If this doesn’t work, detach and reconnect it. You can also try another controller if available to identify if the problem is with a specific controller.
11. How long do Joy-Cons last before drifting?
It’s variable but, on average, a few hours of daily use can result in drift in around a month. Some experience drift sooner, while others never do.
12. Can I charge my Joy-Cons without the Switch?
Yes, you can use a Charging Grip, which is sold separately. It has a USB-C connection that allows for charging detached Joy-Cons.
13. Do Joy-Cons need to be charged?
Yes, Joy-Cons need to be charged to function correctly. They have rechargeable batteries that will need charging using the Nintendo Switch, or a separate charging grip.
14. Can leaving my Switch in Sleep Mode ruin the battery?
No, leaving the Nintendo Switch in Sleep Mode will not damage the battery.
15. How long do Joy-Con batteries last?
When fully charged, Joy-Cons can last approximately 20 hours, depending on the software and the functions being used.
In conclusion, Joy-Cons are more than just input devices; they’re packed with features, including subtle but informative lighting systems. From player identification to notifications and charge status, the various LEDs on the Joy-Cons serve an important function. Understanding how and why your Joy-Cons light up can enhance your overall gaming experience and troubleshooting ability.