Nintendo is known all over the world for creating some of the most famous video game consoles and entertainment franchises. Their first console to hit popularity was the Nintendo Entertainment System, also commonly known as the NES which ended up changing the entire video game landscape and made it into what it is today. The consoles that followed up such as the SNES were also extremely popular with people everywhere. This is one of the reasons why the video game industry was able to recover from the video game crash that happened in 1983 which put a large number of console manufacturers out of business.

Since then, Nintendo is a name that every gamer is familiar with and despite the introduction of the PlayStation and Xbox, Nintendo consoles have continued to cater to all of the Nintendo loyalists and other gamers alike. The Wii was revolutionary with its motion controls while the Wii U introduced the concept of both couch and portable gaming into one. While the Wii U might not have been really popular, it paved way for Nintendo’s new console, the Switch. It can not only be used with a TV but also as a portable console and the entire experience is as seamless as it can get. Also introduced this time around are the JoyCons which can be separated from the console when docking or when playing certain games with friends. We already covered a few things that you might not know about the Nintendo Switch in a previous list. However, there is so much more that this amazing console can do. So, if you’ve just bought yourself a new Switch or already own one, then this is the list for you.

25 Bluetooth Headsets Can Be Used In Docked Mode

Via techradar.com

All of the focus seems to be on graphics these days but there is no denying the fact that excellent audio is equally as important. Not only that, a huge part of the multiplayer experience for so many games depends on it. Unlike certain portable device manufacturers (we’re looking at you Apple), Nintendo has made sure to include a 3.5mm jack on the Switch.

Now, this allows players to connect their headphones in when playing but the audio jack is on the screen instead of the Joy-con controllers which means that players can’t easily access the audio jack when the console is docked. Thankfully, Nintendo had thought of this and also decided to include the ability to connect Bluetooth headphones. This allows players to receive audio from the Switch straight to their wireless headphones. For those who don’t already own a pair, this is about time where they should consider getting one since all the major smartphone manufacturers are also slowly moving towards an audio jack free approach.

24 The Airplane Mode Is Fully Customizable

Via nintendo.com

The Airplane Mode is a useful feature that can be found on almost every portable device these days. As the name suggests, it is designed to be enabled inside an airplane since devices that communicate using wireless signals can sometimes interfere with the airplane’s systems.

However, another very useful reason for activating Airplane Mode is for preserving battery life. This makes sense since it basically stops communication through any wireless signals like WiFi or Bluetooth, making it incredibly useful on the Nintendo Switch as well where you need to get the most out of a single charge. The good news here though is that the Airplane mode is fully customizable, providing players with a choice on which service to disable.

23 Play Using The Actual GameCube Controller

Via youtube.com (My Mate VINCE)

If you have a GameCube controller lying around then the good news is that it can be used with your Switch. Nintendo decided not make a big deal out of this which is why the support for older Nintendo controllers wasn’t announced with the most recent Switch system software update.

It should be kept in mind that the controller cannot be connected directly and the Wii U controller adapter is required to make the GameCube controller work with the Nintendo Switch. While the adapters are no longer made by Nintendo, there are lots of third-party options available. Once the controller is plugged in, simply hit the L and R buttons to register it with the console and remap some of the controls.

22 Auto-Sleep Ensures You Never Lose Any Game Progress

Via usgamer.net

Battery management is very crucial for any portable device. This is especially important for the Nintendo Switch since it can not only be used as a docked console but as a portable device as well, something that is one of its major selling points.

Nothing sucks more than when you’re in the middle of playing your favorite title and the battery decides to run out on your portable console, making you lose all of your progress as a result if you haven’t saved the game. This situation can be made even worse if you don’t have access to a charger or the dock. Luckily, the guys over at Nintendo had thought of this and included an Auto Sleep mode which kicks in once the battery of the console drops to a critical level. The really cool part about this is that all game progress is saved, and players can continue from where they left off after finding a power source for the device.

21 Online Play Is Free For Now

Via dontfeedthegamers.com

Online gaming is at the core of the modern gaming experience and until the last generation, services like the PSN were free with the exception of Xbox Live. Now even Sony has moved the online experience to a subscription-based system for the PS4 but currently, Nintendo is still offering online play for free.

While the company is eventually planning on moving to a subscription-based system as well, it’s still a good thing that all those who bought the Nintendo Switch can enjoy some free multiplayer for a while. Nintendo is slowly ironing out all of the issues with their current online experience which is understandable since it’s not as mature as the PSN or Xbox Live. The subscription-based system is expected to be implemented sometime in 2018 and will cost around $20 a year.

20 Fix Frame Rate Issues for Your Games

Via youtube.com (Vardoc1)

While the Nintendo Switch is perfectly capable of running all of its titles, games like The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild can suffer from occasional drops in framerates. Most of the time this is a result of the game trying to render all those areas with a lot of assets and particle effects.

Still, this doesn’t mean that you have to put up with these issues since there is a solution to fix the problem. The frame drops occur when the console is also trying to search for WiFi access points even if you’re already connected to a network. Simply disable the ‘Auto-Connect’ option from the console settings or set it to Airplane Mode. We’re still waiting for Nintendo to release a patch and fix this problem but until that is done, you’re better off connecting to your networks manually.

19 Enabling Nintendo Secret Lock Screen Sounds

Via time.com

Easter eggs have been a thing with Nintendo for quite some time now which is no surprise considering the fact that Nintendo is responsible for running some of the oldest video game franchises in the world. One of these easter eggs is a part of the Nintendo Switch and while it’s not a huge one, it is still fun to mess around with.

Most Nintendo Switch users are already aware that waking up the console from Sleep Mode requires them to press the same button three times in a row. What they might not know, however, is the fact that each button will trigger a different sound since the console never specifies which button to press exactly. We’ll leave this one up to you to try out and test on your Switch console.

18 The Pro Controller Works with PC

Via theverge.com

The war between console and PC gamers has been going on for as long as we have known. Both have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, however, the system that you end up going with depends on your own personal choices. Still, the fact remains that most PC gamers also end up owning consoles as well.

The really cool part about the Xbox and PS4 controllers is that they can be used with a PC as well. While Nintendo offers the JoyCons with its console, there is another option available for gamers in the form of the Switch Pro Controller. If you’re hesitant to spend money on the new controller, you’ll be happy to know that the Pro Controller is going to work with PC as well. All you need to do is connect it to your PC and you’ll be good to go.

17 Game Saves Are Stored On Internal Storage

Via usgamer.net

Gone are the days when save files for games were stored on the game cartridge itself. With the Nintendo Switch, all game save files are now stored on the internal storage of the console, even though it only comes with 32GB of storage.

We’re not really sure why Nintendo went with the decision of such a limited amount of storage, which quite honestly is not a lot considering most modern games, however, the console also offers the option of using a MicroSD card for all of your extra storage needs. The good part about all of this is that players don’t need to worry about losing their saved data in case a MicroSD card ends up losing all of its data for a number of reasons.

16 Physical Copies Of Certain Games Don’t Require Installs

Via geek.com

With most of the games going digital these days, storage is getting more and more important. A hard disk with 500GB of storage was a huge thing back in the day but even a 1TB drive isn’t enough anymore, especially with newer games like Shadow of War coming in at a whopping 96GB of install size.

Physical copies of games also require installation before the game can be run. Fortunately, the Nintendo Switch has ensured that players don’t have to go through the hassle of installing certain games. If you end up buying a physical copy of Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, you can run the game off the physical disc instead of having to install the entire game. This is also particularly useful since the internal storage of the Nintendo Switch is limited to only 32GB.

15 Turn Off The Console To Swap SD Cards

Via mobilesyrup.com

With keeping the storage needs for most players in mind, Nintendo has incorporated a lot of things into their new console this time around. While the internal storage of the console is limited to only 32GB, players still have the option of using a MicroSD card to expand that storage. This a much better option compared to other portable consoles like the PlayStation Vita which requires special SD cards.

Using the SD card is pretty simple as players only need to insert it into their Nintendo Switch. To remove the card, however, ensure that the console is properly turned off and not simply in sleep mode. This will prevent any sort of data loss in case the console is in the middle of performing a read/write operation on the card.

14 Access Recovery Mode To Update Or Restore The Switch

Via imgur.com

Your console is basically a computer that runs with a combination of both hardware and software. The software component can sometimes start acting up which can cause a number of issues, from corrupt data to problems booting up. Thankfully, Nintendo is aware of this which is why they’ve built in a Recovery Mode for the Nintendo Switch.

It allows users to restore data, update system firmware and perform a full factory reset if required. To access the Recovery Mode, turn the console off and then continue to hold the power button and both volume keys simultaneously until you see the Switch logo. For reasons beyond our understanding, Nintendo doesn’t allow game saves to be transferred between consoles using an SD Card so you should definitely keep that in mind before factory resetting your console.

13 Enable TV To Turn On As The Switch Does

Via nintendo.com

The modern concept of Internet Of Things basically means that all devices need to be smart and they should be able to communicate with each other. This applies to gaming consoles as well since both the PS4 and Xbox One provide users with options to control their TV.

The Nintendo Switch also carries this feature and the really cool part is that it doesn’t need to be activated from inside the console. All you need to do is have a fairly new TV with the option of HDMI-CEC communication and then have it enabled in your television settings. Once that is done, simply drop the Switch into its dock and watch your television switch (no pun intended) to the input connected to the console.

12 Recreate The Switch’s Click Sound From The Adverts

Via youtube.com (MelonSpeedruns)

Were you impressed by that little click sound at the end of all those Nintendo adverts for the Switch? Well, it turns out that Nintendo has actually copyrighted the sound and even crazier is the fact that its nowhere to be found on the console.

It turns out that this sound can only be recreated if you slide in the JoyCons under specific conditions. The console needs to be turned on and you need to be in the middle of a game as you connect your JoyCons. Once you do that, you’ll be able to see a burst effect in white followed by that classic switch sound indicating that the JoyCons have been connected successfully. It would’ve been really cool if Nintendo had implemented this during normal procedure, however, it is still better than nothing.

11 Using The Switch As A Portable Battery Pack

Via twitter.com (Mike Murphy)

If there is one thing that is really important for a portable console then it definitely has to be the battery situation. After all, a portable console is pretty much useless if it fails to last more than a couple of hours. Same is the case with pretty much every portable device these days.

If you happen to be traveling and your phone runs out of battery without a power bank around then you don’t really need to worry if you’re still carrying your Nintendo Switch with you. Turns out, the Switch can also be used as a portable battery pack. Simply connect the console to another device via USB-C and you’re all set. While testing this feature out, we connected the Switch to the 2017 MacBook Pro via USB-C and funnily enough, the console started charging the MacBook instead of it being the other way around.

10 Use The Switch App To Chat With Friends While Playing

Via digitaltrends.com

Earlier we mentioned how it can difficult to connect a 3.5mm headset when the console is docked since the audio jack is present on the screen instead of being on the JoyCons. This means that the only choice most players have in this case will be to invest in some wireless Bluetooth headphones.

Still, that is something that might not be possible for some people so what can they do if they’re planning on chatting to their friends while playing? Well, this is where the Nintendo Switch app comes in. Available for both Android and iOS, it allows players to chat with their friends while playing a game on the console. The concept is similar to the Xbox SmartGlass app which allows Xbox players to chat and interact with friends using their smartphones.

9 Connect A USB Keyboard For Faster Text Input

Via youtube.com (My Mate VINCE)

Entering text on a video game console is always a hassle. While consoles have continued to provide a number of solutions to this problem over time, the fact remains that none of them come even close to providing the speed and ease of use that a keyboard does.

With that in mind, the Nintendo Switch also allows users to connect a physical USB keyboard to the console similar to its much bigger siblings, the PlayStation and the Xbox. One thing that should be kept in mind is that the keyboard can only be used for entering text and not for playing any games so if you’re one of those people who hate entering text with a controller then this is definitely for you.

8 Charge It Up With A Power Bank

via nintendoradar.com

The last thing you’d want for your portable console to do is run out of battery. We know that the battery inside the Nintendo Switch, while it lasts for around 3-5 hours, is fixed meaning that you can’t swap it out for a fresh one and unless you have access to a power outlet, you’re out of luck. Thankfully, there is a solution for that.

For your next trip, if it lasts longer than a few hours and you plan on taking the Nintendo Switch with you, simply pack a power bank and you’ll be good to go. Since the Switch is a portable console, it can easily be charged with a power bank allowing you to keep playing without the worry of running out of juice.

7 It Can Still Scan Your Old Wii U Amiibo

Via imore.com

One of the coolest things to perhaps come along with the Nintendo Wii U were the Amiibo. These aren’t just any toys, in fact, Amiibo are some of the most collectible and sought-after items and not only that, they can be used to unlock a number of abilities in game depending on each figure.

We’re pretty sure that most of you aren’t even touching your Wii U now that the Switch is here but it doesn’t mean that all of your Amiibo collection is now useless. In fact, Nintendo is still making Amiibo for The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. To scan an Amiibo, simply place it over the right JoyCon which carries an NFC reader. Items can then be unlocked depending on the figure that you plan on using.

6 Go Offline And Hide Your Play Activity

Via youtube.com (Roxas Irving)

It can be quite enticing to miss out on work for a day and stay at home to play your favorite game that just came out. Now, obviously, you cannot tell your boss about this since they’d never let you take a day off. So, you call in sick but it would absolutely suck if your boss ends up catching you online if you have them added as a friend on your console of course.

To take care of this, players have the option of going offline. This not only shows their status as offline to all of their friends but also hides all of the play activity. This feature also comes in handy if you want to play on your console but don’t want any of your friends finding out.