It’s taken a long time, but you can now use your Bluetooth headphones with your Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch, a Bluetooth-supporting handheld console, has been around for four-and-a-half years.
And for four-and-a-half years – though it seems baffling in this day and age – you haven’t been able to use Bluetooth headphones with your Nintendo Switch. Or Switch Lite. (Or presumably, Switch OLED Model, though we haven’t had a chance to try it.)
That all changes now, because – with the release of version 13.0.0 of the Nintendo Switch software – you can now pair Bluetooth audio output devices with your Switch and Switch Lite. (And just in time for the OLED Model. Phew.)
Why did we emphasise the word “output” in that previous sentence? Because this is an audio feature on the Nintendo Switch, famed for its rubbish voice chat app workaround, so good news like this wouldn’t be without caveats. Those caveats are:
- Bluetooth microphones cannot be used (this is for audio output only)
- Only one Bluetooth audio output device can be in use at any time (though 10 can be connected in total)
- You may experience latency (depending on your Bluetooth device)
- You can’t pair more than two Bluetooth controllers with your Nintendo Switch while using a Bluetooth audio output device (until you disconnect your Bluetooth audio output device)
- Bluetooth audio will disconnect during local communication (e.g. a local wireless multiplayer session)
Nintendo Switch software version 13.0.0 is available now (as of September 14, 2021) and includes a few other updates and tweaks, including the option to keep your network connection online while in sleep mode, and the ability to see whether you’re connected via 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz wireless.
Further reading: Original Nintendo Switch price reduced to make way for OLED Model
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