Skip to content
logo The magazine for digital lifestyle and entertainment
In the summer

Nintendo Warns Against Using the Switch in Heat

In the summer, it's especially important to take care of your Nintendo Switch.
In the summer, it's especially important to take care of your Nintendo Switch. Photo: Getty Images

July 1, 2025, 7:07 am | Read time: 3 minutes

In the summer, it can get quite hot in Germany and other countries. When temperatures rise, it’s important to take care of electronic devices. Nintendo even advises against using the Switch console in high heat.

Share article

Electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles generally have a certain temperature tolerance. For the Nintendo Switch, this range is between 41 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If it gets hotter, the gaming console can overheat. Therefore, Nintendo is now warning Switch players about excessive heat.

Nintendo Warns of Excessive Heat

In a post on X, the Japanese console manufacturer points out the potential problems caused by excessive heat with the Nintendo Switch. They advise using the console only within the specified operating temperature and ensuring that no openings on the device are blocked. This is the only way to ensure that the Nintendo Switch is well-ventilated in hot conditions. These warnings should be taken seriously, as summer temperatures in Germany can often exceed 86 degrees.

The first and second generation Switch consoles are hybrid devices, while the Switch Lite is a handheld. It’s not uncommon for players to use the Nintendo Switch in the park in the heat, by the lake in the sun, or in the garden. However, caution is advised, as direct sunlight can lead to heat buildup.

For the summer, Nintendo also warns against high temperatures.

X Corp. placeholder
Here you will find content from third-party providers
To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

The X post translates to:

If you use the Nintendo Switch in a hot location, the temperature of the main unit can become high. Therefore, use it in a place with temperatures between 41 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If the intake and exhaust ports are blocked, the temperature of the main unit can also rise.

Nintendo

Read also: Nintendo – The Nearly 90-Year History of the Gaming Empire

What Happens When the Nintendo Switch Gets Too Hot?

If it does get too hot, the Switch switches to sleep mode. Playing with the console is then no longer possible. In sleep mode, the device cools down to prevent long-term damage from heat. If foreign objects like dust or dirt clog the ventilation slots, the console can also overheat. Nintendo recommends carefully cleaning the openings but advises against disassembling the Switch.

Users should also ensure that air does not become trapped. The console’s docking station should be positioned to allow air exchange. The Nintendo Switch should not be placed directly against a wall if you want to avoid excessive heat buildup.

More on the topic

Beware of Condensation in the Nintendo Switch

It’s not just the summer heat that can affect the Nintendo Switch. As is common in many places today, air conditioners run at full blast in closed rooms during the hot months. Rapid temperature changes can lead to condensation forming on the console, as Nintendo warns in another X post.

X Corp. placeholder
Here you will find content from third-party providers
To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

In the post, the manufacturer explains the phenomenon and directly advises users on what to do in this case. Switch owners should immediately turn off the device and place it in a warm room until the droplets dry. Sleep mode is no longer sufficient in this case. Whether this occurs frequently in practice is unclear.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.

Topics Evergreener Nintendo Nintendo Switch
You have successfully withdrawn your consent to the processing of personal data through tracking and advertising when using this website. You can now consent to data processing again or object to legitimate interests.