For most people, the Nintendo Switch dock is just an accessory for charging the Switch when it’s not in handheld mode or streaming the game to a larger screen. However, a number of USB ports are hidden innocuously on your dock and, when used correctly, can provide much more utility than just charging or transferring games. If you’re planning to buy a Switch in 2026, knowing these features can help you get the most for your money. Switch ports can accommodate additional input options, allowing you to add new gadgets, give you wired Internet access, and improve your audio.
These ports can accommodate USB adapters explicitly designed to expand your Switch’s catalog of available controllers. Depending on which USB adapter is in place, you can connect everything from a PlayStation 5 controller to a third-party retro-style SNES gamepad. The Switch 2 may be a major upgrade over the original, but using these extra ports can help make up lost ground.
The Benefits of Connecting Peripherals and Input Devices with USB Ports
Another way to take advantage of these extra USB ports is to connect peripherals. For example, if you want to message friends in games that support text chat or search the eShop, a device like a USB keyboard is a much faster option than searching and pecking at an on-screen keyboard. The gameplay of some titles is also compatible with a USB keyboard, including “Minecraft” and “Stardew Valley”.
A more obvious and useful application for ports is to plug in controllers. Beyond loading a Pro Controller or Joy-Cons into the charging handle, there are a number of officially licensed controllers that vary in styles to mimic PlayStation or Xbox gamepads. Or you can buy a USB wireless adapter like this gem from 8BitDo, which lets you wirelessly connect almost any controller to your Switch.
Unlock better connectivity and sound using empty USB slots
There are also some off-the-beaten-path options for things to do with all those empty USB slots, including cool things like adding a wired Internet connection. If you want to bypass Wi-Fi for a more stable, faster, and potentially low-latency connection, a wired connection may be the way to go, but unfortunately the original Switch did not include an Ethernet port (although one was added to the OLED iteration). That said, there are a number of USB LAN adapters available to remedy this oversight, including a $30 wired Internet LAN adapter from Nintendo itself.
Improving your audio experience with USB audio adapters is an additional use case for your Switch’s USB ports. Consider connecting a compatible USB sound card or headphone adapter; this way you can route audio through higher quality wired headphones or specialized audio equipment. Creative’s Sound Blaster G3 is an example of this plug-and-play product that can upgrade the audio on your Switch dock.
