Keep your Nintendo Switch away from aquariums and microwaves

If you've splashed out on a brand new Nintendo Switch this weekend then Nintendo has some advice for you: keep your Joy-Con controllers away from aquariums. And microwaves. And mobile phones, and wireless headsets, and wireless printers, and metal objects.

The console maker has issued guidance for those having syncing problems with the Switch's wireless controllers and the bad news is there are a lot of wireless gadgets that can interfere with their operation.

These wireless problems are nothing new, and a lot of the problematic devices Nintendo lists - like fish tanks and microwaves - are well known for causing interference with Wi-Fi signals. Even your Christmas lights can affect your setup.

Keep your distance

Nintendo advises moving the offending bits of kit three or four feet away from your Switch to ensure your gaming can continue uninterrupted. It also says you should avoid burying the controllers under a bundle of other wires and cords.

According to a statement Nintendo gave to Kotaku, some (but not all) users are experiencing syncing problems with their Joy-Con gamepads, particularly the left one. A patch has already rolled out but issues are still being reported.

If you haven't yet bought yourself one of the portable consoles - and the early bugs haven't put you off - Nintendo has again reiterated that stocks of the Switch will be kept topped up, so you should be able to get your hands on one in March. Unfortunately, your fish might not be able to watch.

Via The Verge

David Nield
Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Latest in Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con up-close from app store
Nintendo's new app gave us another look at the Switch 2, and there's something different with the Joy-Con
Samus Aran leaping through space
Metroid Prime 4 tipped to be at the heart of April's Nintendo Switch 2 deep-dive
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 expected to have AI upscaling and I can't wait to finally play Tears of the Kingdom with upgraded graphics
Super Mario Odyssey played on a Nintendo Switch in portable mode
YouTuber seemingly reveals the first hands-on look at the Nintendo Switch 2 and its new magnetic Joy-Cons
Nintendo Switch Pro
To the surprise of absolutely no one, another new look at the Nintendo Switch 2 has seemingly leaked
Nintendo Switch 2
If the Switch 2 can't perform at the same level as the Z1 Extreme Asus ROG Ally even with Nvidia's DLSS, then Nintendo is in trouble
Latest in News
Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con up-close from app store
Nintendo's new app gave us another look at the Switch 2, and there's something different with the Joy-Con
cheap Nintendo Switch game deals sales
Nintendo didn't anticipate that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was 'going to be the juggernaut' for the Nintendo Switch when it was ported to the console, according to former employees
Toni Collette in Hereditary
Everything leaving Netflix in April 2025 – from the scariest movie ever made to a beloved DreamWorks animation with 99% on Rotten Tomatoes
Three angles of the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M4 laptop above a desk
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) review roundup – should you buy Apple's new lightweight laptop?
Witchbrook
Witchbrook, the life-sim I've been waiting years for, finally has a release window and it's sooner than you think
Close up of Leica M11-P viewfinder
I wince at the prospect of the rumored Leica M11-V – here's why