Can I connect my Nintendo Switch to a laptop and use it as a screen? If so, how to connect Nintendo switch to laptop screen? While the switch is a great way to play, there may be some who would like to connect the Nintendo console to a laptop screen to get a bigger picture.
Especially if you want to play in pairs, three or even four, a bigger screen than the Nintendo Switch is often very handy. But can you use a laptop for it? Actually, you would have the Nintendo Switch but can easily connect via HDMI to the laptop monitor, right?
Connecting Nintendo switch to my laptop?
Normally you cannot go from a resolution of 720p to 1080p on the Nintendo Switch without having anything to connect the dock to, but there may be a way around it. In some forums, many users ask if it is possible to run the Nintendo Switch on their laptop without a capture card, a device for recording images from a video source on a computer.
The short answer is no. You cannot connect the Nintendo Switch’s HDMI cable to your laptop because it only has one HDMI output port. It is possible to do it without a capture card through an HDMI input port, but it is harder to find and more expensive than you might think.
The only reason a laptop would have an HDMI input port is that it already has an integrated capture card. You would have to use the same application as a capture card, and since you would not be using an external capture, it is simply to eliminate the intermediary.
If you travel with your console, the easiest solution is to buy a capture card like the Elgato Game Capture HD. If not, it is better to buy a 1080p monitor, since it costs less than a capture card.
Laptop as a screen for Nintendo Switch?
Even if it sounds so easy, it’s not that easy, because many overlook a small detail here. If you want to use your laptop as a screen for the switch, then you need either a capture card or a notebook with an HDMI input.
Even if just about every current notebook has an HDMI connection, it is usually an HDMI output and NOT an HDMI input. The HDMI output can only transmit the signal from the laptop to an external monitor and not transmit and display a signal on the laptop screen from the outside.
How to set up a capture card for your laptop
If you can afford a decent capture card with USB 3.0 Type-C support, check out the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S. It costs about 175 dollars and allows you to play your Nintendo Switch on your laptop without experiencing any delay.
The HDMI cable goes from the base of the switch to the capturer, and the USB 3.0 connector goes from there to your laptop. Simply download the Game Capture HD program from the Elgato website, and that’s it. It is perfect for anyone who travels and cannot carry a monitor everywhere.
How to connect to monitor
Can I connect the Nintendo Switch to a normal PC monitor? How do I transfer the sound of the switch to the monitor? The handy thing about the Nintendo Hybrid console is that you can use it in both handheld mode and via the dock on a TV.
One of the other owners of the console will perhaps ask yourself if you can connect the Nintendo Switch also with a conventional PC monitor and what there is to pay attention to.
Nintendo Switch connect PC monitor: Is that really?
Of course, you can also connect the Nintendo Switch to a normal PC monitor. The only requirement is that the monitor has an HDMI port. Alternatively, would probably synonymous HDMI-DVI cable work, if the monitor has no HDMI but a DVI connection.
When setting up, there is nothing special to note; you just connect the dock just as s.den PC monitor as the TV and everything should work as usual.
If the PC monitor has built-in speakers, then the sound should also be transmitted via HDMI from the switch to the monitor. Also if the monitor has no built-in speakers, then you could tap the sound also on headphones. If the switch is in the dock, then you can still connect a headphone via the jack connector on the top.
What about Bluetooth headphones and the Nintendo Switch? Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch does not yet support Bluetooth headphones.
Accordingly, at least for the moment, Bluetooth headphones can not easily be connected and used with the Nintendo console. In this case, you need a USB adapter/dongle with Bluetooth, which forwards the audio signals from the console to the Bluetooth headset.
Update
With Version 4.0, the Switch now also supports wireless headphones and headsets. However, this is limited only to sound reproduction and not to voice communication.
In summary, one can say, no one can not connect the Nintendo Switch with the laptop and then use this as a mobile screen for gambling. The exception is laptops with an HDMI input.
A laptop with an HDMI input is quite rare and not installed in most consumer notebooks. The only option would be to get a capture card and have the image displayed on the Nintendo Switch on the laptop. Here it would help if you made sure that the capture card has no great delay.
Marziano is a seasoned tech expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and multiple certifications, including CompTIA A+, Network+, and Cisco’s CCNA, he has a well-rounded and robust understanding of various aspects of technology.
