How to Pair Joy-Con Controllers

Complete these steps

To which console do you want to pair the Joy-Con controller(s)?

• Nintendo Switch 2

  Important: It is not possible to attach Joy-Con controllers to the Nintendo Switch 2 console.

  1. From the HOME Menu, select ControllersControlesManettesControles.
  2. Select Change Grip and Order.
  3. From the Change Grip and Order screen, press and hold down the SYNC Button for at least one second on the controller you wish to pair.
     • Once paired, the player LED(s) corresponding to the controller number will remain lit.
  4. Confirm how the Joy-Con will be held.

     Important

     • By doing the Button Pairing alone, the console will not be able to tell if the Joy-Con will be held as a dual-controller grip, or if the Joy-Con will be held horizontally as individual controllers.
     • To confirm how the Joy-Con will be used, press the L Button/R Buttons as indicated below while on this screen.

     How to Use the Joy-Con	Buttons to Press
     As a dual-controller grip	L Button (on left Joy-Con) + R Button (on right Joy-Con)
     	ZL Button (on left Joy-Con) + ZR Button (on right Joy-Con)
     As a solo horizontal grip	SL Button + SR Button on each Joy-Con you wish to use horizontally

• Nintendo Switch – OLED Model

  The Joy-Con can be paired to the Nintendo Switch console in the following ways:

  Joint pairing

  Simply attach the Joy-Con controllers to the console.

  • How to attach Joy-Con controllers to a Nintendo Switch console
    1. Align the – Button on the left Joy-Con with the top left corner of console, and align the + Button on the right Joy-Con with the top right corner of the console.
       
    2. Use the rails on the sides of the console to slide the Joy-Con from top to bottom, until you hear a click.
       

    For more information, read How to Attach/Detach the Joy-Con Controllers from Nintendo Switch.

  Button pairing or wireless pairing

  1. From the HOME Menu, select ControllersControlesManettesControles.
  2. Select Change Grip and Order.
  3. From the Change Grip and Order screen, press and hold down the SYNC Button for at least one second on the controller you wish to pair.
     • Once paired, the player LED(s) corresponding to the controller number will remain lit.
  4. Confirm how the Joy-Con will be held.

     Important

     • By doing the Button Pairing alone, the console will not be able to tell if the Joy-Con will be held as a dual-controller grip, or if the Joy-Con will be held horizontally as individual controllers.
     • To confirm how the Joy-Con will be used, press the L Button/R Buttons as indicated below while on this screen.

     How to Use the Joy-Con	Buttons to Press
     As a dual-controller grip	L Button (on left Joy-Con) + R Button (on right Joy-Con)
     	ZL Button (on left Joy-Con) + ZR Button (on right Joy-Con)
     As a solo horizontal grip	SL Button + SR Button on each Joy-Con you wish to use horizontally

  USB Connection Pairing

  Important:

  The USB connection pairing is available after performing a system update.

  Attach the Joy-Con to the Joy-Con charging grip (sold separately), then connect it to the Nintendo Switch dock with the included USB cable (model No. HAC-010).

• Nintendo Switch

  The Joy-Con can be paired to the Nintendo Switch console in the following ways:

  Joint pairing

  Simply attach the Joy-Con controllers to the console.

  • How to attach Joy-Con controllers to a Nintendo Switch console
    1. Align the – Button on the left Joy-Con with the top left corner of console, and align the + Button on the right Joy-Con with the top right corner of the console.
       
    2. Use the rails on the sides of the console to slide the Joy-Con from top to bottom, until you hear a click.
       

    For more information, read How to Attach/Detach the Joy-Con Controllers from Nintendo Switch.

  Button pairing or wireless pairing

  1. From the HOME Menu, select ControllersControlesManettesControles.
  2. Select Change Grip and Order.
  3. From the Change Grip and Order screen, press and hold down the SYNC Button for at least one second on the controller you wish to pair.
     • Once paired, the player LED(s) corresponding to the controller number will remain lit.
  4. Confirm how the Joy-Con will be held.

     Important

     • By doing the Button Pairing alone, the console will not be able to tell if the Joy-Con will be held as a dual-controller grip, or if the Joy-Con will be held horizontally as individual controllers.
     • To confirm how the Joy-Con will be used, press the L Button/R Buttons as indicated below while on this screen.

     How to Use the Joy-Con	Buttons to Press
     As a dual-controller grip	L Button (on left Joy-Con) + R Button (on right Joy-Con)
     	ZL Button (on left Joy-Con) + ZR Button (on right Joy-Con)
     As a solo horizontal grip	SL Button + SR Button on each Joy-Con you wish to use horizontally

  USB Connection Pairing

  Important:

  The USB connection pairing is available after performing a system update.

  Attach the Joy-Con to the Joy-Con charging grip (sold separately), then connect it to the Nintendo Switch dock with the included USB cable (model No. HAC-010).

• Nintendo Switch Lite
  1. From the HOME Menu, select ControllersControlesManettesControles.
  2. Select Change Grip and Order.
  3. From the Change Grip and Order screen, press and hold down the SYNC Button for at least one second on the controller you wish to pair.
     • Once paired, the player LED(s) corresponding to the controller number will remain lit.
  4. Confirm how the Joy-Con will be held.

     Important

     • By doing the Button Pairing alone, the console will not be able to tell if the Joy-Con will be held as a dual-controller grip, or if the Joy-Con will be held horizontally as individual controllers.
     • To confirm how the Joy-Con will be used, press the L Button/R Buttons as indicated below while on this screen.

     How to Use the Joy-Con	Buttons to Press
     As a dual-controller grip	L Button (on left Joy-Con) + R Button (on right Joy-Con)
     	ZL Button (on left Joy-Con) + ZR Button (on right Joy-Con)
     As a solo horizontal grip	SL Button + SR Button on each Joy-Con you wish to use horizontally