A revised Nintendo Switch that will not turn on is usually flat, frozen or failing to charge, and Nintendo's own guidance gives a short sequence. Charge it for at least thirty minutes, using the original adapter and plugging directly into the console or the dock, and look for the charging light or a battery icon when you wake it. If the battery was fully drained, the console can take a few minutes before it shows a sign of life. Then force it off and on: hold the power button for twelve seconds, which clears a frozen state, release, wait a few seconds and press it again.
The checks in more detail
The iFixit repair guide for a Switch that will not turn on lists the same steps and adds checking the cable, the outlet and the dock. If it works on the original adapter plugged straight in, but not in the dock, the dock or its cable is at fault, and the same the other way round. Inspect the charging port on the bottom of the console for bent pins, lint or damage, and clean it gently with a dry wooden toothpick, not metal.
A third-party dock, a cheap adapter or a damaged cable are common causes of charging failure and sometimes damage the console, so use Nintendo's own or certified ones. If the console shows the Nintendo logo and then goes black, it may be a software problem; hold the volume up and power buttons to enter maintenance mode, where you can choose to start in normal mode, and avoid initialising the console as that erases data. Try a different outlet and cable. If the console is hot, let it cool first. A swollen battery, a console that was wet or one that stays dead on a known-good adapter needs repair, and Nintendo's repair service handles it.
Do not open the case yourself while it is under warranty, and do not charge a swollen console. Think about when the failure began. A console that died right after being docked with a non-original adapter suggests the adapter, one that died after a fall suggests damage, and one that died after being left in a hot car suggests heat damage to the battery. Tell Nintendo this history when you contact them, as it affects the repair. Keep the console and the dock plugged into a surge protector for storms.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nintendo Switch revised model will not turn on”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A drained battery
What separates it No response at first
How to confirm Charge for thirty minutes
- 2
A frozen state
What separates it The screen is black
How to confirm Hold power for twelve seconds
- 3
A bad adapter or dock
What separates it Charges one way only
How to confirm Use the original adapter and dock
- 4
A dirty or bent charging port
What separates it No charge
How to confirm Clean gently and inspect
- 5
A battery or board fault
What separates it Dead on a good adapter
How to confirm Contact Nintendo
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the charging light appears
- Which adapter was used
- Whether it works docked or direct
- Whether it was wet or dropped
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedCharge for thirty minutes
ReversibleWith the original adapter.
Force restart
ReversibleHold power twelve seconds.
Try the adapter direct
ReversibleWithout the dock.
Check the charging port
ReversibleFor lint or damage.
Try another outlet
ReversibleAnd cable.
Contact Nintendo
ReversibleIf still dead.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Twelve seconds
- The force-off hold.
- Original adapter
- Cheap ones can damage the console.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it stays dead on a good adapter, contact Nintendo for repair
- !If the battery is swollen, stop charging
- !Do not use maintenance mode to initialise
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Nintendo's guidance on a 12-second power hold and 30 minutes of charging.
Repair guide to charging, the battery and a hard reset.
Reboot, charge level and reset steps for a frozen Switch.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why won't my Switch turn on?+
A flat battery or a frozen state.
How do I force it off?+
Hold power for twelve seconds.
Can a dock cause it?+
Yes.
Should I use maintenance mode?+
Only to start normally, not to initialise.