Introduction
Connecting your Nintendo Switch to a laptop monitor can provide a larger, more immersive display for gaming on the go. By hooking up the Switch dock to your laptop‘s HDMI input, you can enjoy your favorite games on a much bigger screen compared to the Switch‘s 6.2-inch built-in display.
A laptop monitor gives you extra screen real estate, allowing you to better see in-game details. This can give you competitive advantages in multiplayer titles. The improved views also enhance single-player adventures and RPGs.
Prerequisites
To use your laptop as a display for the Switch, there are some requirements:
- A laptop with an HDMI input port
- An HDMI cable
- Nintendo Switch and its docking station
Many modern laptops lack HDMI inputs due to their slim form factors. If your laptop only has HDMI outputs, don‘t worry! Later sections cover Capture Cards which enable using the laptop display anyway.
Connecting via HDMI Cable
If your laptop has an HDMI input, follow these instructions:
- Insert the Nintendo Switch into its docking station, connecting any necessary power cords.
- Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the dock‘s HDMI output.
- Connect the other end to your laptop‘s HDMI input port.
- On your laptop, select the HDMI input as your video source.
You may need to configure display settings to enable audio pass-through via HDMI if you want sound. With everything connected properly, the Switch video output should now display on the laptop!
Capture Cards: An Alternate Solution
For laptops without an HDMI input, Capture Cards can intercept the Switch‘s video feed and bring it into your computer. These are small external video processing units that connect between the Switch dock and laptop. Popular models include:
- Elgato Game Capture HD60 S+
- AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus
To install, first download the Capture Card‘s software drivers on your laptop…