Have you ever watched gameplay videos or live streams of your favorite Nintendo Switch games and thought – I would love to create that kind of content! Well my friend, connecting your Switch console directly to a Windows or Mac laptop opens up an exciting world of content creation possibilities.
In this guide, we‘ll explore why you may want to hook up these devices, walk step-by-step through how to get everything set up, plus I‘ll share from personal experience some pro-tips for getting the best quality feed. Whether you want to record memorable gaming moments, live stream your reactions, or just use your Joy-Cons as controllers for PC titles – linking your Nintendo Switch to a laptop unlocks all this and more!
Why Connect Switch to a Laptop?
Here are the top benefits and use cases that are newly enabled by linking your Nintendo Switch to a personal computer:
- Capture Gameplay Videos – Record your playthroughs to share highlights reels or create YouTube let‘s plays. Enhance with overlays/graphics!
- Live Stream to Twitch – Share reactions of first playthroughs. Engage directly with audiences in real-time chat!
- Expand Screen Real Estate – Use laptop as second display for info like guides/chat while playing on TV.
- Connect Joy-Cons to PC – Utilize Switch controllers for your favorite computer games. Great ergonomics!
- Mobile Gameplay – Play full console/PC games on-the-go with a laptop + Switch in a backpack! Hybrid portability.
In particular, live streaming Nintendo Switch gameplay is surging in popularity according to Streamlabs metrics:
| Year | % Increase in Switch Streamers |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 112% |
| 2020 | 215% |
| 2021 | 67% |
Clearly interest continues rapidly growing. So let‘s get into exactly how to set all this up!
Step 1: Connect Capture Card to Laptop
The key to sending video from your Switch to a laptop is an accessory called a capture card. These handy devices take HDMI signals as input, and convert them into a video feed on your computer over USB.
The Elgato Game Capture HD60 S+ is a superb option that connects directly via USB 3.0 for low latency:
To connect:
- Install the Game Capture software on your Windows or Mac laptop. This powers all video streaming and recording.
- Connect the capture card directly into an open USB 3.0 port on your laptop for best bandwidth. Avoid hubs.
- If external power is required, attach that to a wall outlet to turn on the device.
💡Pro Tip: USB ports impact performance! Built-in ports give faster speeds vs. those connected through hubs/adapters.
Now the capture card is fully hooked up to bring Switch video into the computer.
Step 2: Connect Switch Dock HDMI to Capture Card
On the Nintendo Switch side, we need to route the HDMI video output to the capture card instead of directly to the TV:
To hook things up:
- Unplug the HDMI cable from the back of your TV (or Switch dock if easier access).
- Take that same HDMI cable and plug it into the "HDMI In" port on the Elgato capture card.
- This carries the live video feed into the capture card before routing it to the computer.
💡 Pro Tip: Label your HDMI cables (using tape/tags) to avoid future confusion on which connects where!
Step 3: Connect Capture Card Feed to TV
We took the Switch‘s video feed into the capture card in Step 2, but your TV still needs that signal! We‘ll simply "pass-through" the video from the capture card:
To complete the video chain:
- Take a separate HDMI cable and plug one end into the "HDMI Out" port on the capture card.
- Take the other end of this new HDMI cable and plug it into the open HDMI input port on your TV (where we removed the Switch cable earlier).
Boom! Now the path flows from Console → Capture Card → TV, with a copy also being taken into the computer over USB.
Step 4: Install OBS Streaming Software
The last link we need is software on the laptop to actually process and record/stream this live video signal from the Switch. This is where Open Broadcaster Software comes in.
To complete setup:
- Download OBS Studio on your Windows, Mac or Linux machine. It‘s 100% free open source software!
- Launch OBS and click the "+" in the Sources panel. Select your capture card.
- You should now see live video feed from the Switch in the preview window! You‘re ready to record and stream.
💡 Pro Tip: For more advanced audio mixing and overlays, check out Streamlabs OBS.
Step 5: Power On Nintendo Switch!
The moment we‘ve been waiting for! Let‘s flick that power switch and watch it all come to life:
- First turn on your Nintendo Switch, making sure it‘s securely docked for HDMI output.
- The video signal will now flow: Dock → Capture Card → TV & Laptop
- If you see video on the TV but not laptop, re-check software/connections.
💡 Pro Tip: Ensure Switch docks properly with secure cable connections. Loose plugs can interrupt video!
Step 6: Start Recording or Streaming!
With all hardware and software configured, now comes the best part – capturing footage!
- In OBS Studio, click Start Recording or Start Streaming (for Twitch etc).
- Recorded videos save locally to your designated hard drive folder.
- For streaming, connect platforms like YouTube or Twitch first.
💡 Pro Tip: For 720p/30fps streaming, an internet upload bandwidth around 3Mbps is recommended as a minimum.
Step 7: Game On!
Okay, enough setup – it‘s finally time to play! Simply launch your favorite Nintendo Switch game and enjoy the experience with all new possibilities:
A few ideas to take advantage of your new laptop connectivity powers:
- Entertain audiences by live streaming new game releases on Twitch
- Make compelling YouTube walkthroughs and gameplay montages to share
- Check online guides/chat on the laptop screen while playing on TV
- Use the Switch Pro controller to enjoy PC games like Elden Ring!
I hope by walking through each step that everything now makes sense on how to link up your Nintendo Switch to a laptop! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions. Happy streaming!
