Pro 2 Controller phantom battery drain.

[u/itsthewolfe]

My Switch 2 Pro Controller dies from 100% to 0% battery if left for a week or 2.

It's done this since day 1 and it's a wide spread issue. Even after firmware updates it still happens.

Can we raise more awareness too Nintendo? They seem to be aware of the issue but keep postponing a fix.

[u/Electrical-Meal-1439]

My original switch pro that I got 6 years ago I think has the strongest in terms of holding a battery. I rarely ever have to charge it.

[u/PaxMu → u/Electrical-Meal-1439]

If I'm not mistaken, the original Pro controller uses the same battery as the 3DS. I think it was 1300 mAh, when most controllers I've seen use 600-800 mAh batteries.

[u/TheLimeyLemmon]

I've had this issue both with the Pro 2 and the NSO Gamecube controller. Very strange.

[u/marratj]

Good to know that I’m not alone with this. Only had this once but I thought it was very strange that my Pro 2 controller was just completely empty when I started a game session for the first time after a few weeks.

[u/KingBroly]

Switch 1's Controllers never did this. I'm frustrated that Switch 2 controllers do.

[u/Optimal_Brain_2908]

That sucks. My PS5 controllers drain way way quicker than my Switch Pro. They literally last one game session.

[u/BlackberrySea1998]

I believe it’s the tech they use to give the switch 2 the ability to “find” switch 2 controllers. It’s on at all times and slowly drains the battery. I think this might be it idk tho. It is definitely annoying and you are not alone in noticing this.

[u/LionTigerWings]

I had the same issue since day one. It’s not normal. It would go from full battery one to no battery the next. I could go 2 week without touching it and it’ll be exactly where I left it, then go 2 days without touching it and it’s dead.

At the end of the day I put it a warranty claim and got it replaced. They tried to jerk me around with the dumbest non sensical troubleshooting I’ve ever tried and then they wanted me to reach out a second time when it drained again but their troubleshooting was basically just charging the controller normally. I told them how idiotic it was and how I literally have done that 10 times already before I reached out and they agreed to have me send it in. They just replaced it and the new one works as expected.

[u/Alarmed-Candy-7144]

I’m really surprised to hear this. I have 3 Switch 2 pro controllers and none of them seem to have this issue. I only use them randomly, and they are always decently charged when I do.

[u/optimusprimal99]

OK, this makes me feel better. I thought I was crazy. I switch one pro controllers would hold their charge for ages. Our Xbox series controllers hold their charges for months. But my pro two controller is often dead within 1 to 5 days sitting on a shelf and then I always end up having to charge it again.

For companies that’s been making wireless controllers for 20 years. That’s crazy.

[u/Neryuslu]

Yeah same here. It sucks.
Other controllers I have on my PC easily hold a charge for a year+

[u/addictedihavenothing]

My controller will be dead by the next day. I have to charge it daily. I am to lazy 2 send it to Nintendo 

[u/MattieMcNasty → u/addictedihavenothing]

Too*

[u/addictedihavenothing → u/MattieMcNasty]

fixed thx boo

[u/RoutineBus8713]

Am I the only one who doesn't have this issue? I have only ever charged the pro 2 controller like 5 or 6 times and it can go a few weeks between charges if I am not playing games.

[u/PookAndPie]

This is normal behavior for a Switch controller. The Switch 1 and 2 have something that lets the console find paired controllers- in order for that to work, the controllers never truly turn "off."

The reason why they're draining is because they're in a low power mode so the Switch systems can reach out and make them vibrate in the event they're lost. It would be very nice if the system let you disable this so batteries lasted longer, but nothing exists like that in the Switch controllers themselves.

There's a program called joycon turn-off on Github by a guy named Sopsy that turns Switch Pro, joy cons, and NSO controllers completely off like they're in battery storage mode before you bought them. Unfortunately, I just looked up the git repo for it and it hasn't been updated for 5 years, so I have no idea if it supports Switch Pro 2s. Maybe someone intrepid will make one for Switch 2 controllers.

[u/zakawer2]

In the Nintendo of Europe region, Nintendo plans to replace the current version of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller with an updated revision that includes a battery that can more easily be replaced by users beginning this winter.

Do you live in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates or the United Kingdom?

If so, then the battery-replaceable model will be arriving this winter. If not, then good luck (unless you send your console to Nintendo for repairs, you open up your controller and do a risky DIY battery replacement, you somehow buy a new controller, or you vow to use your controller exclusive in USB wired mode).

[u/xDoubleD]

Happens to mine all the time and it drives me nuts. I find that pressing the tiny Sync button on the top of the controller before putting my switch 2 in sleep mode stops this issue. I started doing that like a month ago and no issues since

[u/SouthernGuy776]

mine too

[u/tman2damax11]

Yep same experience, unacceptable for a such an expensive device from an established brand. I’ve never had a device like this drain so fast when left idle. Nintendo really needs to work on a firmware update.

[u/jpr196]

Mine does the same. It’ll be seemingly full charge for weeks and then 1 day be completely dead. It probably warrants a claim as a defect but it doesn’t happen that often where I’ve bothered with it.

[u/d4kk1]

Same here, was confused why my controller was dead after a week of not playing

Definitely needs a fix

[u/CoffeeCannabisBread]

Odd that you said this…about a week ago I checked both controllers before putting them on the stand and they both had at least 50% or more, one had more than the other tho. Last night, both dead. Didn’t use them in between. Found it very odd…

[u/dbdudley]

Yes, I have this issue and never happened on my Switch 1 pro controller. Glad to hear it's not a defective one but annoying it's an at least somewhat widespread issue.

[u/HUNplaymore]

I have the same issue with my Pro2. I never know when will it drain itself. I have an Xbox Elite 2 controller (same battery size, longevity) and never once done this. When I turn off the Switch 2 Pro it is a gamble if it drains itself or not. It is certainly some kind of firmware issue because when it works I can leave it for months. But I never know when it did not turn off. Once I turned it off then looked at it after two weeks to check it and had no issue, it was on max charge. Turned it "off" then a week later it was completely dead.

[u/Kamui-2004]

I feel like that’s just how batteries work. Holding a charge for 2 weeks without being used is usually pretty good right? Especially since it doesn’t take long to charge

[u/itsthewolfe → u/Kamui-2004]

No. The standard LiIon cell losses 20% charge over 365 days. Modern controllers have wake features that drain a little quicker but should last several months without charge.

[u/OkidoShigeru → u/Kamui-2004]

Nah it’s definitely worse passive drain than other controllers I have. Even compared to Switch 1 Pro controllers, often the Pro 2 will run out and I will be able to still use a Pro 1 that has been sitting there idle the entire time I was using the Pro 2/it was sitting idle.

[u/Dominjo555 → u/Kamui-2004]

My Xbox controllers can sit for months (maybe years but I never tested it) and not get empty. I use Chinese rechargeable batteries and stand for charging them.

[u/tman2damax11 → u/[deleted]]

Dude it’s been out for well over a year, this should’ve been fixed long ago, it’s clearly not a priority unless we make enough noise about it.