Pair a Switch 2 controller from the HOME Menu: Controllers → Change Grip/Order, then hold the controller’s SYNC Button until the LED flashes.
For the full breakdown, see our best Controllers For Switch 2 guide.
You handle every Switch 2 controller connection through one screen on the HOME Menu: Controllers → Change Grip/Order. That’s where wireless sync, re-pairing, and controller order all happen — not in the system’s Bluetooth settings, which is the first place most people look.
You have three official ways to connect: wireless pairing from the HOME Menu, wired pairing through the dock in TV mode, or a direct wired connection to the console in tabletop mode. The steps below follow Nintendo’s published procedure for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
These steps apply to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and to other controllers that use the Switch 2 pairing flow. Nintendo’s support pages note that a controller has to be paired with the console before it can be used, so there’s no zero-setup shortcut on Switch 2.
Pairing A Switch 2 Controller Wirelessly
Wireless pairing runs through Controllers → Change Grip/Order on the HOME Menu, and the flow is identical for a first-time setup and for adding another controller later.
- Turn the console on and open the HOME Menu.
- Select Controllers, then select Change Grip/Order.
- Hold the controller’s SYNC Button until the LED starts flashing. On the Pro Controller, hold it for at least one second.
- Wait for “Paired” to appear, then press A to return to the HOME Menu.
When “Paired” shows on screen, the connection took. If the LED stops flashing and stays solid, the controller is ready. If the pairing screen keeps searching, charge the controller and run the pass again — low battery is the usual culprit on a new controller.
Joy-Con style controllers that aren’t attached to the console use the same Change Grip/Order screen. Most third-party controllers follow this exact flow too; if one won’t pair, make sure the console is running the latest system software before retrying.
If you’re shopping for an extra controller, our tested roundup of the best Switch 2 controllers covers the models that pair without fuss.
Wired Connection: Docked And Tabletop Modes
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller also pairs by cable — the option to pick when you want a wired connection in docked or tabletop mode.
Docked mode takes two steps: place the console in the Nintendo Switch 2 dock, then connect the controller to the dock with a USB-C cable.
Nintendo’s Australian support page says the cable included