Switch Won't Turn On or Charge: Board Fault Repair

Assessment £4.99 Quote confirmed before work starts

No fix, no fee · 12-month warranty · Insured, tracked returns

Signs you need this repair

  • No response to the power button, even after charging
  • Won't charge, though the USB-C port looks and feels fine
  • Charges but shows no picture on the TV through the dock
  • Stuck on an orange or blue screen
  • Stopped working after using a third-party dock or cheap charger
  • Gets warm on the charger but never switches on

When a Switch won't turn on, won't charge or won't show a picture on the TV, and the port itself is fine, the fault is usually on the main board. Common causes are the chips behind the USB-C port: the M92T36 (USB-C power delivery), the BQ24193 (battery charging) and the PI3USB (which routes video to the dock). Third-party docks and cheap chargers are a well-known cause of M92T36 failure. An orange or blue screen can point to a display or board fault, and this guide to orange and blue screens explains what to check.

Try the basics first. Hold POWER for about 12 seconds, then press it again. Charge it for 30 minutes on the official charger, try another cable, and for TV problems plug the dock's power in first, then HDMI, then the console. This checklist for a Switch that won't turn on covers the rest, including Maintenance Mode.

Board faults can't be priced without looking, so this starts with a £4.99 assessment. I diagnose the fault on my bench and send you a quote. Repairs start from £89. You approve before I do any work, and the £4.99 comes off the repair if you go ahead. If you decline, or the console can't be repaired, the £4.99 isn't refunded, but there's no repair fee and I send the console back.

Nintendo caps its out-of-warranty no-power repair at £120 for the Switch, £108 for the Lite and £190.50 for the OLED, but that price applies when the console is swapped for a replacement or re-manufactured unit. Save data lives on the console's internal storage, so a swapped console comes back without your saves unless they were backed up. Depending on the fault, Nintendo's capped price may be close to or below my quote. The quote lets you compare before you decide. If the console is still under Nintendo's warranty, go to Nintendo first.

This covers the original Switch, the 2019 revised model, the OLED and the Lite. The Lite has no TV output, so the dock and TV symptoms apply to the other models.

Switch Won't Turn On or Charge: Board Fault Repair

Frequently asked questions

What does the £4.99 assessment cover?
My time diagnosing the fault and a written quote for the repair. If you go ahead, the £4.99 comes off the repair price. If you decline or it can't be repaired, the £4.99 isn't refunded.
Could it just be the charging port?
It can be. If the diagnosis shows the port is the only fault, I quote for a charging port replacement instead of a board repair.
My Switch charges but shows nothing on the TV. Is that a board fault?
It can be. It points more towards the PI3USB chip, the dock or the HDMI side than the port. Try another HDMI cable and port and the official dock first. If it still fails, the assessment will find the cause.
Will I get my own console back with my saves?
Yes, I repair your own console. A board repair does carry some risk to stored data, so back up what you can first if the console still powers on.

Related repairs

About this service

How does your mail-in repair service work?
Three steps: book and pay for your repair online, post your item to me using the packing instructions I email you, and I repair it, test it, and send it back tracked. You'll get updates as it moves through each stage.
What is your no-fix-no-fee promise?
Payment is taken upfront at booking. If I can't fix your item, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you. Assessment bookings work differently: the £4.99 covers return postage and comes off the repair if you go ahead, but isn't refunded if you decide not to or it can't be repaired.
Do your repairs come with a warranty?
Yes. Every repair carries a 12-month workmanship warranty against the same fault returning. If it does, I'll put it right.
How long will my repair take?
Most repairs are completed within 3-6 working days of arrival, then posted back by tracked post. If a part needs ordering, I'll tell you as soon as I've diagnosed it and give you a realistic date. Diagnostic-led jobs take a little longer if I'm waiting on your approval of a quote.
How do I package my item safely to post it?
I send clear packing guidance when you book. In short: wrap the item well, use plenty of padding, and a sturdy box — the return leg is insured and tracked, and good packing on the way in protects your item too.
Where do I send my item?
Your postage address is included in the confirmation email after you book — you don't post anything until you've booked, so your item is always matched to your order.
Do you cover the whole UK?
Yes — I run a mail-in repair service, so you can send your item from anywhere in the UK. There's nothing local you need to find.
What if my item turns out to be unrepairable?
I'll post it back, and the £4.99 you paid covers the tracked return postage. If you'd rather I recycled it responsibly, I'll refund the £4.99 in full.