How To Use a Laptop As Monitor For Switch?
Nintendo has invented various handled devices for gaming purposes. These devices are pretty much expensive for some users. But due to their high graphics and other quality concerns people all around optimizing them for gaming. Due to its portability around millions of users can be found around the globe. According to the survey, more than 30 million copies have been sold. Generally, a Nintendo switch is connected with a TV to enjoy the best gaming experience on a bigger screen. But due to any issue like if your TV is not working or you are away from your home then how can you play the on NS? In this article, we will show you how to use a laptop as a monitor for the switch. The process is not so much tricky. Still, you need to get complete info to do it perfectly.

Contents

  • 1 How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor for The Switch?
    • 1.1 First Method: With The Help of HDMI Connectivity
    • 1.2 Second Method: Through A Gaming Capture Card
      • 1.2.1 Nintendo Switch
      • 1.2.2 Nintendo Dock
      • 1.2.3 HDMI Cable
      • 1.2.4 Gaming Capture Card
      • 1.2.5 Elgato Capture Card
  • 2 A Complete Guide to Connect Nintendo Switch with Laptop
  • 3 Wrapping Up the Discussion

How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor for The Switch?

Frankly speaking, the Nintendo switch is not connected directly to any other monitor or TV screen. To connect it, you need a Nintendo Dock that has an HDMI output port. And with the help of HDMI cable switch is connected with TV. For laptops, how is it possible? How many ways are there? Well, there are two possibilities:
  • With the help of HDMI input port
  • Through Gaming Capture cards
Both methods are pretty simple. You need to be an extraordinary expert to accomplish them. As the steps that are involved to use your laptops as a monitor are easy. So, let’s get started with HDMI connectivity.

First Method: With The Help of HDMI Connectivity

You can connect your switch with the laptop through the HDMI input port. For this, you need an HDMI cable that transfers the pictorial and audio data from one device to another. Almost all televisions have an HDMI input port through which audio files and video data are displayed efficiently. Unfortunately, we cannot find these connectivity options on various laptops. Only 1 out of 10 laptops have an HDMI input port. Most laptop users are unaware of the fact the HDMI output port cannot be used as an input port. And without an input port laptop cannot be used as a monitor for the switch. Another alternative is still there. Which is a gaming capture card. These cards are popular among the gamer community because of their reliability and efficiency. Let’s dig into this process, how is it helpful?

Second Method: Through A Gaming Capture Card

Here is a complete guide to convert your laptop into a monitor for the switch. Necessary things required to convert your laptop into a monitor for the switch:
  • Nintendo switch
  • Nintendo Dock
  • Capture card
  • HDMI cable
  • Laptop

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo is already a dominant brand in the market. With the manufacturing of the Nintendo switch which was released in 2017, the brand has been recognized internationally. Now, Nintendo switches are available and have been using all over the massively.

Nintendo Dock

Nintendo dock enables connectivity between the console and display screen. A capture card cannot be linked directly to the Nintendo switch. You need a Nintendo dock for it. The main function of the dock is to provide output to the screen. Moreover, with the help of HDMI cable signals are transferred from the switch console to the laptop. USB port further helps you to charge your console effectively.

HDMI Cable

HDMI cable helps you to transfer your audio and video files from the game console to the display screen. The cable comes with the other accessories. If you don’t get it, you can purchase the one for you from the market.

Gaming Capture Card

A capture card is a device that displays the game on the screen which is being played on a gaming station. The whole process is done by transferring the gameplay play signal into digital data via HDMI connectivity and USB port from gaming consoles to display screens. There are a variety of capture cards available in the market. But Elgato HD60 S capture card is leading the market because of its smooth and lag-free advantage. Through this small device, your problem will be solved in no time. You can purchase this device from Amazon at a handsome price.

Elgato Capture Card

Elgato capture card is one of the best capture cards available in the market. It has competitors too. but still, no one can beat it in the gaming industry as the brand is manufacturing the best internal capture cards for many years. But it has some specific system requirements. Without fulfilling these minimum requirements capture card cannot be attached to your system. The minimum system requirement is:
  • Processor: Intel Core processor
  • Operating system: Windows 7 or Mac version 10.6.8 or updated
  • Ram: 1GB with built-in USB 2.0 port

A Complete Guide to Connect Nintendo Switch with Laptop

For the Elgato capture card following should be proceeded:
  1. Look for the HDMI input port in the Nintendo Switch Dock and link it with one of the ends of the HDMI cable.
  2. Now, connect the abandoned end of the HDMI cable with the input port of HDMI located on the gaming capture card.
  3. Next, attach the other HDMI cable with the output port of the capture card.
  4. The other end of the second HDMI cable will be linked with the built-in HDMI in the port of the laptop or pc.
  5. Finally, the Nintendo Switch will be connected with the Nintendo dock to get started.
  6. After confirming all the connections and ensuring that the device is attached with an Elgato capture card, you need to run the Gaming Capture HD application.
  7. At last, accomplish the other related steps to get a hi-fi first-class gaming experience.
Here, your laptop is ready to be used as a monitor for the switch.

Wrapping Up the Discussion

Using a laptop, a monitor for the switch is not much complicated as you thought. Just certain steps are required. To ensure connectivity without any other external device you need to have a built-in HDMI input port which quite difficult in current laptops. So, try to invest in a good gaming capture for the best experiens

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