As the globe continues to heat up, Nintendo has felt it necessary to issue warning to any Nintendo Switch owners living in areas that can reach higher temperatures. While 90 degrees (Fahrenheit, for whatever reason us Americans still stick to it) might not be foreign to the likes of lunatics living in Death Valley or anywhere in Texas and Florida, there have been some US cities and others abroad that have reached these temperatures for the first time this year. Apparently, the Switch is not intended to run in these temperatures, to the point where the internal hardware may melt if overheated for an extended period of time.
That’s why, in a Tweet on Sunday, Nintendo explained the Switch’s limits, detailing a range of 5 to 35° Celsius (41 to 95° Fahrenheit) that the Switch may remain operational in. Anywhere beyond that 35° limit would result in the console’s hardware shutting down to preserve the unit’s safety. Any Switch owners confused why they’re staring at a blank screen in sweltering heat can definitely attribute this shutdown to the Switch’s own preventive measure, so its probably best to let the unit breathe and avoid any further damage.
Beyond this detailed range, Nintendo also explained precautions to take in the event of clogged intake and exhaust ports, including diagrams for each of the Switch variations (standard, Lite, and organic EL model). If there is something caught in the intake or exhaust ports (dust, etc.), Nintendo recommends removing this with a vacuum in order not to damage anything internal. However, they do warn against disassembling the unit themselves, as they can cause harm to the Switch and themselves. Hopefully, this information can help more Switch owners to preserve their units and prolong the lifespans of a delicate console.