How to turn on Nintendo Switch 2 battery preservation mode

If you've got a Nintendo Switch 2 then the battery preservation mode should be a new priority for you! Let's be clear though - this isn't the same thing as a way to conserve battery power, like when your phone is below 20% and starts turning off features to last that little bit longer.

In fact, the Battery Preservation Mode that comes with the Nintendo Switch 2 is actually about preserving the long-term life of the built-in lithium battery. Many handheld devices have batteries that degrade over time - meaning that their maximum capacity shrinks - and the Battery Preservation Mode tweaks certain features of the console to slow that degradation.

This feature does exactly what it sounds like - stop the console charging when the battery is mostly full. While it means slightly less playtime per charge, it also means that the console itself will have a much longer shelf life, or at least buy you time before it needs maintenance.

So yes - all you need to do is toggle that on, and you'll be good to get back into your Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough, Mario Kart Grand Prix, or whatever game it is you're glued to.

For such a solid quality of life feature, I'm a little surprised to see that this setting isn't on by default, but then again, some people are already very wise when it comes to charging etiquette.

For more on Nintendo Switch 2, check out the best Nintendo Switch controllers, a full list of upcoming Switch 2 games, and an explainer about Switch 2 backwards compatibility.