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Update an official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller from the console itself: install any pending console update, pair and power on the controller, then open System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers. No computer program or cable is required for the firmware operation. If the update fails, Nintendo’s supported recovery path is to update or restart the console, reset and wake the controller with its SYNC button, retry the menu operation, and seek service if the failure continues.
What the Pro Controller update requires
Nintendo’s procedure is for the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and runs through the Nintendo Switch console. The same firmware-update menu applies to Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED consoles. This is a console-settings operation rather than a computer-based maintenance task.
- The console must have its latest available system update.
- The Pro Controller must be paired with that console.
- The controller must be powered on and awake.
- You need access to the console’s HOME menu and System Settings.
A USB cable is not part of the firmware-update requirement. Nintendo’s instructions do not call for a computer application, a downloadable updater, or a wired connection for this operation. A cable can still be useful for charging or for troubleshooting a connection, as described later. Do not buy a cable or install an updater simply because the controller firmware is out of date.
Pairing details can vary by console model. The instructions here cover the official Switch Pro Controller and the Nintendo Switch menu path; use Nintendo’s model-specific pairing guidance if you are working with another Switch-family system, including Switch 2.
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How to update the Pro Controller firmware
- Update the console first. From HOME, open System Settings > System > System Update. Follow the on-screen instructions if an update is offered. If the console is already current, continue to the next step. Completing this check first prevents a controller update attempt from being made against outdated console software.
- Pair and power on the controller. Confirm that the Pro Controller is connected to the console and awake. The controller has to be recognized before it can appear in the controller-update process. If it is asleep, press a normal button to wake it after the connection is established.
- Open the controller update screen. From HOME, select System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers. This is the official location for the controller firmware operation.
- Start the update. Follow the prompts shown by the console. Leave the controller powered on while the operation runs and do not deliberately interrupt a process that is still progressing.
- Repeat for additional controllers. When more than one controller is paired, the console processes them one at a time. Allow the current operation to finish before starting the next one. If one controller stops early, retry that controller through the same command rather than assuming every paired controller has the same problem.
If an update stops before completion, return to the same Update Controllers command and try the operation again. Nintendo’s guidance specifically recommends retrying rather than using an unofficial updater or attempting to open the controller. The supported route remains inside the console settings.
What to do when the update stops or reports an error
An interrupted update does not automatically mean that the controller needs to be replaced. Use Nintendo’s recovery sequence in order. Each step removes a different possible cause: an out-of-date console, a temporary console state, a controller that has gone to sleep, or a stalled pairing state. Retry the menu operation after each relevant step instead of changing several things at once.
1. Confirm the console system update
Return to System Settings > System > System Update and check the console again. The controller-update function depends on the console software being current, so complete any offered system update before trying the controller firmware operation again. After the console update finishes, return to HOME and confirm that the controller is paired and powered on.
2. Restart the console normally
If the console reports that it is already current, restart it instead of repeatedly launching the failed update. Hold the console’s POWER button for three seconds, choose Power Options, and select Restart. After the HOME screen returns, make sure the controller is powered on and repeat System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers.
3. Force a shutdown only when the console does not respond
If the console will not respond to the normal menus, hold POWER for twelve seconds to force it to shut down. Turn it on again, wait for the HOME screen, and then retry the controller update. This is a recovery action for an unresponsive console, not a routine way to interrupt an update that is progressing. If the console responds normally, use the three-second restart procedure instead.
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4. Reset and wake the controller
Press the Pro Controller’s SYNC button once. Then press another button, such as A, to wake it. This resets the controller’s connection state and makes it available for another pairing or update attempt. A single press of SYNC followed by a button press is the documented sequence; do not treat repeatedly holding the button as a different firmware method.
5. Retry the update menu
With the controller awake and paired, open System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers again. If more than one controller is connected, identify the affected controller and allow the console to handle each controller separately. An update that stops early should be retried from this menu after the console restart and controller wake sequence.
6. Escalate a persistent failure
If the console is current, has been restarted, and still cannot update the affected controller after the SYNC reset and retry, Nintendo says the console and controller may need service. Service availability, procedures, and warranty terms depend on location, so use the Nintendo support route for your region. A persistent failure is the point to seek inspection, not to install unofficial firmware, open the controller, or keep forcing interruptions.
Diagnose the failure by symptom
| What you see | Next official action | When to escalate |
|---|---|---|
| The update stops before it finishes | Retry Update Controllers after confirming the console is current. If the console is current, restart it, reset the controller with SYNC, wake it, and try again. | Escalate if the failure remains after the restart and SYNC-reset sequence. |
| The console is not responding | Hold POWER for twelve seconds to force shutdown, turn it on, and retry. | Seek service if the console or controller still cannot complete the operation. |
| The controller is not detected | Press SYNC once, press another button to wake it, and pair it again. Confirm that the controller is an official model. | Check the controller model and contact the maker if it is not an official Nintendo model. |
| The controller is paired but appears asleep | Press a normal button, such as A, after the SYNC action, then reopen the update screen. | Escalate if it will not remain recognized after the documented reset and retry. |
| Buttons remain incorrect after updating | Update the console and controller, reset with SYNC, wake the controller, and run the button test. | Request inspection or service if the test fails or play is significantly affected. |
If the Pro Controller will not pair
Pairing is a prerequisite for firmware updating, so solve detection first. Nintendo’s pairing guidance starts with the same two console checks: install the latest console system update, or restart the console if it is already current. Once the console recognizes the controller, return to the firmware menu; a USB connection is not a substitute for a controller that the console does not recognize.
Verify that it is the official model
Look at the model marking on the controller. Official Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers are identified as HAC-013, including color editions and special editions. If the controller has a different model number, Nintendo says that using an HAC-013 controller may resolve a pairing problem. Do not assume that instructions for an official Pro Controller apply to a third-party model simply because its shape or buttons look similar.
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Use the SYNC button to re-establish the connection
Press the controller’s SYNC button once, then press a normal button such as A. The second button press wakes the controller after the SYNC action. Once the console recognizes it, return to the controller-update screen. If the controller disappears again, repeat the documented console update or restart check before escalating.
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Nintendo’s pairing guidance includes a USB charging cable for charging or wired-connection troubleshooting. If a connection problem persists, try a different USB port or cable. This is optional troubleshooting for pairing or charging; it is not equipment required by the firmware-update menu. A cable may help establish or maintain a connection, but the supported firmware command is still launched from the console’s Update Controllers setting.
Nintendo identifies the cable used with the Pro Controller as model HAC-010. The model number is useful when checking compatibility, but buying a cable does not replace the console-based update procedure and is not a guaranteed remedy for a failed firmware operation.
Third-party controllers need manufacturer support
A controller made by another company may use different firmware and pairing controls. Nintendo advises owners of third-party controllers to contact that controller’s manufacturer. The HAC-013 identification and the Nintendo update menu apply to the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, not to every controller that resembles it. Do not apply the HAC-013 recovery assumptions to a different model or expect Nintendo’s menu to install its firmware.
Test buttons after the firmware update
An update can finish successfully while a button problem remains. Check the physical input through the console’s built-in test rather than relying only on a game. This separates a system-level input failure from a problem that appears only in one game.
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- Confirm that the console and controller have their latest available updates.
- Press the controller’s SYNC button once.
- Press another button, such as A, to wake the controller.
- From HOME, open System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Test Input Devices > Test Controller Buttons.
- Press each button and compare the on-screen response with the button you pressed.
If the test does not register a button correctly, or if the problem substantially interferes with play, Nintendo says the controller can be inspected and serviced. A successful firmware update does not by itself establish that the physical controls are working correctly; the input test separates a connection or software symptom from a control that still fails at the system level. Record which button fails and whether it fails consistently before contacting support.
Which update method should you use?
For an official Pro Controller, there is one supported firmware-update route: the console’s Update Controllers setting. The practical choices concern the condition of the connection, not competing updater applications. Choosing a different cable or port can assist pairing or charging, but it does not create a second firmware-installation method.
| Situation | Use this approach | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Official HAC-013 is paired and powered on | Run System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers. | No computer app or cable is required. |
| Official controller is not detected | Update or restart the console, press SYNC, wake with another button, and pair again. | Pairing must be restored before the update can run. |
| Charging or wired-pairing trouble | Try a compatible USB charging cable, another USB port, or another cable. | The cable is troubleshooting equipment, not a firmware-update requirement. |
| Different or third-party controller model | Verify the model and follow the controller maker’s support instructions. | Nintendo’s HAC-013 procedure does not establish support for another model. |
| Repeated failure after recovery steps | Use Nintendo service support for the console and affected controller. | Regional service routes and warranty terms can vary. |
What the official instructions do not establish
Nintendo’s procedure and troubleshooting guidance do not identify a current controller firmware version, a release date, a version-specific changelog, a promised update duration, or a list of new features. Do not infer a particular fix or feature from the presence of an update option. The reliable information is the menu path, the pairing and power prerequisites, the recovery sequence, and the service recommendation for failures that persist.
Because no update duration is specified, avoid treating a particular amount of waiting time as an official cutoff. If the operation has genuinely stopped, follow the documented retry sequence: verify the console update, restart when appropriate, press SYNC and wake the controller, then retry. If that sequence does not resolve the problem, service is the supported escalation.
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- Check the console update before troubleshooting the controller. This removes a system-software mismatch before you spend time resetting the controller.
- Wake the controller before opening the update command. A paired controller that is asleep may not be available for the operation.
- When several controllers are paired, let the console process them one at a time and retry an individual update that stops early.
- Use the SYNC-button reset and wake sequence before trying a second update attempt after a detection failure.
- If you use a USB cable for connection troubleshooting, try another port or cable when the first combination does not work.
- Verify the model number before applying Nintendo’s Pro Controller instructions. HAC-013 identifies the official controller covered here.
- Do not substitute unofficial firmware tools or open the controller as a first-line recovery method. Nintendo’s supported path is console update or restart, SYNC reset and wake, retry, and service escalation.
When replacement makes sense
Buying a replacement is not part of a normal firmware update. A replacement becomes relevant only as a conditional pairing remedy when the existing device is a different model and Nintendo’s guidance indicates that an official HAC-013 controller may resolve the issue. For an official HAC-013 that still fails after the documented recovery sequence, service is the appropriate next step rather than purchasing a cable or another updater.
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A HAC-010 charging cable can be relevant when charging or wired pairing is the specific problem, but it is not a required firmware-update purchase. Treat both the controller and cable model numbers as compatibility checks, not promises that a purchase will fix a persistent hardware fault.
Quick decision checklist
- Is the console current under System Settings > System > System Update?
- Is the controller an official HAC-013 and is it powered on?
- Does the console recognize it as paired?
- Have you opened System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers?
- If the attempt stopped, did you retry after restarting the console?
- Did you press SYNC once and then another button to wake the controller?
- If a cable was needed for pairing or charging, did you try another compatible USB port or cable?
- If buttons are still wrong, did you run Test Input Devices > Test Controller Buttons?
- Has the problem survived all of those steps? If so, arrange Nintendo service for the console and affected controller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a computer or USB cable to update a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller?
No. The supported firmware operation runs from the console at System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers. A USB cable is optional troubleshooting equipment for charging or wired pairing, not a firmware-update requirement.
What should I do if the controller update stops?
Confirm that the console is current, restart it if necessary, press the controller’s SYNC button once, press another button to wake it, and retry Update Controllers. If the failure persists after that sequence, Nintendo says the console and affected controller may need service.
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How can I tell whether my controller is the official model?
Check the model marking. Official Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers are identified as HAC-013, including color and special editions. A different model number may indicate another controller that needs its manufacturer’s support.
Can I update several paired controllers at once?
Nintendo’s process handles multiple paired controllers one at a time. Let each operation finish, then retry an individual controller if its update stops before completion.
What if buttons still do not work after the update?
Reset the controller with SYNC, wake it with another button, then open System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Test Input Devices > Test Controller Buttons. If the test fails or play is significantly affected, request Nintendo inspection or service.
Should I buy a new controller or cable when updating fails?
Not as a first step. A replacement HAC-013 controller may help when the existing device is a different model and pairing remains impossible. A HAC-010 cable can help with charging or wired-pairing troubleshooting, but neither purchase replaces the official recovery sequence or service escalation.
The Bottom Line
Keep the console current, pair and wake the official HAC-013 controller, and use System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers. If it stops, restart the console, press SYNC once, wake the controller, and retry. Persistent failures or failed button tests should go to Nintendo service; unofficial tools, opening the controller, and unnecessary purchases are not supported fixes.
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