More than four years after its debut, the Nintendo Switch has quietly closed a gap that many of its users had long accepted as simply the way things were. With System Update 13.0.0, released in September 2021, Nintendo enabled Bluetooth audio transmission — allowing wireless headphones, earbuds, and speakers to pair with the console for the first time. The arrival of this feature, long technically latent within the hardware, speaks to how platforms mature not in a single moment of creation but through the slow, deliberate layering of possibility over time.
Nintendo Switch Finally Gets Bluetooth Audio Support in System Update 13.0.0
Wireless audio cannot be used when locally connecting the Switch to another Switch
Mark
Why did it take Nintendo four years to add something as basic as Bluetooth audio?
Mimi
The hardware was always capable—Nintendo had the Bluetooth module in place. But enabling audio over it was a separate decision, probably involving testing and certification. It's not clear why they waited so long.
Luke
Right. We don't actually know the reason. It could have been technical, it could have been strategic. Nintendo hasn't said.
Mark
So if I buy wireless headphones, I can just use them now?
Mimi
Yes, you pair them through System Settings and they work. But there are catches. You might hear a delay, depending on the headset. And you can only have two wireless controllers connected at the same time.
Luke
That's a real limitation. If you're playing a game that needs two controllers and you want wireless audio, you're at your limit.
Mark
What about playing with friends?
Mimi
That's where it breaks down. If you're connecting two Switches together for local multiplayer, Bluetooth audio doesn't work at all. The feature is disabled when local wireless communication is active.
Luke
So the feature is really for solo play or handheld use. That's worth stating plainly.
Mark
Did the update change anything else?
Mimi
A few things. The Switch OLED model, coming in October, can now update its dock firmware if the dock has a LAN port. There's also a new sleep mode setting that keeps wired internet connections alive so downloads can happen in the background.
Luke
But those dock updates only apply to OLED. The standard Switch dock can't be updated. That's an important distinction.
Mark
Is there anything about why the audio delay happens?
Mimi
Nintendo just says it depends on the Bluetooth device. Some headsets will have more latency than others. They didn't specify which ones or how much delay to expect.
Luke
That's a gap. Players buying headsets won't know which ones will work well until they try them.
Der Puls
- After four-plus years of silence on the matter, Nintendo finally activated Bluetooth audio on the Switch — a feature players had requested since the console's 2017 launch.
- The update carries real trade-offs: audio latency is possible, simultaneous wireless controllers are capped at two, and Bluetooth audio is entirely blocked during local wireless multiplayer.
- Nintendo appears to have moved cautiously, prioritizing the integrity of the Switch's core multiplayer experience over the convenience of wireless audio.
- Beyond audio, the update lays groundwork for the upcoming Switch OLED — introducing dock firmware updates exclusive to the new model's built-in LAN port.
- A new sleep mode setting allows wired-connected systems to continue downloading content in the background, and users can now identify their Wi-Fi frequency band directly from System Settings.
More than four years after its debut, the Nintendo Switch has quietly closed a gap that many of its users had long accepted as simply the way things were. With System Update 13.0.0, released in September 2021, Nintendo enabled Bluetooth audio transmission — allowing wireless headphones, earbuds, and speakers to pair with the console for the first time. The arrival of this feature, long technically latent within the hardware, speaks to how platforms mature not in a single moment of creation but through the slow, deliberate layering of possibility over time.
After more than four years on the market, the Nintendo Switch received one of its most requested features: Bluetooth audio support. System Update 13.0.0, released September 14, 2021, finally allowed users to pair wireless headphones, earbuds, and speakers directly to the console — something the hardware had been quietly approaching through earlier firmware updates but never fully enabled until now.
The feature does not arrive without compromise. Nintendo acknowledged that audio delay may occur depending on the connected device. More notably, Bluetooth audio limits simultaneous wireless controller use to two, and it cannot function at all when local wireless communication between Switch consoles is active — a hard stop for anyone hoping to use wireless headphones during same-room multiplayer sessions.
The update also introduced dock firmware update capability, though only for docks equipped with a built-in LAN port — a feature tied exclusively to the Switch OLED model set to launch October 8. A new sleep mode setting enables systems on wired connections to download software and content in the background, active by default but adjustable for those mindful of power use. Smaller refinements included a simplified stick calibration process and the ability to check Wi-Fi frequency band from System Settings.
For solo players and handheld users, the Bluetooth audio addition meaningfully expands the Switch's appeal. Its constraints reveal a company threading carefully between new convenience and the multiplayer-first identity that has defined the console since launch.
After more than four years on the market, the Nintendo Switch finally got what many players had been waiting for: the ability to connect wireless headphones and speakers via Bluetooth. System Update 13.0.0, released on September 14, 2021, introduced audio support for Bluetooth devices, letting users pair headphones, earbuds, and speakers directly to the console for the first time since its 2017 launch.
The feature had been technically possible for some time. Nintendo had already updated the Switch's underlying Bluetooth system module through previous firmware releases, but the company had not yet enabled audio transmission over those connections. This update finally flipped that switch. The addition addresses a long-standing gap in the console's wireless capabilities—players who wanted to use their own audio devices without disturbing others in the room now had an official path to do so.
But the feature comes with real constraints. Nintendo acknowledged that depending on which Bluetooth device a user connects, some audio delay is inevitable. The update also limits players to using only two wireless controllers simultaneously when Bluetooth audio is active, a meaningful restriction for anyone planning to use the feature during multiplayer sessions. More significantly, Bluetooth audio cannot function at all while local wireless communication is running—meaning the feature is unavailable when connecting one Switch to another Switch for local multiplayer gaming. For players hoping to use wireless headphones while playing with friends in the same room, that's a hard stop.
The September 14 update introduced other changes beyond audio. Nintendo added the ability to update the dock's firmware, though only for docks with a built-in LAN port—a feature exclusive to the upcoming Switch OLED model launching October 8. The standard Switch dock, which relies on wireless connectivity, cannot receive these firmware updates. The update also added a new sleep mode setting that allows systems with wired internet connections to stay online while sleeping, enabling downloads of software and add-on content to proceed in the background. This setting is enabled by default, though users can disable it to reduce power consumption.
Smaller refinements rounded out the release. The process for calibrating control sticks was streamlined, requiring users to tilt a stick fully in any direction and hold it for a few seconds rather than the previous method. Players can now check whether their wireless internet connection is using the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band by looking at the connection status in System Settings.
The Bluetooth audio addition, despite its limitations, represents a maturation of the Switch's feature set as the console enters its fifth year. For players who have invested in quality wireless audio gear, the update finally makes the Switch a compatible device. The constraints—latency, controller limits, incompatibility with local wireless play—suggest Nintendo was cautious about the feature's impact on the console's core multiplayer experience. Still, for solo players and those using the Switch in handheld mode, wireless audio support removes a friction point that had existed since day one.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
Depending on the Bluetooth audio device, there may be some audio delay— Nintendo System Update 13.0.0 release notes
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