In this guide
Your dock charges but won’t output video because the USB-C port uses separate pins for power and video — the charging pins can work fine while the video signal pins are damaged or misconfigured.
- All USB-C pins have proper continuity
- You’re using the manufacturer’s AC adapter with correct wattage
- The HDMI cable is high quality and undamaged
- The dock itself is not defective
- The video output pins on the USB-C port are bent or damaged
- The HDMI controller chip (P13USB) is faulty
- Hidden pins weren’t soldered correctly after a repair
- Power supply wattage is too low
Why Charging and Video Can Fail Independently
USB-C carries multiple signals through different pin groups. The VBUS and ground pins handle power delivery. A separate set of pins — including the DisplayPort alternate mode lanes — carries video. If only the video pins are damaged or poorly connected, your dock can still charge the console while showing no picture on the TV.
This is why the problem often appears after a drop, a port repair, or general wear. Understanding how USB-C supports video helps clarify why one function can fail without affecting the other.
Common Causes at a Glance
| Setup | Works? | Need | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging only | Yes | VBUS pins intact | Video pins may still be damaged |
| Video output | No | All signal pins intact | Check port and P13USB chip |
| Wrong power adapter | Partial | Correct wattage | Switch 2 needs 54W minimum |
| Faulty HDMI cable | No video | Ultra High Speed cable | Replace cable first |
How to Diagnose the Problem
Start with the simplest checks before assuming a hardware fault.
- Swap the HDMI cable for a known good one — a damaged cable is the easiest fix.
- Try a different dock if you have access to one.
- Confirm you’re using the official AC adapter with the correct wattage.
- Plug the console directly into a PC via USB-C in both directions. If Windows detects it and charging works both ways, your port pins have adequate continuity.
If the port passes the PC test but docking still fails, the fault likely sits with the P13USB chip — the HDMI controller inside the console. This chip handles the video handoff and may need professional replacement. See why USB-C to HDMI stops working for related signal issues.
After a Repair? Check Pin Soldering
If the issue appeared after a USB-C port replacement, hidden pins inside the connector may not have been soldered correctly. Charging pins are easier to seat than the smaller signal pins, so a rushed repair can leave video output broken while power delivery seems fine. A technician should recheck continuity on all pins with a multimeter.
For a broader look at how this connection is supposed to work, Nintendo’s official TV mode troubleshooting guide covers dock and cable checks for Switch consoles.
Bottom line: When your dock charges but won’t output video, the problem is almost always a damaged or poorly connected USB-C video pin, a faulty HDMI controller chip, a bad cable, or the wrong power adapter — start with cables and adapters, then move to port and chip diagnostics if the simple fixes don’t work.