Technically, the original Joy-Con are compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2, just not in handheld mode. That’s because they require brackets on the side of the console to slide onto, which the Switch 2 doesn’t have since its new Joy-Con are magnetic.
But one savvy Switch 2 player, u/nille11110, came up with a way to make it work, a god-send for anyone with “tiny baby hands” who finds the new Joy-Con ungainly to hold onto for long periods. With a mix of 3D printing and deconstructing old straps, they created an adapter bracket which magnetically snaps to the Switch 2, allowing you to slide the original Joy-Con onto the sides.
They still connect wirelessly, but this finally makes them usable in handheld.
Since the Switch 2 is bigger than its predecessor, the controllers don’t entirely fit, making it look a bit strange (and the shoulder buttons a little less ergonomic), but it allows you to use the smaller Joy-Con with ease. It’s also handy if your new Joy-Con ever break, or get drift, and you don’t want to fork out $94.99 for a replacement pair.
You Can’t Buy The Joy-Con Adapter, But You Can Make Your Own
If you want to try these adapters for yourself, you’ll need a 3D printer and some spare parts—u/nille11110 isn’t selling them. But they did share the schematic on Maker World, so others can follow their design and DIY a Joy-Con bracket at home.
To do so, you need some original Joy-Con straps, a small philips screwdriver, six small screws (which can be taken from the straps, but you’ll need to cut two in half), a metal sheet and the tools to cut it, glue that sticks well to plastic and metal, and of course a 3D printer. You can read how to use all of these materials to assemble the bracket in the Maker World link embedded above.
I made this project cause I have tiny baby hands, and my hands actually hurt after like 30 minutes of gameplay with the Joy-Con 2s.
It’s a little hodgepodge right now, but u/nile11110 stated in a follow-up comment that they are “working on a more polished version” and plan “to eventually let it actually connect to the console using custom PCBs”. In its current state, the tolerances aren’t perfect, and as they note, change depending on the PLA filament. Regardless, it’s the best workaround we have right now, and an impressive display of creativity from the community.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating System
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Proprietary
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR Support
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Yes