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Can You Play Nintendo Switch Games on PS5 With a Capture Card?

A capture card cannot turn a PS5 into an HDMI input. Play Switch on a TV, or route its video through a capture card to a computer and optional passthrough display.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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No. A capture card cannot make a PS5 run Nintendo Switch games, and the PS5 cannot accept the Switch dock’s HDMI signal as a video input. The PS5’s HDMI connection is output to a display; a capture card instead sends a console’s video to a computer for recording or streaming. You can play Switch games on a TV, or capture Switch gameplay on a computer, but the Switch—not the PS5—runs the game.

What a capture card can and cannot do

A capture card receives the Switch’s HDMI video and audio signal. Depending on the card and setup, it can send that signal to capture or streaming software on a computer, and some cards can also pass the signal through to a separate TV or monitor. Elgato describes this function as sending console video and audio to a computer for recording or live streaming: What does a capture card do?

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That routing does not transfer a game to another console or turn the PS5 into a display input. Sony’s PS5 connection guidance identifies HDMI as the console’s output to a display: PlayStation 5 support. A capture card therefore cannot make Switch gameplay appear as a game running on the PS5.

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Choose the setup that matches what you want to do

Goal Connection What you need
Play Switch on a television Switch dock HDMI OUT → TV HDMI input A Switch model that supports TV mode, its dock, the HAC-002 AC adapter, and an HDMI cable. See Nintendo’s TV connection instructions.
Record or stream Switch gameplay Switch dock HDMI OUT → capture card HDMI IN → compatible computer A TV-mode-capable Switch, capture card, compatible computer, and compatible recording or streaming software. See Elgato’s setup guide.
Play on a separate screen while capturing Switch dock HDMI OUT → capture card HDMI IN; card HDMI OUT → separate TV or monitor; card → computer A capture card with HDMI passthrough that supports your intended video mode, plus a compatible computer if recording or streaming.

In each setup, the Switch and its controllers are what run the game. The computer captures or streams the video; a passthrough display shows it. A capture card’s computer preview is part of the capture workflow, so if you want to play on a separate screen at the same time, confirm that the specific card supports the passthrough you need. Elgato’s capture-card selector describes model-selection considerations; compatibility and features vary by card and host.

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Connect a TV-mode Switch through a capture card

  1. Set up the dock. Place a Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED model in its dock and connect the dock’s HAC-002 AC adapter. Nintendo’s TV mode guidance covers the required components and setup.
  2. Connect the video path. Connect the dock’s HDMI OUT to the capture card’s HDMI IN.
  3. Connect the capture card to a compatible computer. Open software supported by the card if you want to record or stream. The card sends the Switch’s video and audio to the computer; it does not pass gameplay into the PS5.
  4. Add a separate display if you want one. If the card has HDMI passthrough, connect its HDMI OUT to a TV or monitor and select that display’s HDMI input.
  5. Play with the Switch controllers. The game remains on the Switch. The computer and, if connected, passthrough display receive its video signal.

Switch Lite does not support TV mode, so it cannot use this dock-based HDMI output route. Nintendo’s connection instructions and TV mode guide explain the supported setup.

If you just want a larger screen

Skip the capture card and PS5: connect the dock’s HDMI OUT directly to the television, power the dock with the Nintendo AC adapter, and select the TV’s matching HDMI input. Nintendo’s TV connection steps describe the dock setup. This route requires a Switch model that supports TV mode; it does not work with Switch Lite.

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Troubleshoot a “no signal” problem

  • Check the Switch model. The dock-based video route requires a TV-mode-capable Switch; Switch Lite does not support TV mode.
  • Check power and seating. Make sure the dock is connected to its AC adapter and the console is seated in the dock.
  • Trace the HDMI path. Confirm the dock is connected to the capture card’s HDMI IN, and—if using passthrough—the card’s HDMI OUT goes to the separate display.
  • Check the display input. Select the HDMI input used by the dock or capture card, depending on your setup.
  • Check exact card and host support. Verify the capture card’s supported resolution, refresh rate, passthrough requirements, computer compatibility, and software compatibility in the documentation for that model. A computer preview and HDMI passthrough are different parts of the setup.

For a PS5 capture-card setup, Elgato says HDCP can block a card from receiving PS5 video and advises turning HDCP off: Elgato’s capture-card setup guide. That setting concerns capturing PS5 output; it does not make the PS5 accept Switch video.

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Capture clips without a capture card

Nintendo says built-in gameplay video capture is available on Switch system menu version 4.0.0 or higher and works with most software, though some titles do not support it. This saves supported Switch clips on the Switch; it does not route Switch video to the PS5. Check Nintendo’s gameplay video capture support page for details.

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The PS5 also has its own gameplay video and screenshot capture features, but those capture PS5 gameplay rather than video from an external Switch. See PlayStation’s PS5 capture instructions.

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