Nintendo's perceived standing in the video game world waxes and wanes more dramatically than any other company, and it seems like they always follow every crushing defeat with an unprecedented victory. After the Wii U became the worst-selling home console of the 21st century so far, the Nintendo Switch has been a blockbuster success, becoming the fastest-selling console of all-time in both Japan and the United States. The reason for the Switch's popularity is due to a number of important factors: from the quality of its first-party game library to the very nature of the system itself, it's a unique hybrid of a home system and portable gaming tablet that makes it both a console and a handheld all at once. Nintendo has also been working hard to avoid many of its previous mistakes and is also making a run at being cutting-edge once again after having spent the previous two generations being intentionally less powerful than their peers in an effort to be more cost-effective, but also sacrificing their standing among hardcore gamers who desire technologically-intensive gaming platforms.

The Nintendo Switch is a remarkable platform for a number of reasons beyond just being a console and a tablet in one. The console is capable of a lot of neat things that other consoles aren't. From big, highly-publicized features to more niche tricks that people have only discovered upon deep exploration of the system's manuals and menus. Whether you just got a Switch for Christmas or were there from day one, we guarantee that at least a few things on this list will surprise you. Here are 20 Things That Only Experts Know The Nintendo Switch Can Do.

Locate Lost Joy-cons

Versatility is the name of the game with the Nintendo Switch, not just in being able to use it as a console or a handheld, but in the control methods you use. One of the unique things about the Switch's Joy-cons is that they can combine into a more standard dual-analog controller, or break apart into two separate, smaller controllers that are so small, in fact, that they are extremely easy to lose under beds and between couch cushions.

But, there's no need to tear the house apart when you lose a Joy-con. All you have to do is go into the Switch's menu and enable the rumble feature of any of the synced controllers, which allows the player to just follow the buzz and locate the missing Joy-con.

Play Games That Are Exclusive To Other Regions

Region-locking has long plagued video game consoles, making it difficult for people who like to import and play games from other countries. One of the ways that Nintendo is trying to be more gamer-friendly with the Switch is by making it a cinch to play games from other regions; in fact, all you have to do is go to the “region” section in the system settings and change it to your desired region.

Changing the region has a few interesting perks. Obviously, it enables you to play physical games from that region, but it also lets you access that region's specific eShop and play games and demos from that area. The change will also alter the artwork on the Switch menu to reflect what the artwork for each game looks like in their respective regions.

Create Miis

While Miis were the centerpiece of both the Wii and Wii U experience, as well as the 3DS, Nintendo seems to have moved away from that with the Switch. The fact that you can just choose a profile icon that's an existing Nintendo character rather than have to create and use a Mii is indicative of Miis being a thing of that past –but not entirely.

It's easy to miss since it isn't forced on you and requires digging into the menus to find, but you can create a Mii on the Switch and use it for your profile. You can also bring Miis into Switch games that it, from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In the system settings menu, you'll find the place to create a Mii if you so choose.  

Browse Facebook

A lot of people are annoyed that the Switch doesn't have a web browser. Web browsers are usually barely utilized on game consoles and are just there to be there, but since the Switch is also a tablet, it makes it a more attractive prospect to be able to surf the net.

What's even more frustrating about the lack of web access on the Switch is that it's been found to be built into the system, as evidenced by its ability to access Facebook. Well, technically, browsing FB on your Switch can only be done via a loophole by clicking the links on the page where you're asked to to your FB in order to link it to your Switch. Although it is possible, it's being run through a web browser while you do so.

Skip The Profile Select Screen

Old-school gamers the days when you'd put a game in your system, turn it on, and that game's title screen would be displayed in a matter of seconds. Now, there are all kinds of menus to click through when you power up a console before you even get to the point where you've accessed a game at all.

While the Switch is much more streamlined in this regard than the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, there are still a couple of things that need to be navigated in order to start a game. But, one of those things (the profile select screen) can be disabled for those that want one less required button to press before getting into a game. However, you sadly can't enable this option if you have more than one profile on your system.

Use GameCube Controllers

People had mixed feelings about the GameCube's controller, which is expected for every Nintendo console from the N64 and later. The face buttons are in a weird arrangement and are all different sizes, the C-stick is small and flicky, and the d-pad is uncomfortable to use for long periods of time. That said, it's a controller that has stayed in constant use since the GameCube's demise thanks to Smash Bros. fans' love of it.

GameCube controllers worked natively with the Wii, but when it came to the Wii U, a special adapter had to be made in order to use it. However, not everyone realizes that that same adapter can also allow you to use GameCube controllers on the Switch via the USB ports, which many people will be doing for SSB Ultimate.

Use It To Charge Other Devices

One of the more notorious issues with the Switch is that its internal battery doesn't last a super long time for playing in tablet mode: only a few hours by most estimates, depending on what you're playing and how continuously you play. So, the last thing you'd probably want is something that drains the Switch's battery besides just playing games on it.

That said, there are times when your phone's battery is more important than the battery for your game system. Luckily, if your phone charger has a USB connection on the other end (and most do) you can plug your phone into your Switch and charge it. You probably won't get a full charge or anything, but in a pinch, it's definitely a nice option and should help to last you until you get to an outlet.

Troubleshoot And Re-calibrate The Joy-cons

Nintendo is very protective of their products, to the point that the company's typically reluctant to let people go in and tweak things to their own specifications. Nintendo's attitude is that the stuff they make is so great that you shouldn't want or need to do that.

But, in another attempt to get with the times, Nintendo allows Switch s to fine-tune the Joy-con analog sticks and re-calibrate them as needed. It's as simple as going into the system settings, finding the appropriate menu item, and then going through a series of simple tests and calibrations in order to get your Joy-cons not only working, but working exactly how you'd like them to. We'd also like to note that the Joy-cons have their own software updates, so make sure yours are always up to date.

Bring Over Friends From Nintendo Mobile Games

Nintendo waited a long time before it ed the world of online gaming, and even once it did, it did so in a very “Nintendo way.” Among the more annoying aspects of Nintendo online gaming is the dreaded Friend Codes, which have a noble enough purpose behind them: to protect children from creepers, but it's also extremely irritating and make it needlessly difficult to find and add friends.

With the Switch, Nintendo has at least added some new features to find friends that didn't exist on their other platforms, and one of them has the added benefit of even letting you find friends that you made playing one of Nintendo's mobile games. All you have to do is look through your play history, and you'll not only see friends you've made on Switch games, but also Super Mario Run et al.

Play Your Purchased eShop Games On Other Switches

One of the benefits to buying things digitally is that you can carry those things from one device to the next. At least, that's how things should be, but in the world of video games, it doesn't always seem to work out that way. In all fairness, though, it's gotten better in recent years, even for Nintendo s.

Thanks to an update that went live this past September, you can now have a primary Switch and secondary Switches. As such, games purchased on your primary Switch can be played on secondary ones as well. The only catch is that you need to be connected to the internet on the secondary Switch while you're playing those games, and that game will be deactivated on the original Switch while you're playing on the secondary one.