Nintendo Joy-Cons for the EMDR App

The EMDR app with connected Joy-Cons for alternating vibrations.

Nintendo Joy-Cons: our recommended choice for alternating vibrations.

About Nintendo Joy-Cons

Nintendo's Joy-Cons are ideal accessories both for alternating vibrations and for controlling your stimulations, thanks to their ergonomic design, high-quality vibration, and affordable price. They are easily available both new and second-hand, making them a more sustainable choice compared to traditional EMDR hardware. Additionally, since they come in various colors, they cater to your personal preferences.

We recommend Joy-Cons for our EMDR app due to their reliability and ease of use. When purchasing a set, remember to buy a Joy-Con charger separately. Note that Nintendo Switch 2 hardware is not yet supported.

Setting Up Nintendo Joy-Cons

Step 1: Activate Pairing Mode
Locate the Sync button on the rail of each Joy-Con. This small, black, round button is next to the player indicator lights, and is circled in red in the illustration:

Press and hold this Sync button until the lights begin to flash sequentially. This indicates that the Joy-Con is in pairing mode.

Step 2: Connect With Your Joy-Cons
Go to your device's Bluetooth settings. When your Joy-Cons are in pairing mode, they will appear at the bottom of the Bluetooth devices list. Tap on each Joy-Con to connect.

Once you are connected, return to the EMDR app. Enable Vibrations in the control panel, and start a session. The EMDR app will now alternate vibrations between both Joy-Cons.

Step 3: Separating Your Joy-Cons
Depending on your device, you may need to 'separate' the Joy-Cons, so that they can vibrate separately. To separate a connected pair of Joy-Cons, press and hold the Home and Screenshot buttons on the Joy-Cons (marked below) simultaneously, for 4 seconds.

Tip: you can easily reconnect your Joy-Cons later. Press and hold one or two of the face buttons - e.g. A and B, or Down and Right.

Using Joy-Cons on the EMDR Connect Web Page

The EMDR Connect web page with connected Joy-Cons for alternating vibrations.

The EMDR Connect web page supports Nintendo Joy-Cons for alternating vibrations, just like the regular EMDR app. Here's how to set them up.

Set-up

Users of the EMDR Connect webpage can use Joy-Cons to receive alternating vibrations. To do so, enable pairing mode on the Joy-Cons as described above. Then, open the Bluetooth settings on the user's device (pictured: Windows) to pair the Joy-Cons. Once paired, a button to activate the Joy-Cons will appear on the EMDR Connect webpage. When you're the room's host, don’t forget to enable vibrations in your EMDR app.

Compatibility

Joy-Cons work on Windows, Mac, and Linux. A supported browser is required - either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If an unsupported browser is used while connected to Joy-Cons, the EMDR Connect webpage provides guidance for downloading a supported browser.

❮ The EMDR App homepage