Which keyboard works with FFXIV on Switch 2
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In this guide
- Buy a USB keyboard. Nintendo's own support material covers USB keyboards. That is the connection with a paper trail.
- Wireless is fine if it uses a USB dongle. The console sees a dongle as a USB device.
- Skip Bluetooth keyboards. Nintendo's Bluetooth pages only cover audio. Nobody official has said keyboards work.
- Docked is the easy setup. The dock has USB-A ports. Handheld needs the top USB-C port or a small splitter.
Final Fantasy XIV came to Switch 2 with keyboard and mouse support. Then the questions started.
Search for a keyboard recommendation and you land on Reddit threads, Facebook groups, and a lot of "any keyboard should work." Nobody says which kind, or where it plugs in. This guide does.
I have not tested every keyboard here. What I can do is separate what Nintendo documents from what players report, and label which is which.
What Nintendo actually documents
Nintendo's Switch 2 support material covers USB keyboards. The system settings include a language setting for a connected USB keyboard. A separate support article walks through opening the back cover of the dock and plugging a keyboard into its USB port.
That matters. It means USB is the connection Nintendo built for, not a workaround.
Nintendo also adds a caveat worth repeating: keyboard support depends on the software, and not every game accepts one. FFXIV does, which is why this question comes up for FFXIV players and almost nobody else.
Wired, dongle, or Bluetooth?
Three things get sold as "wireless," and they are not the same to a console.
| Connection | Documented by Nintendo | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Wired USB | Yes | The safe choice |
| USB dongle (2.4 GHz) | Not named, but it is a USB device | Players report it working |
| Bluetooth | No. Bluetooth pages cover audio only | Unknown. Do not count on it |
Nintendo's Bluetooth support pages are about headphones, earbuds, and speakers. One of them states plainly that Bluetooth microphones cannot be used. Keyboards are never mentioned.
So a "wireless keyboard" with a little USB receiver is a different product from a Bluetooth keyboard, even when the box says wireless on both. Check which one you are buying.
Where do you plug it in?
The dock has USB ports on the back, behind a cover. That is the simplest setup, and it is the one to use if you want a keyboard and a mouse at the same time.
Handheld is the awkward one. The Switch 2 has a USB-C port on top and another on the bottom. The top port handles USB 2.0 data and charging, so that is where a keyboard goes.
The catch is obvious the first time you try it. If the top port is charging, the keyboard has nowhere to go. A small USB-C splitter solves it, and a few are sold specifically for the Switch 2.
The picks
None of these are gaming keyboards, and that is the point. FFXIV on a console mostly needs a keyboard for chat, macros, and menus.
Logitech K120 (or any plain wired USB keyboard)
around $15Get this if you want the option Nintendo documents, with nothing to pair or charge.
Skip it if you need the keyboard on your lap in handheld mode.
- Connection
- Wired USB-A
- Layout
- Full size
- Batteries
- None
- Best for
- Docked play
No pairing, no batteries, no dongle to lose. It costs less than a month of the subscription and matches exactly what Nintendo's support pages describe.
Check price on AmazonLogitech K400 Plus
around $30Get this if you sit on a couch and want one small slab for typing and pointing.
Skip it if you want a guarantee. The touchpad is reported to work, not documented.
- Connection
- USB dongle (2.4 GHz)
- Layout
- Compact, touchpad
- Batteries
- 2x AA
- Best for
- Couch play
The dongle is what matters here. The console sees a USB device, not a Bluetooth one.
Check price on AmazonKeychron C3 Pro
around $45Get this if you type in party chat every night and want it to feel good.
Skip it if the keyboard is only there for the occasional shout.
- Connection
- Wired USB-C
- Layout
- Tenkeyless
- Switches
- Mechanical
- Best for
- Long sessions
A tenkeyless board leaves more desk room for a mouse, which matters if you play docked.
Check price on AmazonPrices move constantly, so check the listing rather than trusting a number in a guide.
What about the mouse?
Same rule. Nintendo confirmed USB mouse support, and a Koei Tecmo producer demonstrated one running on Switch 2.
If you want both a keyboard and a mouse, use the dock. Two USB ports, two devices, no adapter math.
Who can skip this
Plenty of people finish FFXIV content on a controller. The Switch 2 version supports Joy-Con 2 and the Pro Controller, and the game has spent a decade making console controls work.
Buy a keyboard if you type in party chat, run a lot of macros, or find menus slow with a stick. Otherwise this is a purchase you can skip.
Sources
- Nintendo Support: Nintendo Switch 2 System Settings Overview
- Nintendo Support: How to Pair and Manage Bluetooth Audio Devices on Nintendo Switch 2
- BGR: Yes, you can plug a keyboard into your Nintendo Switch 2
- Nintendo Life: FFXIV director confirms mouse and keyboard support for Switch 2
- TechRadar: You can use a USB mouse on Nintendo Switch 2