You can easly setup and use single joycons, L+R merged joycons and Switch Pro controllers on Linux. Rumble and motion inputs are also supported.

Let’s go over the instructions:

Steps

1.If your Kernel does not have the hid_nintendo driver, install it as a module from dkms-hid-nintendo

As of this post’s writing, hid-nintendo is in review on the linux-input mailing list. It lets you connect joycons and the Switch Pro Controller via bluetooth and the Pro Controller via USB.

2.Install the joycond daemon/userspace driver

It manages the controllers and exposes their motion inputs. When a controller is connected, the leds will blink waiting for you to press L+R to assign them. You can press SL+SR to use sideways joycons or L+R to merge two joycons as one device. You’ll also need to press L+R to assign a Switch Pro Controller when connected.

And that’s it!

Extra use case: Cemuhook UDP compatible applications

You can use your controllers with compatible Cemuhook UDP applications for the motion input, such as Dolphin-Emu, Citra, Cemu, Yuzu, …

1.Download joycond-cemuhook

2.In a compatible application, enable cemuhook motion input