Handheld Gaming Console
Handheld gaming consoles are allowed in carry-on and checked bags; larger ones need their own bin at security.
Carry-on
Allowed
Checked
Allowed
Carry-on details
Allowed. TSA classes handheld consoles among personal electronic devices larger than a cell phone, so plan to remove it from your bag and place it in a bin by itself for X-ray screening.
Checked-bag details
Allowed, but carry-on is recommended. The built-in battery is permitted in checked bags, but a handheld console is valuable and fragile enough that most travelers prefer to keep it with them.
Special instructions
Remove the console from your bag for its own bin during carry-on screening if it's larger than a smartphone — the same rule TSA applies to laptops, tablets, and e-readers.
Related rules
FAQ
- Does a Nintendo Switch need to be screened separately?
- Yes. TSA treats handheld gaming consoles like other personal electronics larger than a phone — take it out of your bag and place it in its own bin for X-ray screening.
Related items
Sources: TSA — What Can I Bring?, FAA — PackSafe (Hazardous Materials) · Last verified: 2026-07-30
Final decision rests with the security officer at the checkpoint.