GoKawiilTSA guidance clarifies rules for traveling with gaming consoles and handhelds
TSA regulations require that devices with lithium-ion batteries, including handhelds like the Switch 2 or Steam Deck and most game controllers, be packed in carry-on luggage rather than checked bags due to fire risk from thermal runaway. Home consoles such as the PlayStation 5 are permitted in checked luggage, though TSA data shows about 63.5 percent of consumer claims filed between 2002 and 2025 involved lost property. Whether devices must be removed from bags at security checkpoints varies by airport, depending on whether CT or older X-ray scanners are in use.