Switch off Wii U GamPad - Sync Button Mode
The easiest way without pulling the battery out of Pad or walk away with it is done this way:
1) Press Sync Button on Wii U twice. (GamePad shows message that it is already synced)
2) Press On Off Button on GamePad. Only GamePad switches off. Wii U keeps running.
3) Now you can switch on your Wii Mote and press B to go back to main screen.
-> Now you are running your Wii U without the fancy Gamepad until the next reboot.
PS: The GamPad is completely switched off. It does not drain battery like the "Turn screen off" button in the GamePad menu, that only makes the screen black but the pad keeps running.
1) Press Sync Button on Wii U twice. (GamePad shows message that it is already synced)
2) Press On Off Button on GamePad. Only GamePad switches off. Wii U keeps running.
3) Now you can switch on your Wii Mote and press B to go back to main screen.
-> Now you are running your Wii U without the fancy Gamepad until the next reboot.
PS: The GamPad is completely switched off. It does not drain battery like the "Turn screen off" button in the GamePad menu, that only makes the screen black but the pad keeps running.