Someone Thinks They've Resolved Nintendo's Joy-Con Drift Problem With An Incredibly Simple Fix

I'll give it a try, I'm tired of buying replacement joysticks. We have 3 switches and my wife and I have 5 kids and all 7 of us play so we've worn through A LOT of joy con joy sticks

I prefer my solution. I only spray some contact cleaner like WD in the stick (without opening, only pulling up the protection on it) wait some minutes and that's it. No drift, at least for months. When (if) it back, do it again.

I got my joycons for over 3 years now and when they started to drift, I un-sync them from the bluetooth, press on the stick a few times and re-sync them and they work again for another year or so. No need to open necessary.

Seems simple enough, will try. Already done all the regular fixes, calibration, reconnection, cotton swab, WD cleaner, compressed air, only thing that helped me was to replace the sticks, but hopefully this will work.

@RCGamer I use that + Silica gel.

YES, We have a WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, wait where did all the drifters go why aren't you responding here????????? And if it's past warranty no problem here to do that.

They still fix them for free. It's annoying because you lose your controllers for two weeks, but it is free. I have sent over 20 controllers to be fixed for joy con drift. I run a video game club at school and run into drift problems all the time. It sucks that Nintendo refuses to fix the issue.

Speaking as an engineer, I’d seriously be embarrassed if the solution was as simple as this, and they haven’t figured it out by now. The alternative is that they knew what the issue/solution was and did nothing. Seriously…

Certainly couldn't hurt to try. I've been very fortunate to only have one of my Joycon drift, so I'll be giving it a shot on that one.

Ok fine I will try it.

My solution is to buy a new joycon set, swap them, then return the drifting set. idgaf.

If anyone tries this and it works, I want to hear about it.

I’m slightly skeptical, and I’ve already replaced my faulty sticks.

@Bogsnart The issue can't be fix cause the controllers had too many techs in them. Joycon drift doesn't just happen because of design, sometimes it occur because of wireless interference or unstable connection. Older controllers tend to not had these issues cause they don't have many features to juggles compare to newer controllers where multi-tasking tend to occur. While older controllers just needs to work, newer controllers had to keep the rumble running, make sure the bluetooth stay connected, kept the sticks stable, the directional accurate, the lights working while consuming the limited battery in between, if any one of these failed the controller may likely go haywire thus you get issue like control drift, camera stutter, slow mode which is just the game constant pausing/unpausing, etc.

I think I'll wait until after the warranty expires on mine before I try that. They haven't been giving me any trouble lately anyway.

Costs about five bucks to replace the stick. Ever since I learned that drift has not been a problem

I prefer my solution; not playing my Switch. That way, drift is impossible!

NINJA APPROVES UNCONVENTIONAL REPAIRS

Oh Christ... Please don't tell me that Nintendo has been working with their best engineers for 4 years trying to fix the drift with no positive results (yet), and a random guy on the net just fixed it with a PIECE OF PAPER.
This is just insane 😂

@BloodNinja I prefer my way. Just buy new ones. Problem solved.

"Just open the case" - here lies the trap of this and some other solutions. Not only will you require special small trident screwdriwer to do that (and please note the "small", as first screwdriver I ordered was a little too big), but also, as you start from the bottom, to reach the the stick you will need to disassemble joy-con almost completely and it includes some very fragile parts, such as flat cables or R button, that is on string and during my first disassembly jumped out of it slot with all of the small insides scattered across the table. If you are not trained well enough in precise repairs, I recommend you to stick to WD40 as long as possible.

Here's my solution.

Buy a Pro Controller.

Problem solved.

I just yell and hit my joycons and just tell people they fell down the stairs and they seem fine for a couple months until they act up again

PLEASE stop telling people they will void their warranty by doing things they are absolutely allowed to do.

Opening your controller does not void your warranty, and you are not required to disclose to nintendo that you have done this if you make a warranty claim.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson%E2%80%93Moss_Warranty_Act

https://www.vice.com/en/article/gv5ddm/warranty-void-if-removed-stickers-are-illegal

All this said though, this is brilliant and a lot of us DIYers should have tried it earlier. Paper will wear down eventually, but it'll take a while. Something like foil might work even better, but would be a lot more dangerous if you messed up installation/cutting to size.

Switch to a new pair of joycons if it drifts, that's the proper way that Nintendo intended.

If it is from pushing in the sticks this may explain why mine lasted 4 years before drifting. I never usually push in my sticks because everything feels so cheap and fragile. My solution to drift was isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud. There are also a bunch of repair shops near me but I have not needed to use them...yet.

Worth a shot, it's not like it could make it worse, right?

@AstroTheGamosian My pro controller drifts and my joycons don’t, so I don’t know…

Nintendo should bring back the D-Pad instead of these glitchy sticks. Problem solved.

reads article title
oh BOY!
reads article, only to find that the solution requires doing tiny surgery
SON OF A--

@RCGamer spraying WD is bad for your joycon, use only contact cleaner or isopropyl alcohol

@badmotorfinger74 the truth will be revelaed now that everyone is testing this fix, I'll be thrilled if this is the real deal

@RCGamer Yupper. My launch day joy cons eventually drifted and some simple electronic contact cleaner fixes em right up. I've also recommended this to three other friends over the past four years and guess what? Worked for every single person. Cheap simple solution!

@Victorstk There is a WD electronic contact cleaner.

@Eduardotaz
lol you're a genius

Sure beats my fix of cursing at Nintendo and playing a different console.

I just got a Wii U that has a little bit of this. Much more annoyingly, the right stick constantly thinks it’s being pressed in, so screen smoothing during VC games turns on and off every few seconds which I might not even notice if not for the intrusive onscreen message. It’s killing me.

My switch joy cons started drifting early on, despite not using it much. It probably is just a dust issue in my case. Nevertheless, procon all the way.

This will work for a time; the issue is that the sliders inside overtime tear up and wear down the resistive pads. I just pulled apart two joy con joysticks today and could clearly see the scraping damage. Applying more pressure will fix it for awhile until it gets damaged further and ultimately needs replacement again. It’s a design flaw of resistive based joysticks…

Wish I hadn't just sent mine back 2 days ago so I could try this.

@RCGamer
I did that and it worked for awhile then stopped

But would the Piece of paper proactively stop the drift from occurring in the future? These are things I want to know. Otherwise I'll just send mine in for a free repair by nintendo.

@stiligFox
scraping the pads isn't the problem, all other consoles uses the same pads and they get scrapped just as much

the problem is the metal plate that gets loose making the contact point worse

@NintendoByNature yes as the paper holds the metal plate more firmly it won't allow it to become loose over time

Contact cleaner doesnt solve the problem. It's the same "fix" as blowing into NES cartridges was. The moisture from the conductive lubricant in the contract cleaner fills in the gap, allowing more likely contact for a brief period until it dries up. It's not a corrosion issue on the contacts that's getting removed by using the contract cleaners.

This sonds like a potentially useful workaround, bit unlikely to be as truly reliable as stick replacement.

@Victorstk interesting. I will ponder this.

I had my doubts that this would solve the dust/debris collection issue, but the video even theorizes that the proper pressure allows the moving parts to push dust away from the contacts on their own, as they do in a brand new joystick.

The fix being this simple is incredibly frustrating, and I haven't even been a drift truther up to this point. This is a company that was previously known for top-notch QA, and most of us have perfectly functioning 3DS, Gamecube, and N64 sticks to show for it. I'd love for there to be a tell-all some day about what the hell went wrong with this generation.

Hire this man only if he applies. Only if he applies. Otherwise, steal his idea and give him no credit. I am being completely serious. Also, don't ever acknowledge that he had done so. Completely serious.

I tried taking apart a joycon once and inside there's these really tiny ribbon cables that are extremely difficult to plug back into place if they get yanked out by mistake. The wire is so damn short you can't get a good enough grip on them with your fingers. serious design flaw right there!

I fought with it over an hour just trying to get the thing properly back together, so eventually i got it and said never again! I'll use the good old contact cleaner spray method before i ever open another joycon. It's just not worth the hassle.

Great! I just need a fix for my PSP's analogue drift.

@Ghost_of_Hasashi
I want to try this next time I have issues, as it's the only non-invasive mend I've read. How do you un-sync? Unless I'm just misunderstanding something really simple.

@Deady I’ve been playing Wii U VC games for 8 years and had no idea it even had a screen smoothing option... thank you for genuinely blowing my mind

@swoose Agreed that Nintendo has a history of quality with their controllers, however, N64 controllers frequently developed loose analog sticks (though it would take some time).

I did a similar trick with my pro controller underneath the D-Pad pivot point — to prevent it from registering a direction I didn’t press. Maybe Nintendo has fixed that issue, but it was a problem with the early pro controllers.

@Eduardotaz i actually did that for the third set still feel kinda guilty

I think Homer Simpson has a better solution for this Joy-Con drift. Just slap a bumper sticker on it and call it a day!

Two things -

1. It took nintendo just about a week to replace 4 of my joy cons.
2. could you do this fix with a rubberband..?

I just did this with my left joycon and so far IT WORKS!! We'll see how long it lasts over time but so far so good.

That someone must be delusional.

Good to know there's potentially a more permanent fix out there for people. I've personally got rid of my 4 sets of joycon. I would advise against a DIY solution unless you're experienced with electronics. I attempted to swap the joysticks on mine, and the tiny screws got damaged and stuck.

Hell he is absolutly right, my Drift started when i pressed R3 many Times to switch the Menues in Neverwinter Nights.

I disliked L3/R3 since it first appeared back then, i knew it will break my Controllers haha

@SwitchForce you posted 10 minutes after the article posted, at 3:30am UK time. People just want their £60 controllers to work for more than a year. If there's an easy fix that's great news, hopefully nintendo takes note and amends the design going forward.

@RCGamer same for me. I had drift in two left Joy cons and a pro and every single one never got the problem back after (some of them more than two years ago)

got some drifting joycons and might just try this out

Just about to do my mother in law's and my right stick. Got 6 replacement sticks for £10. Have some thermal pads I may try this out on my one to see if it works (have Zelda joy cons due this week.)

@zool then try it out and report back =D

@SwitchForce The onus is not on the customer to repair consumer products that are purposefully designed to fail. Yes, of course the government consumer protection bodies will all just abandon their cases that the unreliabilty of Joycon violated consumer protection laws. Yes, there will be winners, I predict it won't be Nintendo.
Also, you might want to stop using the term "Drifters" before people start using the term "Defendos" and applying it to you.

been using my original joycons for 4 years since the release and have never experienced the drift ...I must be lucky then

We have drift on about 6 joycon. I might as well try this.

I am amazed I’ve had a switch since the first month I haven’t had drift… I’ve had them disconnect when they are attached to the system, but not drift

Just finished doing this to all 3 of my left drifting joycons and none of them are drifting anymore. Hopefully it stays that way.

Yeah, no, I'm not opening joycons just to take a chance with cardboard. I had a much more tech savvy friend replace the sticks for me, leading us both to witness how intricately packed the components are and how fragile the screws can be. Occasional contact cleaner maintenance remains the easiest solution by far... and incidentally seems to suggest that the "fix" above may address rather specific situations itself, not some universal oversight Nintendo couldn't figure out in almost five years. Unless the aforesaid contact cleaner fluid - the kind intentionally used for its reliably fast evaporation, no less - is similarly supposed to "restore pressure" between physical parts for weeks/months at a time.😅

I guess I'm gonna send this article to my repair guy when they'll eventually break down, I have too much anxiety to try and open them up myself

I feel like anything that involves opening the case is not as 'incredibly simple' as you suggest...

It’s amazing if this works for some people. I tried something similar by repositioning the nfc chip inside but drift comes back.
Best solution is to change the sticks. They are really cheap and mm on Amazon and eBay

All Gamepads can drift since 360/Wii/PS3 gen started.

3 of my official PS3 pads drifts.. 1 360 pad drifts here too.

Replaced both Switch cons, so none drifts atm.

@Ghost_of_Hasashi Nice. Perhaps it were a software calibration issue all a long?

Even my regular controller has drift now. Super annoying.

I had that issue and replace a pair of joycons and I was so adamant to use them that I did buy a second pro controller, then one day I find at a gameshop a pair of generic joycons at like 15 USD I buyed those and they are still functioning today even with the abuse 2 small kids who plays smash bros relentlessly. Not joycon drift since but now I have pro controller drift and it drives me crazy since my pro controller is the way I prefer to play my switch ☹️

@leo13 Hey, i would like remember that Nintendo replaces joy-con with drift. No costs.

I'll try it once I actually have something I want to play on Switch - so September or October.

Way better an alternative compared to giving Nintendo even more money for faulty products.

That’s cool and all but we shouldn’t need to do this.

@Eduardotaz Don't do that, that is stealing. What you should do is: contact Nintendo, send your Joy-Con in for replacement and wait 1-2 weeks for them to return.

If you can't wait 1-2 weeks buy an additional set of Joy-Con. And then send the original ones in for repair.

This isn't a new discovery it's something people have been doing for ages. Though most used a piece of tape or two rather than paper.

It's also not necessarily permanent and only relevant for one of the reasons why these can go wrong.

Incredibly irresponsible journalism.

You just voided everyone who took your advice’s warranty.

Bye bye free Nintendo repairs when drift inevitably returns.

@AstroTheGamosian
Amazing idea...unless you play it on the go a lot. I do.

...I have a better solution....don't use joycons. lol

I’ve tried this just a few years back. I watch the same video. It worked like three or four times and then Stopped working. It worked but it got annoying after a while.

@RCGamer You don't have drift, you have dust. Different issue.

@PoundShopOrwell You've confused irresponsible with informative. Anyone who is capable of following these instructions is also capable of understanding their warranty. They're certainly capable of reading this page, which includes a warning about voiding your warranty.

@Benjinat Well, except reversing the symptoms for some as-yet unknown length of time is very different from fixing the root cause.

Can confirm; does work. After watching this I did four of mine this morning. One of which was REALLY bad... but now they're all working like new, and the fix literally took minutes.

Admittedly mine are all outside of warranty, but if you want to get involved the fix certainly gets Ahab's vote.

I sent a day one JoyCon in to Nintendo last week, well out of warranty, Nintendo (UK) repaired it free or charge as "in warranty", was back with me within a week.

My Day One Joycons still haven't yet suffered from Drift.
The Neon Yellow Joycons I bought whenever they released, have a really obscure quirk, in that they occasionally glitch-out, and cause the Switch to turn off with it's "Low Battery" notification popping up.

I haven't had this happen to me yet. I probably shouldn't have said that...

@AstroTheGamosian Even the pro controller has some drift problems from what I heard, or maybe I think of Dual Shock 5.

I just did this on my joycon and it works (for now)

The solution provided isn't clearly to that of drift as presented but instead a solution to deformation or damage of the base plate which typically occurs during disassembly/reassembly. The base plate does not get loose during normal use and is in fact effectively pressed flush against a portion of plastic shell upon reassembly of the entire Joy-con. When taking the stick apart, however, the three clamps that hold the plate to the analog module are permanently weakened due to the thinness of each one. You won't get the same clamping upon reassembly and future disassembles will eventually result in the two smaller ones breaking due to repeated bending and brittlity. Despite this, as long as the actual base isn't deformed, the larger clamp and one of the smaller ones are still present, and the side clips aren't warped, you're unlikely to suffer any consequences or adverse effects after reassembly, both by way of the Joy-con casing reinforcement and the flush enclosure of the module itself.

If the base plate were indeed loose as implied by the video in such a way that'd affect function, you would not get inputs when moving the analog stick or would find very constrained response along a given axis, as the forks that contact the conductive pads to read input are linear in motion upon two small tracks. If applying pressure results in the drift disappearing as seen here after you've been taking the module apart, it's likely you've bent the plate in removal or broke off the clamps, which is something that I have done on one occasion with the application of pressure returning a semblance of normal function.

Additionally, the methods employed to determine the root cause and the alleged solution's validity are non-rigorous, and two months of maintained function do not indicate that anything has been notably resolved beside the potential damage to the base plate being functionally negated for a time. A proper internal cleaning of the module provides many months of standard function if done properly due to debris not just being displaced from the forks and pads, but removed from the enclosure altogether.

Be wary.

Update: The dude did a disassembly of his Joy-con. All three clamps were broken off. His case/example in particular is not one of loosening over time as he attempts to explain, but in fact a result of user damage.

My Pro Controller recently started drifting and it got to the point where games were nearly unplayable. Luckily I have other controllers but it still sucks.

@RCGamer in my experience, there’s no such thing as ‘if’ with this fix. It’s always come back, and after a few rounds on contact cleaner the fix simply stopped working. If the paper method is a permanent fix, then it’s way better.

I wounder if this will work with the pro controller?

Seriously, if that's the problem and the solution, and Nintendo didn't find and resolve this itself, then SHAME on Nintendo.

@Victorstk I don't have drift.
I was responding to the toplc headline, 'someone thinks', either they have or they haven't.

"The YouTuber also notes how their own drifting Joy-Con have been working fine for around two months now..."

And? I've had Joy Cons repaired by Nintendo that worked perfectly for over a year before exhibiting any problems. Two-months isn't nearly long enough to declare this a permanent solution.

@Oish The application of contact cleaner displaces dust and debris but does not remove it from the enclosure. If your setting and usage means that drift is an oft reoccurring issue for you after application, then you may eventually find that simply spraying becomes less effective as the build up continues.

If it gets to that point, careful disassembly of the analog stick module and removal of dust/debris will likely renew your stick's function and will almost certainly provide a longevity that's comparable to the initial period where drift did not occur. This is assuming that no damage is caused in the disassembly/reassembly process, of course.

I must be lucky, launch joy cons are still fine. I always fully power off and on my Switch, so i don't know if that helps reset neutral every time, which was the classic problem with wireless controllers and also how i resolved a drift on my new 3DS (the only time i ever encountered legitimate drift).
My nephew gets drift in his xbox controllers but somehow "fixes" it, usually by cleaning it.
I feel sorry for people who get drift often.
Joy cons could be more prone to it as when you slide the controller into the switch, it turns on, so if the stick is off, that will be it's new neutral, creating a drift.
Having never encountered what other users are experiencing however, who knows.

If there’s a fix this simple for this thing, then Nintendo didn’t even bother trying to fix it is my guess. More than happy to ignore and rake it in on selling Joy Cons. Would LOVE to see the numbers on that. Super sketchy.

@PoundShopOrwell Luckily Nintendo is pretty lenient with this kind of stuff. I bricked my 3DS when I tried to install custom firmware and even included a note saying "Sorry, I tinkered with my console and it doesn't start anymore, what would it cost to repair it?" and they fixed it for free.

In another thread someone said they tried to fix their drifting Joycon and failed. They didn't even put it back together and instead just send all the parts to Nintendo and still got a new one for free.

My Joy-Cons drifted right out of the box though.

But!

Ok! Now that there is a simple fix, Nintendo can start fixing them in EUROPE!!
!
I am not opening them for not voiding my guarantee.

It is Nintendos job to fix their manufacturing fail.

Amazing! They actually did it! It makes perfect sense. Pressing on the shell and watching it zero out is pretty convincing evidence.

I use Binbok Joycon but still, I do use normal joycon at home sometimes. I'll be doing this if I ever encounter the issue.

@badmotorfinger74
As someone who works in the auto supply chain, I guarantee you any widespread issue where they're spending countless time and money fixing for free, they're not just choosing to not fix it. It's in their interest to fix it- it would save them a lot of cash.

I think they just don't know what's causing it. The entire community has been looking for a fix for years and only just now stumbled upon it. I suspect they'll address it if they catch wind of this.

@themightyant
This looks identical to my brother's drift. I gave him a new set of joycon.

I think I'll ask him for the bad pair if he still has them and see if this works. If so it would corroborate the results.

@Stoic
A reasonable point. However, his sticks were already drifting, hence why he was taking them apart trying to fix in the first place. And applying pressure did resolve the drift, which is convincing evidence. 2 months isn't providing utmost confidence but it does provide some.

My brother has a set of joycon that drifted almost exactly like his in the video. Im going to ask him for the pair and apply the fix to corroborate the results.

@NEStalgia (smh) People think WD40 magically fixes everything. Most people don't realize it's a metal corrosion cleaner(not a lubricant). People are filling their joyconns, something they hold in their hot sweaty hands for hours, with WD-40... a corrosive chemical agent meant to remove rust. I don't know if WD-40 is a straight up carcinogen, but I'm betting it's not very good for you either way when absorbed over long periods of time. All to mend a joystick that Nintendo will fix for free if you can be patient.

@Krambo42 @WoomyNNYes @MarinoKadame Kinda surprised to hear that your Pro Controllers are drifting. My Joy-Cons started drifting a year after I bought my Switch, so I switched (pun not intended) to the Pro Controller, and I've been using it since with no issues.

@RCGamer I do this with my Dual Shock 4 that started drifting and it works well. Would last for a couple of days and and eventually for good (for now). Didn’t think to do it with Switch because you can’t depress and lift the cap in the same way as the DS4. Any advice with what your process is?

Keeping this in mind in case this happens to me again.

I just replaced by myself the stick of my left Joy-Con from my 2019 Switch. I still have the first stick of my first Joy-Con from the launch model, and I realized they made some changes to the case of the stick, for it to be easely removed to be cleaned inside. Also, they added an extra piece in the middle of the lower part of the case, that prevents the stick piece from bumping the case. It's worth trying new solutions, but right now all my sticks work well.

If you’re in NA, just file a claim on the site, print a postage slip, and send them to NOA. You’ll have them back in three to five days repaired or replaced. I’m pretty sure they’ve resolved this problem quietly as far as newer joy con are concerned. No need to squirt stuff into them or open them up if Nintendo will handle it for you, this should be reserved for scenarios where there’s no way to get them repaired or replaced under the permanent warranty.

@Kainbrightside
Back in the day, we referred to that as "Percussive Maintenance."
Worked wonders on Tube T.V.'s.😂

I destroyed my left Joy-Con trying someone's DIY fix (admittedly I'm no handyman) and decided to buy a pair of third party controllers instead. They've worked great for me for over a year now....but sadly I can't play Ring Fit with them.

If I ever get official Switch controllers again (perhaps when I end up getting a Switch OLED) and they drift, I'll keep this in mind.

@hotfistdotcom Opening your controller does not void your warranty, and you are not required to disclose to nintendo that you have done this if you make a warranty claim.
It voids warranty read the EULA and if it's past the 1 year the warranty is over unless you buy extended warranty from the Retailer. They will know you dissemble the device are you that backward to not know they already expected this and will see and if you did it under Warranty they will just send you a Bill of Sale or tell you that you will have to buy a new one.

If I recall right WD40 isn't what you use that is oil and will contaminate and damage electrical hardware and the plastic. Rubbing alcohol will dry - Oil will not dry. Alot of other people have said DON'T USE WD40.

I have two sets of joycons, the red and blue it came with and the neon yellow pair. I have only experienced drift on the left ones a few times. The first time I sent it in for repair and got it back in a week. The rest of the time I've used WD-40 Contact Cleaner. Not the regular kind it has to be the contact cleaner version. I use the straw to squirt under the flap below the stick and let it dry and I've been good to go for quite some time. It clears up the issue perfectly. I don't expect them to last forever but this has gotten them back to perfect working every time.

@RCGamer well drift can occur for different reasons...Could be dirt grime which can be fixed via cleaning.. or wear in the actual mechanism which can't be fixed normally.. though I'm not sure which this video addresses...though most likely wear

@SwitchForce Yo! Drifter here! But I hope this fix turns me back into a gamer.

I will give this a try tonight. I have nothing to lose. I've tried every fix, including stick replacement. The drift always comes back. I've been very vocal on this site for about a year. The drift is a legit problem that is happening at a high rate. I've been gaming for 35+ years and never owned a more problematic 1st party controller. I have stopped buying new games because I refuse to spend another $80 on new joycons. If this works then I may purchase a new game this weekend for the first time since Animal Crossing and Club House Games. Fingers crossed!!!! Like I said, I'm hoping to go from "drifter" back to gamer.

@WoomyNNYes Actually, I play those games, too. I play Smash with some friends online, but I also play Splatoon 2, Speedrunners, Cuphead, and others. But so far, I have yet to experience drift on my Pro Controller, and I've had it for almost three years now. Maybe you have a defective one?

@Sans_Undertale Please do tell... What do you do with the silica gel?

@AstroTheGamosian drift is a thing on the pro controller, we have two in our family, one stick had drift, other 3 sticks have not so far, about 2 years.

@SwitchForce WD-40 contact cleaner ( different product than WD-40)

@SwitchForce Are you that guy from the SwitchForce youtube channel with all the clickbait headlines?

@Trmn8r Again wrong person.

@dkxcalibur Good to hear and if the fix was that simple it's no wonder.....

@SwitchForce So, who copied who?

Who you could just send them in to Nintendo and they fix them for free, getting them back to you within a couple of weeks, sometimes giving you brand new ones in return.

@RCGamer WD40 is a solvent. It doesn’t belong on sensitive electronics.

@Eeckgoar Good luck spraying a solvent into a electronic device. 🙄

Nifty!
I have not experienced any drift yet, but should it occur, it's good to know there are home solutions available.

@Aaritron My experience with Nintendo was not as speedy....and that repair was prior to Covid-19.

I bet nintendo is watching this but won’t fix the issue anyway

Reading all the comments I'm starting to believe that the drifting joycon is actually not ONE problem, but many with similar symptoms. What works for some doesn't work for everyone. Some people claim dirty contacts, other worn-out parts, maybe it's all of it. Maybe the joycons are just delicate like that.

"Federal law says a manufacturer can’t require you to use specific parts and service to keep warranty coverage, unless it provides the parts and services for free, or gets a waiver from the FTC to make that requirement."

Source: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/warranties

If I'm understanding that correctly then they cannot void your warranty for attempting repair yourself unless you have intentionally damaged it. Though I can't personally confirm how these regulations would apply specifically in this case I do think attempting repair or alternative fixes like this is the right move.

@Eduardotaz that has also been my solution, Walmart doesn't ask questions

@JaxonH The evidence is not convincing for that reason, no. Disassembly of the module in general is done for the purpose of resolving drift, and having done so for that purpose does not indicate anything at all, especially without a clear indication of the particulars of the drift and input behavior both before and after. This is valuable because there are various behaviors that are symptomatic of different issues. He says he's opened his Joy-cons thousands of times and the possibility of long term damage due to repeated disassembly of the module is far more likely the reality when considering the nature of the base plate. The reduction of a multi-cause problem to a singular supposed root that's not been tested sufficiently or even conceived of in a manner that eliminates or recognizes the other factors involved isn't sound or reliable. The fact that instances of fresh Joy-cons drifting exist alone call the explanation provided into question.

There's also the fact that the base plate does not get looser with usage. It has FIVE anchors of which two are low-tolerance clips and one is an EXTREMELY rigid clamp that results in difficulty even during deliberate disassembly to the extent that it's typically left as is in favor of careful pivoting of the base plate after adjusting the other four anchors.

Without causing damage to the base plate, forks, or pads, you'll generally see standard function restored without the need for the application of pressure once an internal cleaning is done. Continued undesirable behavior is indicative of one of the aforementioned things being damaged. This additional measure is an indication of at least subtle damage to the base plate, which can easily result in enough displacement to disturb inputs or the default position across one or both axis'. Additionally, the seemingly OEM stick of the three he shows off -which is the one installed in the tutorial- looks to have all three clamps broken off.

It's also worth noting that the application of additional pressure may simply be incidentally dispersing debris on the pad. IF there's an effect of note -considering the assembly is effectively flush to begin with assuming no damage has been done during maintenance or use- then it's possible that whatever debris are caught on the forked metal contacts in the future will be more likely to scrape against the pad and cause sudden damage akin to hard particulates against a glass screen or increase the rate of surface wear over time, which would potentially happen even without debris due to added force. This is a possibility that is in contrast to the suggestion that the increased force will cause the prongs to brush the dirt away.

All of this is also leaving aside the potential of damage to the Joy-con external to the module as a result of introducing a relatively thick foreign object to a flush assembly. Keep in mind that you're going to be introducing a load on multiple parts, not the least of which is the battery, which is a tremendously careless thing to do.

This honestly seems like it could end up being the next placebo phenomenon to join the ranks of Switch's bending from heat and allegations of docks inherently scratching Switches.

@Stoic
I have news.

A mod in our forum here just tried it. Said it worked immediately and his drift was severe.

Then went searching reddit and YT comments under the fix. Multiple ppl reporting they have tried it. Every single one says it fixed the issue perfectly.

Problem solved! I'm spreading the word far and wide. This needs to go viral.

Mod said he used 3 layers of photo paper which is about 0.9 mm thick in total and his home button is ever so slightly lower now. So I'm gonna recommend 0.75 mm which is 4 layers of electrical tape.

Believe what you want, but we've got multiple confirmed reports now. Too much to ignore.

@gaga64 Ha, no prob. It really makes the Castlevania gba games look fantastic.

@hotfistdotcom I'd say DO NOT use foil, foil is conductive. The purpose of the paper is just to fill the empty space, if you add foil there's a chance it could short something (aka electrically connect things that were not meant to be electrically connected) and potentially cause damage, overheating, etc

I just keep sending mine to Nintendo and will continue to do so. They will only ever address the issue if it keeps on making them bleed money.

@SwitchForce I'm confused-- are you saying it's a fake problem? or that this easy fix should somehow let Nintendo off the hook? Both are wrong.

@Roger_Brazil they don't charge you money, but it takes up my time to go through the process and ship it and then my kids don't have as many joy cons for the next 3-4 weeks. I just don't like to do it

I've already doing this for every controller I fix except I use foam instead.

@Eduardotaz that's fraud, but so is knowingly selling people a broken controller and telling them there is no issue.

@dkxcalibur bummer. Yeah I must have had just good luck with them. I was blown away that they gave me a brand new joy con the first time. Then when I turned in my two original grays I got them both back within two weeks. 🤷‍♂️

@Varoennauraa I am not opening them for not voiding my guarantee.
Out of Warranty you pay for repairs no guarantee they will fix for free.

@Varoennauraa It is Nintendos job to fix their manufacturing fail.
This is life if it breaks fix it. How you can delusion yourself is amazing here. And no one including you has proven it otherwise.

@Varoennauraa My Joy-Cons drifted right out of the box though.
If one was smart about this take it back and replace the complete unit for free but guess one didn't think that. So this means this story is fabricated and the drift if so wasn't out of the box caused.

@Stoic Hey why don't you do the fix and prove them wrong otherwise? Love these couch quarter back and yet hasn't they themselves come up with fix or solution. Seem like we got alot of NintenDoomed fandom but so far haven't heard they proven him wrong either.

@SwitchForce

I'm not a couch anything. I've done my fair share of repair and replacement. My current sticks don't drift and have not done since disassembly and a thorough internal cleaning of the flex circuit boards and proper storage away from dirt and debris. My own experience with regard to the particularity of the solution on offer has been illustrated, and is -alongside the various snags in the provided explanation and justifications- why I put forward my skepticism and word of caution.

Do what you want with your sticks. If this ends up resulting in a short lived resolution and long term detriment, that's your problem. For my part, a dismissal of broader causes of drift, an explanation that's defied by the simplest of examples, and a result backed up by a meager period of time that doesn't even match the resolution period seen by some who just spray some contact cleaner are enough for me to openly push back against the sentiment that this is a solution that should be propagated, let alone one that can be presented as permanent or definitive.

P.S.: By the way? Cases of drift occurring out of the box have been reported here and there over the years. There's no reason to get so defensive about someone bringing up that it's happened to them, especially when they aren't even putting forth a denial or decrying the alleged solution. It's just that drifting out the box also ends up inherently running counter to the explanation provided in the video about the cause. Unfortunate, ehh?

Horrible horrible Nintendo and their anti consumer practices! I swear I will never ever buy another pair of…. Wait… what’s that? A Zelda theme joycon!? Preorder, preorder now before they sell out!

interesting, though applying pressure like that to those points on my controller doesn't stop the drift so it probably won't work for mine.

@badmotorfinger74 I have thought for years now this wasn't a bug but a feature to boost controller sales. They absolutely knew what was wrong.

@WoomyNNYes I don't know about 400+ hour, although I did put a lot of hours into using it.

And thanks for the compliment on my profile pic! It is, in fact, a galaxy collision, albeit a Photoshopped one. It's supposed to make it look like the letter G, for Gamosia, the fictional homeworld that my online persona is from.

I'm thinking of restarting my YouTube/Twitch career as a VTuber, but I just have to figure out an interesting design for my character (and then figure out how to model, animate, and sync it up to my face).

I can confirm it half works. I did the test on pressing on the spot he said to watch it stop drifting until you let go. However in my case pressing it was enough to fix it so I didn't have to open it up and put any cardboard in it. I tested it for 30 minutes and not once did it drift. So I believe he is truly on to something here and I would say for anyone having drift problems to give it a try.

Overtime this will wear out as well so it’s not a fix but a patch. Maybe use a extremely thin piece of metal which won’t give after time would be the only option.

@Onion pro controllers are extremely easy to fix and there are videos. All you need is contact cleaner and a small screwdriver. No tech skills are required literally

@Varoennauraa @SwitchForce Nintendo will fix the joycons out of warranty. Just make a ticket and mail them in. If you just bought them then return them where you bought them with the receipt.

@RCGamer
The same for me

@AstroTheGamosian the pro controller is very uncomfortable while playing in portavle mode.

@Victorstk Never had drift in any of my joysticks fortunately but 'thank you' for finding and posting such a simple solution. Shame that this is the internet and so many people here (rather than YT) seem to be negative. Amazing stuff dude!

@Stoic I've dealt with the problem with a couple of sets. In the one that ended up being a hopeless case, there was permanent wear to the pads inside the control stick module, not just debris, so no amount of cleaning was going to help.

Either way, these parts aren't designed to be opened up and repaired, unfortunately, and opening them up isn't really the best option for most. A lot of the replacement sticks out there are of a good quality and very cheap. Contact cleaner is a good temporary fix, this paper fix sounds good (if it definitely works), but replacing the sticks is probably the best thing you can do.

@Oish The pads definitely do get worn down -and visibly so with the imprint of the prong path evident from the start of use- but I've never personally seen a case where the standard wear from use was significant enough to completely ruin normal function beyond repair. I can definitely see it happening as a result of certain debris sitting between the mating surface of the prongs and pads, though.

I'm curious if you'd be willing to share: Having taken apart the sticks, were the pads worn down to the board? Have you had successes with internal cleaning, or is the solution not one you often take? My first 'hopeless case' where contact cleaner didn't work any longer was the one I took apart and cleaned to exceptionally long-lasting results despite visible wear.

I definitely agree that these things weren't built to be taken apart, and the reality is that the base plate component can only realistically manage 2 or maybe 3 disassemblies before the clamps are no longer reliable if they haven't snapped off outright. I also recognize that that kind of repair isn't convenient or easy/on the table for most people. The replacement sticks are a great option for long term resolution and it's good to have a handful sealed and set aside just in case if you're the handy sort. You're right that they're likely the best solution on offer. The most definitive for sure.

I'm just hoping that this pressure workaround doesn't end up necessitating full stick replacement faster than would otherwise be necessary.

@SwitchForce You absolutely need to research, read the articles specifically that I linked. you are quoting illegal policies that are generally not enforced, especially for joycons.

@DeltaPeng In this case I think foil would work much better than paper as it would last. I use paper circles to modify controllers to prevent accidental inputs and have been modding/producing custom controllers for about a decade. Since the back of the joycon stick is conductive metal and does not make any contact with a pcb (just the plastic middle housing section) foil would last indefinitely after fully compressed. But yes, it would require a ton of precision to actually make sure you get it on there right, and maybe a little bit of adhesive.

@Stoic unfortunately those cases have no documentation. Anecdote without documentation does nothing. Notice when asked to disprove the video creator no one tries to show otherwise what they did.

After spending good money (not modified with cardboard) on a console having to mod it like this is still unacceptable and Nintendo should issue some type of severance to get new ones or repair faulty existing ones.

@RCGamer WD is not an electronic contact cleaner. It's a penetrant oil. I would not recommend WD around plastics honestly. Use a real electronic contract cleaner such as Deoxit.

I remember people writing abou this fix since abou the times the drift first became a widespread issue.

Then again, I may have been thinking about 3DS game carts not fitting correctly, instead.

And it only took us four years...

@Bogsnart depends on the country. Say, in Russia, the repair will cost you literally the same amount of money as a new joy-con would (and they'll most likely just replace yours with a new one).

I tried this on Right Side Joycon last night. It's definitely working better but it's still has minor drift. I may try thicker backing. But yeah, I think this guy has possibly figured this out.

@leo13 nintendo fixes them for free. I don’t get why so many people just buy replacements when it’s so easy to have Nintendo fix them. I’ve sent several. It takes a couple of days.

Do they not fix them for free even out of warranty in Europe like they do in the USA?

I have had several repaired by nintendo and it’s simple and takes a couple of days.

@RCGamer I'm guessing with the amount of drift issues that there is more than one source to the drift. If you can't replicate what he sees before he applies the fix (the pressure on the top of the joycon fixing it) then this probably isn't the right fix for your drift.

Nintendo could sell a kit for this and call it the newest LABO project.

I expect Nintendo to send this individual a cease and desist. Nintendo has profits to worry about from people who buy replacements.

Tried it. Didn't work.

People, people, people, PROPER e-contact cleaners are usually either Isoprople or Ethanol based (alcohol-evaporates) unlike WD (40) which is petroleum based (solvent)and will build up over time, attracting dust/dirt and has even been known to eat away at the plastics used in electronics.

@RCGamer
idem I still using this solution with an electric contact cleaner spray and it works every time for at least one month

@blaisedinsd It's not easy, it's painful. It takes half an hour to get to the point where you can print off the shipping label, then you don't have joy cons for 3 weeks. When I buy the replacement joysticks it's $5 and it takes me about 5 minutes to replace and then we can continue to use them. I have a wife and 5 kids and all 7 of us play Nintendo, we need every controller we can get our hands on.

@leo13 not my experience at all. I haven’t had difficulty getting a shipping label and I get my controllers back in like 4-5 business days turnaround time in perfect condition. And it’s $5 less than $5, requires less labor, and there is no risk of accidentally destroying your controller.