Does this sound familiar?
- Your character or camera moves when you aren't touching the stick
- Menus scroll by themselves
- The stick feels gritty or loose, or it doesn't return to center
- Recalibrating helps for a day, and then the drift returns
- The problem follows that Joy-Con when you use it on another Switch
Why we send people to Nintendo first
It might sound odd for a repair shop to tell you this, but we think you should know: if Nintendo will fix your drift at no cost, then you should probably let them. You'll have to mail it and wait, so it isn't for everybody. But it's your money, and we'd rather have you trust us for the next thing that breaks.
Where we come in is when you don't want to be without your controller, when you've got several to fix, or when Nintendo's route doesn't apply. A household with four kids and a stack of drifting Joy-Cons doesn't want to mail them all off the week before Christmas.
How the repair goes
A Joy-Con is tiny, and it's held together with special screws and thin ribbon cables. We open it up, remove the worn stick module, and install a new one. Then we check its centering and test it on a Switch before you leave. It's small work, but it isn't complicated when you've got the right tools and some experience.
Please be careful about doing this yourself if you've never tried it. Those ribbon cables tear easily, and the shoulder button parts tend to spring out across the room.
Help your sticks last
Keep your Joy-Cons in a case when they're traveling, away from crumbs and pocket lint, and wash your hands after snack time. Try not to press the stick too hard into the rim, and take breaks from those games that have you spinning the stick constantly.
Fast, friendly great service. Pleasant to work with, knowledgeable and efficient.
Questions we get a lot
Should I contact Nintendo before coming to you?
We think you should. Nintendo has repaired drifting Joy-Cons free of charge in North America, even out of warranty. Policies can change, so check their support site. Opening a Joy-Con yourself or having it opened can affect that option. If Nintendo's route doesn't work for you, or you can't wait, come see us.
Why do Joy-Cons drift?
The analog stick has small sensors with parts that rub together, and these can wear down over time. Dust and grime can make it worse. Lots of hours of play will eventually wear them out.
What can I try at home?
Update your Switch and controllers, then recalibrate the sticks in System Settings under Controllers and Sensors. Some people get relief from gently blowing compressed air around the base of the stick.
How about the Switch Lite?
The Lite has built-in controls, so drift means opening the console itself. We can do that, and Nintendo may help you there too.
Will it drift again?
It might, after a lot of play, because the replacement stick is a wearing part too. If the repair itself fails, it's covered by our warranty. Normal wear after many hours is just what sticks do.