How to finally fix your drifting Nintendo Joy-Con yourself

After years of annoying Joy-Con drift issues plaguing Nintendo Switch consoles, there might finally be a permanent fix.

What is the Joy-Con Drift?

For those who do not know what ‘the Joy-Con drift“is, consider yourself lucky – IThis is a common problem that most Nintendo Switch owners encounter at some point. After sufficient use, the tension in the thumb of the Joy-Con the stick mechanism loosens and the thumb stick will move slightly, causing unintentional input detection – in other words, your cursor, character, or menus will move around the screen even if you don’t touch the controller.

This is a major issue that affects the gameplay and feel of the Nintendo Switch in general. Frankly, it went beyond annoyance to one major flaw hampering the otherwise excellent portable console hybrid.

Nintendo and the users have been trying to find a way to combat the drift. Fixes range from annoying (like sending in your Joy-Cons for Nintendo to fix them, or buying a replacement pair), to potentially damaging (like using rubbing alcohol to clean your thumb stick sensor, or by opening the Joy-Con and replacing the thumb stick together). But while almost all of these solutions have worked (with varying degrees of success), none provide a permanent solution. At one point, the thumb the neck tension will release and the Joy-Con fin will return.

However, a YouTuber by the name of “VK’s Channel” claims to have found a permanent solution – and it’s surprisingly simple.

How to fix your drifting Joy-Con

As shown by the chain of VK (which we will call “VK” for the sake of simplicity) in the video below, applying pressure to the outside of the Joy-Con eliminates the thumb stick drift. So to make sure there is enough pressure at all times, VK opened the Joy-Con and placed a thin strip of paper behind the thumb. stick sensor. VK says this corrected the drift immediately and the problem has not returned yet.

It is impossible to confirm whether slipping a piece of paper into your Joy-Con is, in fact, a long term solution for everyone since it was only recently discovered, but according to comments on VK and the social media, it seems to be working so far.

Is this safely to repair a Joy-Con by yourself?

In theory, fill the small space between the Joy-Con case and the back of the thumb the stick sensor should be enough to hold the case in place as long as the paper is the right size – the paper (or card stock, cardboard, etc.) only needs about 0.5mm of high. Anything larger will not fit. TThe paper will not affect anything in the controller if placed correctly, and there is no risk of heating or conduction to worry about (remember to turn off your Joy-Con first).

What you will need to fix Joy-Con drifting by yourself

I had planned to test the fix on a pair of Joy-Cons that I ditched due to extreme drift issues, but I don’t have the proper tools to do the job, which raises a few important caveats. that switch owners should be aware of before trying it for themselves.

In order to remove VK’s DIY Drift Solution, you need to remove four tiny tri-wing head screws from the back of the Joy-Cons. Most Switch owners probably don’t have a tri-wing screwdriver, and if they do, it might not be the right size (a 1.5mm tri-wing will do the job).

But even if you do have the right screwdriver, there are risks in opening your Joy-Cons. The first is that it can void the Joy-Cons’ warranty (or even your console’s warranty if you’re using a Switch Lite), which means if something breaks, you will not be able to send them to Nintendo technical support. Fortunately, the only things you have to play with are the four screws; you don’t need to touch any other components of the controller other than placing a small piece of paper or card stock behind your thumb stick housing.

Yet even though VK’s paper trick doesn’t require any technical precision, DIY fixes are risky. You can accidentally get extra dust into the internal components, and small pieces could break or fall and get lost. If you’re not comfortable risking the warranty and usability of your Joy-Cons, contact Nintendo and have the fin repaired by a professional, or just purchase an additional pair instead. But if you’re ready to take matters into your own hands, try this at-home solution.

[Nintendo Life]