Ways to Fix Joy-Con Drift on Your Nintendo Switch
If you’re a Nintendo Switch owner, then you know just how frustrating it can be when your Joy-Con experiences drift – that phenomenon where the joystick seems to move on its own even when you’re not touching it. Drift can make the game unplayable and takes away from the excitement of using a console that you’ve spent good money on. Fortunately, there are ways that you can fix this issue. Below are some of the best ways to fix Joy-Con drift on your Nintendo Switch.
1. Contact Nintendo Customer Support
When your Joy-Con experiences drift, it’s important to first contact Nintendo customer support. It’s possible that your console is still under warranty, and if so, Nintendo may be able to repair or replace your Joy-Con for free. If your Switch is out of warranty, you may still be able to send it to Nintendo for repair, though it will likely cost money.
2. Calibrate Your Joy-Con
Another common solution to Joy-Con drift is to recalibrate the joystick. Head to the settings menu on your Nintendo Switch, and select Controllers and Sensors. From there, select Calibration and then Calibrate Control Sticks. The console will walk you through the process of resetting the calibration on your Joy-Con. This may fix the drift issue, but it’s not a long-term solution.
3. Clean Your Joy-Con
Over time, dust and debris can get inside of your Joy-Con’s joystick housing, causing drift. To clean this out, use a can of compressed air to blow out any dust and debris that may be inside of the joystick assembly. You can also try using a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol to clean the joystick housing. Be gentle during this process, as you don’t want to damage any of the internal parts.
4. Replace the Joystick
If your Joy-Con’s drift persists, it may be that the joystick itself needs to be replaced. There are replacement kits available that come with detailed instructions on how to replace the joystick. If you’re uncomfortable with doing the work yourself, you can take your Joy-Con to a repair shop or send it to Nintendo for repair.