Clear guide on how to fix Joy-Con drifting outlines the history of the problem, causes, how to fix it, and alternatives to using Joy-Con.
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Since the release of the Nintendo Switch, users have been struggling with the problem of the Joy-Con drifting. But for a long time Nintendo has never really admitted this and we had to work out how to fix Joy-Con drift ourselves. Now a couple of months ago, there is finally an apology.
The Joy-Con of the Nintendo Switch ‘drifts’ and the console no longer works properly. In this article, we will explain how the problem arises and what solutions are available.
The history of Joy-Con drift
The Joy-Con Drift describes a malfunction of the Nintendo Switch controller, which can result from incorrect processing by Nintendo and wear and tear from regular use. So the character, the cursor, etc. makes actions or movements in the game that you have not entered yourself. The annoying Joy-Con drift quickly puts you out of the mood for playing, as it pretty near makes it impossible to play accurately unless you learn how to fix Joy-Con drifting.
Now the company president of Nintendo Shuntaro Furukawa has finally spoken out about the big Nintendo Switch problem in a question-and-answer session for investors. But it essentially took a law suit before they even acknowledged the problem!
In the United States, a law firm launched a petition in 2019 that led to the filing of a class action lawsuit against Nintendo based on the annoying Joy-Con drift . Thereupon Nintendo from Japan offered the players a free repair of the defective Joy-Con and also in several countries there were some reports of a successfully carried out free repair if you contact the Nintendo Support. But a “correct” compensation or just an apology for this problem from Nintendostayed away until recently.
After the company president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked a question regarding the Joy-Con drift as part of the Q&A session with investors, he commented on this topic for the first time.
On the question regarding the issue of the Joy-Con drift, Furukawa hadthese words: “With regard to the Joy-Con , we apologize for any problems that we have caused our customers, we continue to work to improve our products. However, since Joy-Con is the subject of a class action lawsuit in the United States and it is still an outstanding issue, we will refrain from commenting on any specific action. ”
Finally Nintendo officially commented on the annoying problem, but the playersstill remain perplexed. No solution was proposed, the players were simply put off. So you have to wait and see what the class action will lead to and what the result will mean for the defective Joy-Con. In the meantime, you need to know how to fix Joy-Con drifting if you want to keep playing.
How to fix Joy-Con drift: the problem
- The so-called Joy-Con drift is a sign of wear and tear on the Nintendo Switch. Due to the wear and tear, the sensors on the sides of the console signal input or movement, although none is taking place.
- This causes the console to do something you don’t want. This can happen because dust particles get under the cover and impair its function.
- It is also possible that the metal parts on the side of the console rub off and become brittle and no longer have reception. This problem is already known to the manufacturer and many fans.
How to fix Joy-Con drift yourself
In this section we will discuss the alternatives you have if you want to repair the Switch yourself first. Below we will outline the steps if you want to have Nintendo perform the repair
- There are repair kits with suitable tools that you can buy from around ten euros. If you are technically skilled, you can use it to carry out small repairs on the Nintendo Switch.
- Work with the utmost care. Otherwise, you might end up doing more damage than repairing. There are many sensitive cable connections or components that can break.
- The following tip helps in individual cases: Clean the inside of the sticks with cleaning fluid to remove the dust particles. In some cases this will fix the problem. However, it may reappear after a short while.
How to fix Joy-Con drift: Use a contact cleaner
It might just be drifting because there’s some dust inside it and cleaning it could solve the problem. Doing it this way, you don’t have to take the Joy-Con apart. Get some contact cleaner (we used WD-40 but there are other good ones — just don’t get a cheap one!)
- Before you apply the contact cleaner make sure your Joy-Cons are not synced to the Switch.
- Then look for the thin rubber layer underneath the control stick.
- With the help of some tweezers, lift it and spray it gently with a TINY amount. Do NOT flood it!
- It will dry after a couple of seconds and while it does, keep rotating the control stick.
- Check if the problem is solved by going to System Settings>Controllers and Sensors>Calibrate Control Sticks.
- If the drifting is stil happening, repeat the process with the contact cleaner a couple of times.
- If that doesn’t stop Joy-Con drift, you might want to send your Joycon to Nintendo for repair.
How to fix Joy-Con drifting: Report the damage to the manufacturer
The manufacturer Nintendo has published on its support page how the devices can be repaired.
- You can send in the device on the Nintendo repair portal. To do this, log in or register.
- Now you have to provide various details about your switch and you can then send your device in. Once you have done this, you will receive a message from Nintendo.
- You will receive a cost estimate for the device, which you have to agree to. If you do then the device will be fixed and you will get it back.
- If you do not agree, you will not get your device back repaired. Shipping to and from Nintendo is free of charge.
Alternatives to the Joy-Con
There are several reasons to look for alternatives to the Joy-Con for the Nintendo Switch . The old ones are broken, you don’t like the original ones, or you are looking for a replacement. There are some alternatives, but they often have limitations.
- The Split Pad Pro by Hori is a possible alternative to the Joy-Con. Even if the Split Pad Pro is rated positively, some functions are missing. For example, you cannot use the two parts separately for local multiplayer. The rumble function is also missing.
- The original Joy-Con seem to be best suited for the full gaming experience. In the end, it is up to you as a player whether you can do without one or the other feature. Then you can also use a cheaper alternative.
Pro controller instead of Joy-Con
Instead of the Joy-Con, you can also play with Pro controllers on the Nintendo Switch. Here you can either use the original, but relatively expensive, Pro Controller from Nintendo or one from a third-party manufacturer.
- For example, you can play with the Switch Pro Controller from ECHTPower . This has most of the functions of the Pro Controller from Nintendo. However, it has a significantly shorter battery life.
- The TopAce LREGO controller is suitable for small hands . This small and light controller has all the important features of the original controller. However, it is only a good alternative if you have small hands or children are playing with it.
- Another alternative is the TUTUO wireless controller. With it you have all the functions of the Nintendo Pro Controller. However, it is significantly cheaper.
Nathan James lives for gaming, and is a fan of everything from vintage Pong to the latest virtual reality games. He also loves to tinker with hardware in that never-ending search for more power and speed.
