Broken Joy-Cons aren’t your fault. With enough playtime, all Nintendo Switch controllers will experience “Joy-Con drift” and require repairs. Thankfully, Nintendo has acknowledged this problem and now offers Joy-Con repairs for free.
First, Troubleshoot Common Joy-Con Problems
It’s easy to identify Joy-Con drift. If your in-game characters slowly move around without any input, it’s probably because your joystick has worn down and can no longer “center” itself. That said, drift can also be a symptom of poor software calibration, so you need to do a few minutes of troubleshooting before you send in your Joy-Cons for repairs.
Turn on your Nintendo Switch and open Settings (the wrench icon) from the home screen. Scroll down to the “Controllers and Sensors” tab and select the “Calibrate Control Sticks” option. Press the “X” button, and your Nintendo Switch will guide you through the joystick recalibration process.
The recalibration process attempts to identify abnormalities in your joystick’s operation. These abnormalities may be the result of natural wear and tear, though they can also stem from manufacturing hiccups. A child who wanders over to the recalibration menu can also screw up joystick calibration–in any case, small problems can be resolved (to varying degrees) by recalibrating your joysticks.
After completing the recalibration process, open a game and check for joystick drift. I suggest using a game like Zelda where characters respond to subtle movements in all possible directions, as a joystick that’s drifting up or down may not be noticeable in Smash Bros or other titles that prioritize left and right movement. If your character still moves on its own, your Joy-Cons need to be repaired.
Send Your Joy-Cons to Nintendo for Free Repairs
Once you’ve confirmed that your Joy-Cons are suffering from “drift,” it’s time to send them to your nearest service center for repairs. Nintendo will give you a free shipping label after you fill out a repair request form. Be sure to use a box or mailer that conforms to the weight and dimensions of your provided shipping label. If you’re sending in multiple sets of Joy-Cons, you may need to use separate boxes for each.
Nintendo offers Joy-Con repairs in the following regions. Select your region and follow Nintendo’s support process to receive a free shipping label:
Unfortunately, Nintendo only guarantees free out-of-warranty Joy-Con repairs in North America and Latin America. You can pursue free out-of-warranty repairs if you live outside these regions, but Nintendo may ask for proof or purchase or request a fee.
You should also know that “free repairs” is often shorthand for “free replacements.” If you own a limited-edition set of Joy-Cons, you should consider repairing them at home, as Nintendo may choose to replace them with a boring set of red, blue, or gray controllers.
Bonus Points: Learn to Fix Joy-Cons at Home
Nintendo’s repair program is generous but imperfect. You may find yourself waiting several weeks as Nintendo repairs or replaces your Joy-Cons. If you own limited-edition Joy-Cons, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get them back from Nintendo. And, despite the Switch’s global popularity, Nintendo doesn’t offer an official repair program in India or some other larger markets.
Thankfully, Joy-Con repairs are fairly straightforward. Anyone who’s confident enough to use a screwdriver can replace a Joy-Con’s joystick, battery, or buttons. You just need to read a guide and buy the appropriate replacement parts. I suggest checking out iFixit’s repair guides and shopping iFixit’s repair kits, though Joy-Con drift is such a common problem that you can find repair resources just about anywhere.
There’s just one last thing to note–most Joy-Con joysticks are prone to drift. If you want to avoid future repairs, I strongly suggest buying a Hall-Effect stick. Normal joysticks wear down because they contain plastic parts that rub together, but Hall-Effect sticks utilize a “contactless” design and are practicially impervious to drift.
iFixit Joy-Con Repair Kit
Use this iFixit repair kit to install a new joystick in your Joy-Con or Switch Lite. You can also purchase the replacement joystick on its own if you already have the appropriate tools.
