If your in-game character is moving when you're non touching the left stick, or your aiming is slow or express in one or more directions, you could well exist suffering from something called 'stick drift' or just 'drifting'. This is when something'due south gone coco in your controller's counterpart stick, and it'south not functioning like the reliable potentiometer that it should be.

Drifting is a problem that is undeniably mutual in the Switch'southward Joy-Con, but it can likewise affect Pro Controllers every bit well. That'due south not to say Nintendo's products are inexpensive or shoddy universally; drift is an issue that tin can affect any controller on the market place – even the mighty Xbox 1 Elite Controller isn't safe. We already have a guide up on how to fix drifting Joy-Con if y'all need it, simply the same rules don't completely apply to the Pro Controller.

  • How To Ready A Globe-trotting Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Analog Stick

Although the steps detailed below are unproblematic and not tremendously challenging, nosotros do have to state that yous follow this guide at your own risk, we cannot take responsibility for any whoopsies that may occur.

Guide: How To Fix A Drifting Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Calibrating

Get-go things showtime, and we know this may seem obvious to some, but it'southward simply obvious if you know. You want to go into your Switch's settings carte du jour and recalibrate the offending stick - it's usually the left stick but we aren't hither to judge.

Go to the Dwelling house Menu, navigate down to System Settings, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the left menu and select Controllers and Sensors.

Scroll downwards on the right hand part of the screen and select Calibrate Control Sticks because we're planning to practise just that. A fiddling popup menu will let you lot know that any button mapping changes y'all may have made will be temporarily disabled; just select OK.

You'll then need to click in the stick that's been drifting. You'll then be presented with a screen that shows how the console interprets the stick movement; rotate the stick on its axis, flick it around, generally become a feel for how it's behaving.

Also be certain to get out it alone for a fourth dimension. If the crosshair moves without you doing anything (nevertheless trivial), if you lot're unable to make a make clean, smooth 360º rotation, or if it doesn't even want to move all the mode to the edge in some areas, you've got a problem. Thankfully you lot're in the right identify to sort it out.

Press the X push button to enter calibration and follow the onscreen instructions as best as you can. Once that's complete run through the same tests nosotros mentioned earlier like flicking the stick and rotating it. If the issue no longer presents itself you're one of the mega lucky ones, and you don't need to do anything more. If you're however seeing problems however, you're going to need to get a fleck more technical.

Cleaning the Stick

If y'all're still stuck in a drifting pickle, you'll need to get a few supplies, namely these:

  • Modest Phillips Head Screwdriver (long-necked)
  • Compressed Air
  • Contact Cleaner

You'll need to disassemble the Pro Controller to a degree in society to effectively clean it, as different the Joy-Con there'due south no safe skirt you tin pull upward to access the stick's internals. Don't worry, if you click this link it will have you right to the part of our handy guide video that should assist yous out if you're non certain what to do or where, just information technology's a fairly simple procedure every bit long equally you pay attention to which screws come from where, and make certain yous don't lose any. Seriously.

One time it's open you'll be able to admission the trouble stick's internal gubbins and have a proper look at what'southward going on. In all likelihood you're going to see dust, debris, hair, the usual suspects for why precise electronics aren't cutting the proverbial mustard. Grab your handy tin of compressed air and boom these intrusive bits of rubbish out of your precious equipment. Make sure you follow the instructions on the can of compressed air that you have, as some contain a liquid that may potentially damage your controller. Follow the instructions, and don't become being a silly sausage now you hear?

Once you've got out equally much as y'all can, it's fourth dimension to whack out that contact cleaner. Spray the area underneath the plastic stick cap generously but carefully; you want to coat information technology but not drown it. Give the stick a full general wiggle to brand sure the cleaner gets in and around everywhere it needs to, and don't be afraid if it feels like the stick is catching in places, that's just because the faceplate of the controller usually stops information technology from moving this far. Be gentle, just be house.

Pro Controller Stick Internals

Expect for a few minutes and repeat the process, feeling free to employ and rotate at the same time if y'all like, as long as you don't put also much on as we said earlier. Y'all can repeat the procedure once more if you like, but information technology probable isn't necessary.

In one case y'all've applied the last dousing of cleaning, expect a adept ten minutes with the controller in a well-ventilated expanse to brand sure information technology'southward all lovely and dry out in in that location before putting information technology back together.

At present put it back together.

Return to the Stick Calibration screen and test out your newly cleaned stick. Still not working perfectly? Don't worry, a quick recalibration just like before should solve any woes that may befall you lot.

One time you lot've completed that you should now have a fully-working Pro Controller again, unless there was something else incorrect with it like the A button had melted. Hooray!

Still non Working?

It's possible to replace the analogue sticks in a Pro Controller, merely we're not actually happy to recommend that; the sticks are soldered in place which may seem picayune to some, but there'southward also much that can go wrong with a soldering iron for the states to feel comfy taking you lot through that, nor the procedure of ordering replacement sticks.

Clockwise from top left: 1) Pączki. 2) Cobweb. 3) Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

In that case your only other choice is to arrive affect with Nintendo directly and hash out repairing the controller with them. It'south possible you may be charged for a repair depending on diverse circumstances, so be prepared to coughing up a bit to get back on the Pro Controller train.

Has this guide helped at all? Allow us know in the comments below.