How to Fix Joy-Con Drift in Under 5 Minutes

Yep, you read that right. This is NOT a fake. It is an Instructable that tells you how to fix that annoying Joy-Con drift in under 5 minutes. And if it doesn't work, keep reading for a 100% guaranteed technique at the end.

The first thing you should always, always try when you have Joy-Con drift is recalibrating the controllers. Go to System Settings, and scroll down until you find Controllers and Sensors. Move to the right and first press Update Controllers. If your controllers have been updated and it is still drifting, press Calibrate Control Sticks. Press down on whichever stick is drifting and press X. Follow the instructions on-screen, and your controller might be fixed already. If it isn't, move onto the next step.

The second fix to Joy-Con drift is to fix the actual hardware. Don't worry, you don't have to take anything apart. All you need is some isopropyl alcohol and a q-tip. If you look under the stick, you should see a rubber cover over the bigger plastic ball. Commonly, there is some dirt or other substance stuck there, altering the control inputs. Take the q-tip and generously dip it in the alcohol. Then, try to gently wedge it under the rubber all around the stick. Repeat until the plastic part is all shiny, then move the stick in circles for a couple of minutes. Make sure to wipe off any of the alcohol from the matte paint of the Joy-Con, and let it sit for an hour+ until the alcohol has evaporated. When you use it again, it should work. If even this doesn't, proceed to the final method.

If none of these have worked for you, or you are to scared to attempt them, there is one final way to fix it once and for all. If you are ready to, call Nintendo Customer Service at 1 (800) 255-3700 and enquire about them fixing Joy-Con drift. They will give you some instructions, and you can send your entire Switch to them for about a week in which they will fix any issues with your sticks. If you are okay without your Nintendo for a week, then go ahead. Their customer service is very polite and will redirect you to the right people. I hope this Instructable has cleared things out for you and fixed a big problem in your Switch.