Is your Joy-Con making your character walk off cliffs or your camera spin on its own? The infamous "Joy-Con drift" has affected millions of Nintendo Switch owners. Test your controllers for free—and learn about Nintendo's free repair program.
Connect your Joy-Cons (attached to grip or console) or Switch Pro Controller to your PC via USB or Bluetooth. Once connected, press any button to begin testing. Note: Testing directly on the Switch console isn't supported—you need a computer.
Joy-Con drift is perhaps the most well-known controller defect in gaming history. Since the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, millions of players have experienced their Joy-Con analog sticks registering movement without any input. Characters walk off ledges on their own. Cameras spin uncontrollably. Menu cursors slide to one side. For many players, it's ruined countless gaming sessions.
The issue became so widespread that it sparked multiple class-action lawsuits against Nintendo in 2019. Internal documents revealed during legal proceedings showed that Nintendo was aware of the drift problem before the Switch even launched, yet continued selling affected controllers. The backlash was so severe that Nintendo eventually implemented a free repair program for all Joy-Con drift cases, regardless of warranty status.
The Joy-Con's compact design is both its strength and its weakness. To fit everything into such a small package, Nintendo used miniaturized potentiometer sensors for the analog sticks. These tiny components have several inherent problems:
According to surveys, approximately 40% of Switch owners have experienced Joy-Con drift at some point. An estimated 25+ million Joy-Cons have been affected worldwide, making it one of the most widespread hardware defects in console gaming history.
Here's the silver lining: Nintendo will repair your drifting Joy-Cons for free, even if they're out of warranty. This policy was implemented after the class-action lawsuit settlement and applies to Joy-Cons purchased in North America, Europe, and many other regions.
$0 for drift repairs. Nintendo covers shipping both ways. No hidden fees.
1-2 weeks from when Nintendo receives your Joy-Cons. Can vary based on volume.
Your repaired Joy-Cons or, if unrepairable, replacement units (may be refurbished).
The free repair program applies to Joy-Cons only. Switch Pro Controllers and third-party controllers are not included. Also, repairs for physical damage (cracked shells, water damage) are not covered—only the drift issue itself.
If you're frustrated with Joy-Con drift, you might be considering the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller as an alternative. Here's how they compare in terms of durability and drift susceptibility.
• Compact, miniaturized analog sticks
• Higher drift rate (~40% of users affected)
• Free repairs available through Nintendo
• Replaceable with third-party options
• $80 for a pair
• Full-sized analog sticks
• Lower drift rate (estimated 10-15%)
• Only 90-day warranty, no free repair program
• More durable overall design
• $70 retail price
For TV mode gaming, the Pro Controller is generally the better choice. Its larger sticks are more comfortable for extended sessions and more resistant to drift. For handheld mode, Joy-Cons are a necessity—and with the free repair program, the drift issue is at least manageable.
Consider keeping a pair of backup Joy-Cons or investing in third-party alternatives with Hall Effect sensors (like the GuliKit King Kong 2 controllers) for drift-free gameplay.
While Nintendo's free repair is the most reliable solution, these methods can sometimes fix drift temporarily or permanently—worth trying before waiting 2 weeks for a repair.
On your Switch, go to System Settings → Controllers and Sensors → Calibrate Control Sticks. Select the affected Joy-Con and follow the on-screen instructions. This won't fix hardware drift but can resolve software calibration issues.
Lift the rubber skirt around the analog stick and spray short bursts of compressed air under it. Rotate the stick while spraying to dislodge dust and debris. This is often the quickest fix for early-stage drift. Shop compressed air →
Products like CRC Electronic Cleaner or WD-40 Contact Cleaner (NOT regular WD-40!) can clean the potentiometer contacts. Lift the rubber skirt, spray a small amount inside, then rotate the stick vigorously for 30 seconds. Let dry completely before using.
Similar to contact cleaner, you can use 90%+ isopropyl alcohol applied with a cotton swab or small brush. Work it under the rubber skirt and around the stick base. Rotate the stick to distribute, then let dry for 10+ minutes.
Replacement Joy-Con analog stick modules cost around $5-10 on Amazon and only require a small screwdriver to install. Search for "Joy-Con replacement stick" and follow a YouTube tutorial. This is a permanent fix but requires some technical comfort with small electronics. Shop repair kits →
Try compressed air first (30 seconds). If that doesn't work, try contact cleaner (lasts longer). If drift persists, just send them to Nintendo for free—it's less hassle than DIY repair and you'll get a proper fix.
You'll need to connect your Joy-Cons to a computer. Use a USB cable (with Joy-Con charging grip) or pair via Bluetooth. On Windows: Settings → Bluetooth → Add Device → Bluetooth → select "Joy-Con (L)" or "Joy-Con (R)". Once connected, press any button to register in our tool.
Yes! When creating a repair ticket on Nintendo's website, you can specify that you're sending both Joy-Cons. Pack them together in the same box. Nintendo will repair or replace both and return them together.
Nintendo tries to match colors, but there's no guarantee—especially for limited edition Joy-Cons. If you have special edition controllers (like Animal Crossing or Zelda colors), document them with photos before sending. In some cases, Nintendo has replaced special editions with standard colors.
The Switch Lite has integrated controls that cannot be detached. Nintendo does offer repairs for Switch Lite drift, but you'll need to send in the entire console—not just the controllers. This means you'll be without your Switch for the entire repair period (2+ weeks).
Some third-party controllers use Hall Effect sensors that don't wear out like potentiometers. Options like GuliKit King Kong 2 and Binbok controllers are marketed as "drift-free." However, they may lack features like HD Rumble and NFC (amiibo support).
The class-action lawsuit resulted in free repairs, not monetary compensation for individual consumers. If you previously paid for Joy-Con repairs, you may be eligible for a refund by contacting Nintendo Support with your repair receipt.