
How to fix Joy-Con drift
- Recalibrate Your Thumbsticks
- Update Your Joy-Con
- Clean the Joy-Con with Compressed Air
- Replace the Thumbstick
- Send it to Nintendo for a free repair (/get a refund for previous repairs)
Do I habe to pay Joy Con repair Nintendo?
If repairs are needed after the warranty has expired, it costs $40. However, if you've experienced "drifting" issues with your Joy-Con controller, you may be able to have it repaired by Nintendo for free. Because of several class-action lawsuits, Nintendo is offering free Joy-Con repairs.
Will Nintendo Fix my joycons?
Nintendo is officially taking action in regards to the "Joy-Con Drift" issue and will be repairing any affected Joy-Cons for free, and will refund those who have already had repairs done and were charged for them.
How to fix a broken Joycon?
Required spare parts
- Unscrew the four screws circled in red that secure the rear case of the Joy-Con with a Tri-wing screwdriver.
- Insert the nylon spudger between the front and back case. Carefully lever up the spudger to separate the two parts.
- Use the point of the nylon spudger to gently lever up the battery connector in order to disconnect it from the controller.
How to repair Joycon?
How to Submit a Repair Claim:
- Fill out an intake form on Nintendo’s website.
- When you receive your UPS label, package your damaged Joy-Cons in a padded box or envelope.
- Drop off your package at any UPS facility and wait for further updates from Nintendo

Is Nintendo still fixing Joy-Cons for Free 2021?
As a reminder, Nintendo is still offering free Joy-Con repairs in North America. All you need to do is fill out an easy form, and live in the USA or Canada, and you're good.
Is Nintendo fixing Joy-Cons for free?
Nintendo performs free Joy-Con repairs in most countries, though you need to fill out a form to submit a repair. Once you submit a repair form, Nintendo will give you a shipping label. You can send them company four Joy-Cons in a single box.
Does Nintendo repair broken Joy-Cons?
Due to shipping regulations for lithium ion batteries, repair can only be set-up for a maximum of four (4) Joy-Con at a time. If you would like to set up a repair for five (5) or more Joy-Con, please fill out an additional form to receive an additional shipping label.
How long does it take for Nintendo to repair Joy-Con?
How long does a Joy-Con repair take? The general consensus indicates that Joy-Con repairs by Nintendo can take anywhere from 3 days to a month. If it turns out your Joy-Con issues aren't covered by Nintendo or you need it faster, we can help.
How much does Joy-Con repair cost?
How Much Does Nintendo Charge to Repair Joy-Con? All Nintendo products have a limited hardware warranty which covers manufacturing defects for twelve months from the date of purchase. So, any repairs required during that time are free. If repairs are needed after the warranty has expired, it costs $40.
Does it cost money to repair Joy-Cons?
After pressure from several class-action lawsuits, Nintendo has started to offer free Joy-Con repairs through its customer service portal. The process is straightforward; fill out an online form (or call a customer service representative), mail out the equipment, and then wait.
How long do Joy-Cons last before breaking?
The real question is how long do these Nintendo switch controllers last before they break? Most Joy Cons will last 2–4 years depending upon how often they are used before they break. If they are dropped often or thrown around, it is possible that they will not even last a year before breaking.
How long do Nintendo repairs take?
around 2-3 weeksDue to a recent increase in repair volumes, repair orders may not receive a status update for several days after delivery to the service facility. The current total turnaround time for repair orders is around 2-3 weeks.
Are Joy-Cons covered under warranty?
Be it an issue with the Joy-Con, kickstand, or something else, you are covered by Nintendo's limited warranty for 12 months. That's the standard length for any Nintendo console, including the Switch and the Nintendo 3DS line. Games and accessories sold separately carry a three-month warranty.
What causes joy drift?
It's unclear what the cause of Joy-Con drift is but one Joy-Con teardown published on Reddit by user u/rainbopython in April 2019 claims that the drift problem could be caused by wear-and-tear over time while other theories point towards build-up of dust inside the casing around the stick.
Does Nintendo need to replace the control stick?
Nintendo needs to replace the control stick itself with a type that doesn’t use graphite contacts. Until they’ve confirmed that’s how they’re fixing the joy-cons, I wouldn’t waste your time shipping your controllers to Nintendo. See all replies.
Is the Nintendo Switch moving?
For months, Nintendo Switch users have been plagued by what’s become known as “Joy-Con drift.”. Although they’re not touching the joystick on their Nintendo Switch controller, the console still thinks it’s moving. With no permanent fix being offered by Nintendo, they’re just sick of it.
Can you get your Nintendo Switch repaired?
If your Nintendo Switch is experiencing Joy-Con drift, you might be able to get your Switch repaired for free— and if you’ve already paid to get your Switch repaired, you might be eligible for a refund.
How to get a refund from Nintendo?
Your best bet to get this refund would be to call someone at Nintendo’s customer support line , as mentioned above, and explain your situation before asking for the refund. Also, be sure to have some proof of payment from when you previously paid Nintendo for the repairs. It’s likely that you might have a receipt stashed somewhere in your email inbox along with a ticket number of sorts proving the previous repair’s purchase. Find this receipt and then call Nintendo up to start this refunding process.
What are “Drifting” Joy-Cons?
Essentially, Joy-Con drift is when actions in your game on-screen are occurring even when you aren’t moving the thumbsticks of the Joy-Con you’re using. For instance, if you’re playing Splatoon 2 and your Inkling is walking around by themselves without you inputting those actions on the controller, you’re likely experiencing this problem.
Is Nintendo offering repairs?
So much of a problem, in fact, that Nintendo has now formally acknowledged the issue and is reportedly willing to own up to it by repairing the Joy-Cons of any users who may have experienced said “drifting” on the controller for themselves. According to Vice, a new internal memo at Ninte ndo says that it will now be offering repairs ...
Featured Guides
Replace the joystick on the left Joy-Con for the Nintendo Switch. This repair fixes the notorious "Joy-Con drift" issue. iFixit has the parts needed too!
Tools
These are some common tools used to work on this device. You might not need every tool for every procedure.
Troubleshooting
Something wrong with your Joy-Con? Diagnose the problem at our troubleshooting page.
Background and Identification
Joy-Con are the primary controller (s) of the Nintendo Switch video game console. They consist of two individual units, each containing an analog stick and an array of buttons.
