Joy-Con drift is the most searched fault in gaming. And it is the only one on this site where you should try the manufacturer before us.
Nintendo states on its own site that in Europe, the UK and Switzerland it repairs control-stick responsiveness syndrome free of charge, out of warranty and even when caused by wear. We tell you because it saves you money.
If that route is closed — because the controller has already been opened, or was not bought there — then we do the job, and the stick is not even soldered.
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On a Joy-Con the stick is not soldered. The iFixit guide describes it held by a ZIF connector: lift the flap, disconnect the cable, the module comes out. That is what makes drift on a Joy-Con a far shorter job than on a DualSense or an Xbox controller.
First though, the thing that matters most, and it is to your advantage, not ours. Nintendo writes that in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland it repairs at no charge, «irrespective of whether this is caused by a defect or by wear and tear» and even after the 24-month warranty. For Joy-Con, Nintendo explicitly asks you not to send the console, only the controllers.
The limit to know before letting anyone open it: Nintendo reserves the right to refuse the free repair if the controller «has been opened, modified or repaired by any person or company other than Nintendo or its authorised partners», unless there is clearly no correlation with the fault.
The rest repairs normally: the battery is a catalogue part, Nintendo code HAC-006, and the rails have their own guides. Note that iFixit distinguishes the charging rail from the sensor rail, with separate parts per side and per model.
| Release year | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (each) | 102 × 35.9 × 28.4 mm |
| Weight | about 49 g left, 52 g right |
| Stick | module on a ZIF connector, not soldered |
| Battery | replaceable, Nintendo part HAC-006 |
| Rails | charging rail and sensor rail, distinct parts |
| Parts per side | left and right not interchangeable |
| Parts per model | distinct versions for Switch and Switch OLED |
| Left layout | stick on top, four direction buttons below |
| Right layout | four buttons on top, stick below |
| Nintendo free repair | EEA, UK and Switzerland, also out of warranty |
Device specifications published by the manufacturer, given here so you can identify your model. Feasibility and turnaround for each repair are confirmed at the diagnosis stage.
ElectrONIK Lab is an independent workshop: it is not an authorised service centre and is not affiliated with the manufacturers. The trademarks named here belong to their respective owners and are used only to identify the devices we work on. Your statutory consumer rights towards whoever carries out the repair are unaffected.
Free diagnostics, a clear quote and the part chosen by you.