How To Get Joy Cons Repaired

If you owned a Nintendo Switch over the last few years, you've probably heard about, or get a victim of, the dreaded "Joy-Con migrate" consequence that'south plagued the console's gamepads since its launch.

There'southward null worse than trying to render to bed on time in Stardew Valley and fighting with the controller to move in the correct direction or failing to contrivance an attack in Hades because your nuance will merely move up. Super Smash Bros. is essentially unplayable with Joy-Con migrate, and Mario Kart viii Deluxe is an (even bigger) lesson in frustration.

The Effect

Joy-Con drift is the mutual name for a hardware problem that causes the control stick on Nintendo's Switch controllers to not reply or register the wrong input even when the gamepad buttons are not pressed.

Since buying my own Switch at launch (and my married man getting his a little after), my household has experienced the issue on iii split sets of Joy-Cons. Each time resulted in the purchase of new controllers or forced me to play the Switch only while docked with a Pro Controller.

"After pressure from several class-action lawsuits, Nintendo has started to offering free Joy-Con repairs through its client service portal."

Nintendo has repeatedly denied any event exists with the Switch's Joy-Cons — or at least won't admit that the drift trouble is as bad as the internet makes it out to exist. However, the problem is widespread enough that Joy-Con home repair guides have become commonplace and several class-action lawsuits have been filed. Pressurized air, rubbing alcohol, $.25 of newspaper, and more have all been cited equally potential solutions to the issue.

I've tried every flim-flam I could find that didn't involve opening the hardware up myself. Some of the techniques, such as rubbing alcohol, seemed to solve the effect at first. However, the problem would always render afterward a few hours to a day, which acquired more frustration.

Switch red and blue Joy-Cons

After force per unit area from several form-action lawsuits, Nintendo has started to offer complimentary Joy-Con repairs through its customer service portal. The procedure is straightforward; fill out an online form (or call a customer service representative), mail out the equipment, and and so wait. Nintendo doesn't offer any indication of how long the process will have, however.

With the launch of Monster Hunter Ascension and Pokémon Unite, I finally felt motivated enough to offset the repair process and then I could finally return to gaming on my couch, upside downwards and under a blanket, simply like I used to when I was eight and had to use a flashlight with a Game Boy.

Repair Procedure

Since I endemic more than four Joy-Cons with drift, I was required to telephone call Nintendo's customer service line (the visitor explains that this is due to lithium-ion battery shipping restrictions). If y'all want to have less than iv Joy-Cons repaired, you demand to fill out this class.

In order to process the repair, the amanuensis I spoke to asked the aforementioned questions I had previously entered into the course to send less than five Joy-Cons. I was asked to provide my address, describe the problem, and answer bones troubleshooting questions. I was so requested to provide the serial number of my Switch organization, even though I was not sending the console itself in for repair.

Switch repairs

Subsequently finishing my call with the agent, I checked my inbox to encounter eight separate emails from Nintendo. Iv of these were dissimilar repair orders (with their own repair order numbers), and the others were four divide UPS waybills.

Assuming it would be fine to combine all of them into 1 box, I packaged upwards my Joy-Cons equally best I could and dropped them off the next 24-hour interval. Subsequently, Nintendo sends your inquiries to its repair tracking website.

Two weeks later dropping the Joy-Cons at my local UPS Store (this is the curse of mailing anything to/from Newfoundland) I received a fresh set of six new emails. Of these emails, two of them had new repair numbers from the original set.

"The entire repair procedure was straightforward (except for the bombardment of emails) and didn't crave much more than from me other than dropping off a box of electronics at a UPS co-operative."

Two days afterward this, I received another set of six emails notifying me that each Joy-Con had completed its repair procedure and was heading back to me from beyond a continent.

A few weeks afterwards, a single cardboard box arrived in my kitchen. The Joy-Cons seemed to have been completely replaced (or at least swapped with refurbished controllers).

It's important to note that Nintendo never confirmed either the consequence I was experiencing or that it found a problem to brainstorm with. The repair summary sent back with the controllers listed every possible issue equally blank. I, unfortunately, can't speak to what consequence was causing the trouble with my Joy-Cons. While there was no charge for the repair process, Nintendo alerted me that I would have paid to repair whatsoever physical impairment.

Drift-Free?

The entire repair procedure was straightforward (except for the battery of emails) and didn't crave much more than from me other than dropping off a box of electronics at a UPS branch. Bated from a lengthy shipping time of nigh six weeks, it was mostly painless. Since getting my new-to-me controllers back, I have been pestering friends and family unit to beginning the process themselves so that they can finally enjoy their game library again.

It'southward unclear if Nintendo plans to update the Switch's hardware to avoid drift in the future, and hope that the new OLED model fixes the issue seems to exist misplaced. Information technology'south also an issue plaguing some owners of Nintendo Switch Lite consoles. Since the switch Light does not allow users to bandy out its built-in joystick and buttons, this is even more frustrating than the standard Switch.

Joy-Con repair

With this in mind, information technology could exist worth picking up an extra set of Joy-Cons or a Pro controller to have a fill-in if drift is encountered. This is also something to consider if y'all're deciding between buying the Lite and the standard Switch.

If you're experiencing Joy-Con drift with your controllers, I highly recommend you begin the repair procedure. It may accept several weeks to meet your Joy-Cons again, only I consider it worth information technology to avert spending more money on new controllers that may terminate up with the same outcome anyhow.

I've been playing with my Joy-Cons over again for several days, and I'm pleased to say I oasis't seen any signs of the migrate effect returning. Nintendo has not mentioned to me any recourse options if the issue returns, and so I'one thousand hopeful I won't need to cantankerous that bridge over again.