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While the Nintendo Switch and its smaller sibling, the Switch Lite, continue to sell out across the globe, one dreaded issue still exists: Joy-Con drift. Joy-Con drift occurs when the thumbstick of the Joy-Con senses motion even when the player isn’t touching it. Characters can get lost in the game, choose the wrong items, and have trouble making precise movements. In more dramatic terms, Joy-Con drift gives the impression that an invisible hand is controlling your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED model. You can enjoy great consoles on the go with the Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, and Nintendo Switch Lite.
But on these systems, there is a frustrating issue known as Joy-Con drift that can occur, causing your on-screen characters or cursor to start moving around without you touching the joysticks. Anyone with a Switch will be frustrated by the ongoing Joy-Con drift problem, which is characterized by your thumb sticks pushing only in one direction and not responding to any input. Fixes for that issue are always crucial, but depending on the specifics of the problem, some fixes might not even be effective. Even so, it’s worthwhile trying them all out before completely purchasing a new Joy-Con, just in case you come across a simple, inexpensive fix. The crucial distinction is whether your own Joy-Con drift is brought on by a physical problem or something else, as this will affect the fixes you need to apply.
Ways to fix Joy-Con drift on Nintendo Switch
Check for Game Software Updates
Playing the same few games consistently causes your Joy-Cons to drift, which may indicate a problem with those specific games. On your Nintendo Switch Home screen, select the pertinent game. Then, press the plus (+) button and choose Software Update > Via the Internet to check for updates.
Additionally, check the game’s information online to see if it employs tilt controls. Your Joy-Cons might be functioning normally, but they keep pulling to the side if you tilt them without realizing the effect you’re having. Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are two games where this happens frequently.
Reset Any Button Mapping
You can change the functions of the different buttons on your Switch to make the controllers more usable by using button mapping. Additionally, you can alter the orientation of your control stick using button mapping.
Return to the Home screen and look for a Switch or Joy-Con icon with a wrench on it in the bottom-left corner to see if button mapping is enabled on your Switch. To reset each Joy-Con to the default button mapping, go to System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Change Button Mapping and tap Reset.
Update Your Switch System
Although the majority of Joy-Con drift issues are hardware-related, there’s a chance that your issue is software-based, in which case an update will typically resolve it. The best way to solve any software-related issues with the Nintendo Switch is to update the operating system.
The first step is to confirm that your Switch is Wi-Fi connected. Simply navigate to the Home screen, choose System Settings > System, and tap System Update. Your Switch will scan for fresh updates and download and apply any that are found.
Recalibrate Your Control Sticks
Your Joy-Con control sticks may be pulling to one side as a result of incorrect calibration. This indicates that the control stick sensors are no longer able to perceive the shape of a centered control stick. Recalibrating your control sticks in the Switch settings will quickly fix this.
Select System Settings > Controllers and Sensors from the Home page, then scroll down to Calibrate Control Sticks. To recalibrate your control stick, adhere to the onscreen directions. You must ensure that the cross icon appears in the circle’s Centre. Additionally, you can press Y to instantly reset your control stick to its factory settings, but this will only function if the control stick itself is in perfect working order.
Check Your Controllers Are Connected Correctly
You should check to make sure your Joy-Con controllers are properly communicating with the Switch system, according to Nintendo’s Joy-Con support page. Go to the Home screen and select the Controllers button to do this. All of the controllers that are currently paired with the Switch are displayed on the left side of the screen, along with information about whether or not they are registering as attached or detached from the Switch.
Verify that this corresponds to reality and move your Joy-Cons around the console to see if the image changes to reflect this. Press the minus (-) or plus (+) button under Change Grip/Order if your Joy-Cons aren’t properly registering. Then pair your Joy-Cons once more by following the on-screen instructions.
Update Your Joy-Con Firmware
You must update both the Joy-Con firmware and the Switch’s operating system. It’s crucial to update the Switch system first because you might need the most recent version of the operating system in order to use the most recent Joy-Con firmware.
Go to Home > System Settings > Controllers and Sensors and select Update Controllers after updating your Switch system. Each controller on your Switch will receive an update one at a time. Before testing your Joy-Cons once more, wait for all updates to be finished.
Clean the Joy-Con Control Sticks
Joy-Con drift is frequently brought on by dirt and grime accumulating inside the control stick mechanism. You can still remove this dirt to repair your Joy-Con if you don’t want to completely disassemble it and void the warranty in the process. You’ll require the following in order to complete this task properly:
Final Words
When a Joy-Con registers input when there isn’t any, it’s called a Joy-Con drift. This implies that a reticle or your character might move independently of your input. Early on in the life of the Nintendo Switch, this issue was first brought to light. The Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith law firm filed a class action lawsuit against Nintendo in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in response to reports of Joy-Con drift.
In response to the reports, Nintendo released the following statement in July 2019: “We are aware of recent reports that some Joy-Con controllers are not responding correctly. If anything prevents our customers from enjoying their Nintendo Switch, we always encourage them to visit official website so we can assist them. We hope our article on “Nintendo Switch: How to fix Joy-Con drift” will surely help you to do so.