Featured
Featured Guide
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
12
Time Required
30 minutes
Sections
1
- Left Joystick
- 12 steps
Flags
Featured Guide
This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.
BackNintendo Switch Joy-Con
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
Introduction
What you need
Video Overview
Step 1
Left Joystick
- Remove the four Tri-Point Y00 screws from the back panel of the Joy-Con.
- These screws are each 6.2 mm long, but it’s still a good idea to keep them organized and make sure they go back in their proper places!
Remove the four Tri-Point Y00 screws from the back panel of the Joy-Con.
These screws are each 6.2 mm long, but it’s still a good idea to keep them organized and make sure they go back in their proper places!
1024
Step 2
- Insert an opening pick into the seam at the bottom edge of the controller (opposite the L and ZL buttons).
- Slowly slide the flat edge of your opening pick up the side of the Joy-Con.
- Be careful not to slide the opening pick too far inside the Joy-Con. This may damage the inner components. The back panel loosens fairly easily, so not much pressure is needed.
Insert an opening pick into the seam at the bottom edge of the controller (opposite the L and ZL buttons).
Slowly slide the flat edge of your opening pick up the side of the Joy-Con.
Be careful not to slide the opening pick too far inside the Joy-Con. This may damage the inner components. The back panel loosens fairly easily, so not much pressure is needed.
Step 3
- With the charging rail facing away from you, open the the Joy-Con like a book.
- Don’t try to fully remove the back panel yet. There are still two cables connecting the charging rail to the motherboard.
With the charging rail facing away from you, open the the Joy-Con like a book.
Don’t try to fully remove the back panel yet. There are still two cables connecting the charging rail to the motherboard.
Step 4
- Use a spudger to gently pry the battery connector straight up from its socket on the motherboard. This will keep the Joy-Con from powering on during the repair.
- Be very careful as you pry up the connector—if it doesn’t come up with the spudger, try gently pulling the cables straight up from the board to disconnect it.
- During reassembly, press the connector straight down into its socket on the board to reconnect the battery.
Use a spudger to gently pry the battery connector straight up from its socket on the motherboard. This will keep the Joy-Con from powering on during the repair.
Be very careful as you pry up the connector—if it doesn’t come up with the spudger, try gently pulling the cables straight up from the board to disconnect it.
During reassembly, press the connector straight down into its socket on the board to reconnect the battery.
Step 5
- Insert an opening pick between the battery and the Joy-Con housing.
- Gently pry out the battery, which is lightly taped in place.
- Be careful not to deform or puncture the battery—it can catch fire or explode if damaged.
Insert an opening pick between the battery and the Joy-Con housing.
Gently pry out the battery, which is lightly taped in place.
Be careful not to deform or puncture the battery—it can catch fire or explode if damaged.
Step 6
- Remove the three 3.5 mm golden Phillips #00 screws from the midframe.
- Do not attempt to remove the midframe yet. There is a fragile cable that still connects the ZL button on the midframe to the motherboard underneath.
Remove the three 3.5 mm golden Phillips #00 screws from the midframe.
Do not attempt to remove the midframe yet. There is a fragile cable that still connects the ZL button on the midframe to the motherboard underneath.
Step 7
- Carefully flip the midframe over, away from the motherboard, as if you were turning the page of a book.
- Do your best not to stress the thin ribbon cable attached to the ZL button during this step.
Carefully flip the midframe over, away from the motherboard, as if you were turning the page of a book.
Do your best not to stress the thin ribbon cable attached to the ZL button during this step.
Step 8
- The ZL button cable is locked in place by a small ZIF connector on the motherboard. Use tweezers or a spudger to flip up the ZIF connector lock opposite the cable.
- Use tweezers to gently pull the ZL button flex cable out of the ZIF connector socket. The midframe is now disconnected and can be removed.
The ZL button cable is locked in place by a small ZIF connector on the motherboard. Use tweezers or a spudger to flip up the ZIF connector lock opposite the cable.
Use tweezers to gently pull the ZL button flex cable out of the ZIF connector socket. The midframe is now disconnected and can be removed.
Step 9
- The ribbon cable connecting the minus button of the Joy-Con to the motherboard runs over the back of the joystick. It is possible to remove the joystick without disconnecting this cable, but it’s much easier to do so when it is disconnected and out of the way.
- Unlock the minus button’s ZIF connector and disconnect the cable.
The ribbon cable connecting the minus button of the Joy-Con to the motherboard runs over the back of the joystick. It is possible to remove the joystick without disconnecting this cable, but it’s much easier to do so when it is disconnected and out of the way.
Unlock the minus button’s ZIF connector and disconnect the cable.
Step 10
- Finally, the joystick is locked into place by one last ZIF connector. Carefully flip the ZIF lock upward and disconnect the cable.
Finally, the joystick is locked into place by one last ZIF connector. Carefully flip the ZIF lock upward and disconnect the cable.
Step 11
- Remove the two 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws from the joystick.
Remove the two 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws from the joystick.
Step 12
- Carefully remove the joystick from its housing.
- There is a thin black gasket around the hole where the joystick pokes through the Joy-Con. Do your best not to disturb this gasket as you remove the joystick!
- Once the Joy-Con is fully reassembled, connect it to your Nintendo Switch and calibrate the new joystick. Additionally, you may need to power cycle your Switch by holding down the power button for 10-15 seconds until it turns off, then turning it back on.
Carefully remove the joystick from its housing.
There is a thin black gasket around the hole where the joystick pokes through the Joy-Con. Do your best not to disturb this gasket as you remove the joystick!
Once the Joy-Con is fully reassembled, connect it to your Nintendo Switch and calibrate the new joystick. Additionally, you may need to power cycle your Switch by holding down the power button for 10-15 seconds until it turns off, then turning it back on.
To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
761 other people completed this guide.
Author
with 12 other contributors
Taylor Dixon
Member since: 06/26/2018
62,097 Reputation
94 Guides authored
Badges:
40
+37 more badges
Team
Teardown Team
Member of Teardown Team
Community
2 Members
2,047 Guides authored
Stev Steve - Feb 18, 2019
Reply
Thx This really helped
David K - Feb 23, 2019
Reply
Thanks Kyler - I just replaced 4 joysticks and they’re all working perfectly.
One final step to remember to go in and calibrate the controller.
Kyler Saunders - Feb 23, 2019
You’re welcome I’m glad I could assist you in your repairs!
Jason Hoover - Apr 11, 2019
Reply
Thanks. This was just the right amount of info and now my left stick drift is gone….for now.
Nick Mensch - Apr 20, 2020
I would recommend at least once a month take a can of compressed air and spray the joystick internals to clear it of any dust or debris.
