Joy-con drift is not the end. You can fix it.

For under $20.

If you already own a tri-wing screwdriver it is hardly an inconvenience.

I got a Switch Lite from a friend, it had a completely broken left joy-stick. A bit more extreme than joy-stick drift, but no less infuriating. I also have siblings whose Switches have joy-stick drifting, they first tried home-brew solutions to fixing it before calling it a lost cause and then buying new controllers for Christmas.

It turns out instead of all the tricks you find online, you could just replace the joystick itself.

After you get past Nintendo’s unique screw-head to keep you out the insides of a joy-con, you will be surprised on how simple your device is. I would suggest the guide on replacing the part by I-Fixit, unless you are experienced in electronics or willing to risk your device.

You can get all you need to fix your Joy-con drift in a pack for $15 on Amazon.

When it comes to the repair all you need is a tri-wing screw driver, a Philips head screwdriver, a plastic pry rod, a pair of tweezers and a replacement joystick.

With this pack I was able to fix a broken left joy-stick on a Switch Lite, and two Joy-cons. I still have one Joy-stick replacement left. As well as the tools to open up other Nintendo products or do a future repair when the next joy-con starts drifting beyond what software can fix.

Now I have a Switch Lite that was destined for the trash, or if it was lucky maybe a closet, to be forgotten and never played again. Now it is how I am enjoying Animal Crossing: New Horizons with my siblings. As well as a console I can take to and from college without a hassle that I am confident I can fix if something goes wrong.

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Thank you!