iFixit - Answers With Device "Joy-Con"

Joy-Con: trying to replace case on nintendo switch joy cons

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 17:31:43 -0700

so long story short im trying to replace the casing on a set of joy cons and the casing that i bought... doesn't have a instruction manual in the box ._.

the rear casing won't come off after unscrewing all the screws also

help???

⟐ Answered Aralık 26, 2022 at 17:31 GMT-7

Joy-Con: My right joycon is not recognized horizontally

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:31:21 -0700

Hi,

Both of my right joycons cannot be used horizontally AND their sync light does not work. They do work fine when used vertically (either docked or wireless), but just cannot be used horizontally. Any idea what I could do?

Thank you!

Laurent

⟐ Answered Aralık 26, 2025 at 13:31 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Gulikit Left joy con drifts at start

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 13:06:36 -0700

Hey, all! I recently got the Guilikit TMR Joy Cons to replace my old ones. I followed the video, did both left and right, then did the calibration. They both work great, except, sometimes when launching a game, the left one will have a very slight drift to the left. If I leave it alone for about 30 seconds, it stops. If I open the calibrating menu, it shows no movement. Also, it doesn't do it every time. The stick works great, otherwise, even on the times that it does drift.

Has anyone else experienced this?

⟐ Commented Ağustos 30, 2025 at 13:06 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Joy-Con has weird connection issues?

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 13:01:25 -0700

Final-final-update i swear: it was a motherboard issue. A few capacitors bursted and it affected the chip besides it. It was the very issue I didn't hope for :( I didn't see it at first because it was a tee wee lil' spot that wasn't very visible with the nakey eye. I'll recycle any parts I can for future repairs, so at least something positive :) I'm still thankful for any given answer!

Update: Added a video on the issue while in wireless

Update 2: a picture of what the screen shows me when the joycons are wirelessly connected, it says it's charging while it shouldn't

Hi! My right joycon has gotten a very weird issue recently. It connects and disconnects when in handheld mode in a one-second tact, and in wireless mode it thinks it's connected to the console (while it obviously isn't) and keeps connecting and disconnecting in the same one-second tact. It can't even charge properly because of that.

I've already deleted the pairing in the settings and resynced them but it still does that. It definitely isn't a console issue as this joycon does that on every switch console I've tried out so far. Could it be a firmware issue? Is it somehow fixable or do I need to send it in?

⟐ Edited by author Nisan 13, 2024 at 13:01 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Left Joy-Con won't stay attached, even after replacing latch

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 21:09:00 -0700

A month ago ish, i dropped my switch such that the right joy con's buckle latch broke and the joy con went flying to the middle of the room. I ordered the metal replacement latches from iFixit, and due to EU complications they arrived yesterday. When I was going to replace them, i noticed the left joy con felt loose too. After replacing the latches, my right joy con is very snug and feels better than when it was new, but now my left joy con still doesn't fit properly, it's even worse than before.

My left joy con, with a newly replaced latch (which was never broken on that joy con), fits worse than the right joy con after i dropped my switch and broke its latch. I have not over-tightened the bracket above the latch (which would explain it being stuck in the open position), and i do have the spring in its proper place (which again, would explain why it doesn't lock). I also noticed the latches are asymmetrical, and i made sure to align them with the correct joy con based on how my old ones looked.

Through various testing by tightening/loosening screws and removing parts, I've figured that the problem is the release button pushing down on the latch, even in its fully depressed position, such that the latch is permanently in its "open" position. Nothing is forcing the release button down, and it is installed with the tab in the correct orientation. When I reassemble the joy con without the release button at all, then it attaches to my switch perfectly just as snug as my right joy con (and i can stick my screwdriver in or something to release the lock).

I also figured out that if i attach the back panel to the rail with a loose screw on purpose (so as to not push the release button into the latch already), and don't attach it at all to the rest of the joy con, then the rail locks in place, but as soon as I press the back panel down properly, it's as if i pressed the release button and the joy con comes off easily.

I can't figure out how to solve this other than removing the release button, which is an unacceptable solution to me.

⟐ Answered Ekim 25, 2023 at 21:09 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Right Joycon Not Detected in Handheld mode

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 16:42:02 -0700

I've seen several people with similar issues online but all seem to be resolved with just "clean it." and nothing else being suggested but I've gone well past "just cleaning" and am still coming up short. Please see below for additional details of what i've done so far to attempt to fix this issue.

Right White Joycon that comes with Switch OLED model

Syncs with any device without issue

Charges from the Switch without any issue

Works as expected except when attempting Handheld Mode

Using OLED model Joycons came with-

Left White + Any other one of my different Right Joycon will work in handheld

Using Standard Model

White Right Joycon will sync but still will not work in handheld. All other Joycon combos I own work just fine in handheld with this model.

Confirmed Switches and Controllers are Updated to Latest version
Can Duster over rail connections
Disassembled Right White Joy Con and cleaned connections with alcohol and let dry
Full replacement of Right White Joycon rail

From all my testing it seems to be something wrong with the joycon specifically and nothing to do with the connectors or Switch since this problem carries over across multiple models. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

⟐ Answer edited Temmuz 10, 2023 at 16:42 GMT-7

Joy-Con: How can I avoid stripping my Joy-Con's screws?

Sat, 08 May 2021 20:58:06 -0700

It should be explanatory, but I'll try explaining.

A week or so ago, the rail on my left Joy-Con fell out, and I got a repair kit

A week later to today, I can't even get the screws on the back of the case off without feeling like I'm stripping them. I'm new here, so are there any tips as to how to unscrew things without stripping them?

⟐ Answered Mayıs 08, 2021 at 20:58 GMT-7

Joy-Con: My Y tip screw is stripped! What do I do?

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 10:59:12 -0700

I was trying to fix my drift problem in my right joycon controller when I stripped the screw when trying to open the back plate! The screw is in a little hole and I’ve tried many things like the rubber band technique and super glue but I don’t know what to do to remove it. Unfortunately, I live outside the US (in Thailand) and there are no Joycon repair stores (let alone nintendo stores) near me. However I am visiting the US this winter and heard that Nintendo is no longer charging a fee when repairing the drift issue in joycons, but I’m not sure if I’ll still be charged due to the stripped screw? If you have any information (about the screw or the repair in America) please respond :)

thank you!

⟐ Commented Ocak 07, 2021 at 10:59 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Right joycon gyroscope issue

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 11:08:02 -0700

After installing a new joystick, my right joycon's motion controls now flicker on and off. I suspect the signal is poor somewhere along the line -- maybe something needs cleaned off, or a ribbon cable isn't fully clamped in. Does anyone know where the gyroscope assembly is located so I can hunt down the issue?

⟐ Commented Kasım 23, 2025 at 11:08 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Joycon (left) indicator lights flashing an unknown error code

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 01:52:57 -0700

I just replaced the joystick on my left joy con, Using the joystick from a broken (in non-joystick related ways) left joycon. The joystick part of the equation works perfectly.

However the SR, SL, and sync buttons seem to have stopped functioning. And even more worrying, when not connected pressing a button does not cause the indicator lights to race up and down as one would expect. Instead there is a repeated flashing pattern of the first, third, third lights from the top.

This is frustrating as I need the sync button to be able to pair the joy con to a computer. I don't know if the sync/sr/sl buttons failing and the flashing are related. The joy con works fine when I connect it to my switch, and works fine wirelessly after I've connected and paired it. But the physical connection isn't an option for pairing with a laptop.

Here is what I'm observing, to be clear:

And for reference, this is what I would expect (video is of my right joy con):

⟐ Answer edited Haziran 27, 2025 at 1:52 GMT-7

Joy-Con: What is the Antenna cable for in the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:46:58 -0700

What is the reason that that cable is in the right Joy-Con, but not the Left?

⟐ Answered Mart 06, 2024 at 12:46 GMT-7

Joy-Con: This this part available for purchase?

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 17:20:46 -0700

This ribbon cable has a cut in it. This is the right joycon. It will charge but not connect to the console. I can’t find the part listed on this website.

⟐ Commented Kasım 28, 2023 at 17:20 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Joystick works except for other buttons when shell is closed

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 01:29:51 -0700

I got my Nintendo Switch since its launched in March 2017. Just a year later, the LED indicator and the SL+SR buttons on my left joy-con stops working (aside from the joy-con drift problem). I did not care that much since I only play single player games and mostly on my Switch Pro Controller.

Now that I have my own family, I wanted to play Switch with them. So I tried to fix the left joy-con by replacing the SL ribbon cable and joystick. I knew I was successful because the LED indicator lights up again and the SL + SR button are being detected. My problem is when I try to put back the shell. If the joy-con shell is closed tightly, only the joystick is being detected, the rest like the d-pad, L, ZL, etc. stops working. Loose up the shell slightly, all the buttons will work again.

Can you help me with this problem? I would appreciate your support on this.

⟐ Answered Ekim 19, 2023 at 1:29 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Why is my fourth LED not lighting up?

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 21:59:40 -0700

The fourth LED of my left joy con does not light up. I've opened it before and even replaced the slider, though the ribbon cable seems fine.

⟐ Answer accepted Ekim 01, 2023 at 21:59 GMT-7

Joy-Con: How do I fix a joycon that doesn't rumble/vibrate?

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 18:40:11 -0700

I dropped my nintendo switch with the joycons attached, and it landed on the left joycon. The force temporarily dislocated the charging rail on the left joycon, but it could be reinserted and the joycon closed easily. However, after the drop, the joycon no longer produced any vibrations. Is there a way I can open the joycon and check inside to see if something needs to be reattached, that was dislodged when I dropped it? What part of the joycon controls the rumble?

⟐ Answer accepted Temmuz 30, 2023 at 18:40 GMT-7

Joy-Con: I’m very frustrated with my right Joy-con

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 16:36:52 -0700

I have a very faulty R joy-con. It has many issues, I’ll list them here:

cracked case (maybe that’s my fault)
SYNC/SL/SR/LEDs not responding
joystick drift

So I ordered a clear shell, a new SL/SR assembly, and GuliKit joysticks.

Aaannnd the second I try to open up the joy-con I strip a screw.

So I say “we’ll I’m changing the shell anyways I’ll just crack it open” and that actually works pretty well.

[edit: I forgot to add that when I opened it up I realized instantly that, oh no, the battery is leaking!!]

So I follow the guide and it says to gently pry up on the battery connector, so I gently do so, but the area to get to that connector is so so small, and I end up not unplugging the battery from the connector, but pulling the Whole Battery connector right off the motherboard!!

Now I either need a new motherboard or someone with soldering experience (I don’t have any and would just break it more). What should I do? Super frustrated right now

⟐ Answered Haziran 08, 2023 at 16:36 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Right joycon "A" button not working

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 09:05:45 -0700

All other buttons on my R joy-con work (R/ZR/+/X/Y/B/Home) and it is able to connect/pair with my switch. Except the "A" button is not working at all. Is there a way to fix that or do I do need to replace the entire board in the joy-con?

⟐ Answered Nisan 08, 2023 at 9:05 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Joy Con not functioning when physically attached to Switch

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:44:27 -0700

The Switch was dropped, I replaced the right red joy con’s rail. It now functions fine when wireless, but will not work when physically attached to the switch. The Switch shows the attach animation, when it is attached, but then fails to recognize it and does not accept any input from the joy con.

I then replaced the rail on the actual console, and I get the same error. I have deleted and re-paired the joy cons, and rebooted the switch, and joy con, and still have the same issue. All connections on the joy con have been detached and reseated, and I think have the same issue.

Any thoughts?

⟐ Commented Nisan 06, 2023 at 14:44 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Can someone help with a project?

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:21:11 -0700

Me and a few colleagues of mine are looking through the electrical components throughout the Nintendo Switch Joycons. Can someone guide us through how they work and willing to chat and help?

⟐ Commented Nisan 03, 2023 at 14:21 GMT-7

Joy-Con: Ideas to fix stripped joy-con screw?

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 08:31:42 -0700

I'm trying to replace my joy-con joysticks but this one screw is being an issue. It started a little stripped and I used the right screwdriver, but now it's just stripped beyond saving and nothing I've tried can get it out. I've tried the rubber band and several other things, but there's just no grip left.
I need it open because it drifts so bad, and at this point I'm considering just cutting the shells apart and replacing them so I can get it fixed. But I would also like to not do that if possible. Is there anything to do or should I just cut them open?

⟐ Answer accepted Şubat 07, 2023 at 8:31 GMT-7