Topic: Stick drift

Hi, just posting for some advice about stick drift issues. Series S is my 1st Xbox console, it's fantastic my favourite console for many years. Unfortunately I'm having a lot of issues with stick drifting. The controller that came with the console became bad after 11 months. That was the right stick which made 99% of my games unplayable. Now my new controller the limited edition Aqua the left stick has gone after less then 5 months of usage. I'm quite frustrated tbh. Is this normal? My Switch pro controller + all my Ps controllers never had this issue not once in 20 years. I almost went & bought a PS5 today🤢, I really had enough of Sony console & want to stay with Xbox but this broken controller situation is annoying. Luckily I got a free design lab controller with ms points a few weeks back, but who knows how long that will last. If anyone has any advice to fix or prevent these stick issues I would be very grateful. Thank You. Btw sorry for wall of text not sure how to space lines on Xbox internet.

I have a bunch of Xbox controllers and have never had this issue. It sounds like you have had some bad luck. The only problem I ever have had with a controller is the elite series 2 dropping Bluetooth which is dam annoying.

@MagicCat it looks kind strange tbh, probably bad luck (even more as it was on the right stock that is way less used and with less force). I had issues before with switch Joy cons and pro controller and found that squeezing the stick (underneath the membrane) with WD40 works like a charm. Just wait for a few hours to dry out and try it again

@MagicCat I've fixed a few Switch Joy-Cons now with the method @Balta666 suggested, but use WD40 Contact Cleaner rather than regular WD40 as its kinder to electronics and doesn't leave any residue.

Stick drift is not uncommon on modern controllers - I've had it happen multiple times on various Switch Joy-Cons and there have been reports of it of PS5 and Xbox controllers too, although I've been lucky so far with my official Series S controller.

I just had my first ever stick drift with a controller actually. It was the one I got with the series x. I had the extended warranty and it was a pain to go through getting it replaced but I got it....and a used extra Xbox one due to a mix-up in MS side. But it definitely seems like bad luck on your side. If the controller is out of warranty (are they coverd for a year?) have you looked online to see how you could take it apart yourself or do you have a local shop that does repairs? The controllers are expensive so it's definitely frustrating having something that you expect to work for years go bad so quickly.

Thank You for the replies. It's hopeful that not everyone is having the issue so maybe I just had a few poor quality controllers. I will get some of the WD40 & give that a try, Thanks for the suggestion. I have checked the videos on taking the controller apart, I think it would be a little too difficult for me. I can still use the controller with right stick drift for media apps otherwise I may be tempted to try taking it apart. It's good you got the controller replaced. I heard Xbox controllers have a 2 year warranty? Also found a MS website where I can put the controller serial number in & see the warranty status. Hopefully I will have better luck with future controllers. Might also check out some cheaper third party controllers. Sorry for not replying to each message individually, each time I reply with quote, I can't make a line break space in-between & it gets confusing lol. Is it possible to line break with Xbox internet app? Thanks Again 👍

I have only had one controller in my MANY years of gaming have any resemblance of stick drift. It was a PS4 controller, which didn't happen until about 6 years into its life. And I am talking gaming back to the 5200.

@MagicCat ya man its just bad luck but here is an old xbox tip from a pro. if the countroller is still in warranty they will replace it Krrzy said it was a hassle so maybe its a different system where he lives but in the US you simply go to your xbox account and fill out a form print out a sticker postage paid drop it off and get a new one in return. Sometimes the new one is sent before you drop off the old one if they have a credit card on file. here is the tip they give you a new warranty for the replacement starting on that day just make sure to register the device on your microsoft account. I have replaced four elite two controllers this way. I love the elites but for what ever reason the new ones have blue tooth issues which is well dumb. Since I want to use them with my pc they never have issues with the xbox just with the pc. I finally just bought a cyberpunk controller and its bluetooth never drops.

@VisitingComet1 yeah i should have specified mine was a pain because it was through the extended warranty program where i have to contact Xbox support for the claim as it's outside the normal warranty. If it's inside the standard warranty is seems pretty easy as you said, just start a claim and get a shipping label and out she goes.

@Krzzystuff ah ok that makes sense. One of the great things where I live is the Xbox repair center is here So it takes about one day for me to get stuff which is awesome.
So here is a list of good things where I live
Xbox repair center✔️
Well I guess that's it.

Thanks for the advice VisitingComet1, I'm in the Uk but will check the warranty status, the controller was only released last September limited edition so hopefully the warranty is ok. I watched some youtube videos & clicked the stick a bit & have some improvement, see how long it lasts but maybe it will hold up. My other controller didn't improve with the stick moving youtube videos. Lol just as I'm typing it's started drifting again typical... That sucks about the bluetooth dropping out, glad the new controller is better. My issue seems to be triggered today when clicking the stick in to get capitals when typing.

Just wanted to bump this thread. Recently I gave the emulation a try on Series S, the PS2 emulator has settings for analogue dead zone, I changed it from 0 to 70 and my stick drift improved massively. The settings seem to save to the controller as they worked on my Xbox once I left the emulation mode. The stick drift has got a little worse again but if an emulator can almost fix my stick drift why can't MS make a dead zone app or setting? As it's so expensive getting a new controller every few months because of stick drift....

I rarely had stick drift until I bought a PS5. And two of my dualsense got it within weeks! It gets worse and becomes unbearable.

Doing well on xbox and then a couple of nights ago, boom, crazy upwards stickdrift because my son used it to play cod. The controller is still usable but nethertheless you know its there and will get worse.

I think it's the current controllers and how they are designed. Maybe a purposeful choice for protracred inbuilt obsolescence.

@themcnoisy I am so afraid of stick drift with my controllers. I rarely use the Joycons on my Switch just for that reason. Went out and got me a third party controller, the Zen Pro Controller which claims that it won't get stick drift and alot of the reviews people said that they have not got any stick drift with it. I definitely feels well built compared to Nintendo's stuff this Gen and I am thinking of getting a second one for my Series X.

Speaking of Series X my controllers are still good for that but I don't hear too much of stick drift with those, mostly Switch of course and PS5, but I still am concerned about it.

@themcnoisy That's bad luck with the PS5 controllers. It's terrible stick drift, it really ruins the gaming experience. I had never experienced it before I got the Series S...

Do you think a certain movement causes it? As my current controller went after 4 months while playing Strange Brigade, which is a game where you have to click the left analogue in to run, I think doing this action over and over again maybe caused it? As my controller was fine until then. Btw I'm still using the controller, it got stick drift in May last year. It's the limited edition Aqua Shift which is a nice controller, I bought a replacement controller during black friday, but I've put off using it as I'm nervous of getting another stick drift... My other controller that came with the Series S got stick drift after playing Biomutant, another game that requires clicking the sticks in over and over... Which stick went after COD? Does that too have any controls like clicking the stick in to run?

I agree, almost like the controllers are designed to break. Especially if you compare it to my PS4 controller I had since November 2015, it has no problems!

@Tasuki Do you have a link for the Xbox controller you mentioned?

@MagicCat https://www.gulikit.com/productinfo/925509.html

@Tasuki Thanks!

@MagicCat it will be the under stick buttons for sure.

@themcnoisy So clicking the sticks in could be doing the damage, as opposed to just moving the sticks around?