Switch Joy-Con Drift Prevention: Keep Your Controllers Working

Preventing Joy-Con drift saves you from frustrating gameplay issues. Avoid pressing the analog sticks too hard—gentle movements reduce wear on the internal components. Clean the analog sticks regularly with compressed air: hold the stick in a circle while spraying to dislodge dust from the housing. Use analog stick covers (like KontrolFreek grips) to reduce friction and protect the sticks from dirt. Don’t leave Joy-Cons in direct sunlight or extreme temperatures, as heat can damage the analog stick modules. When not in use, store Joy-Cons in a case to prevent dust buildup. If you notice minor drift, recalibrate them in 'System Settings' > 'Controllers and Sensors' > 'Calibrate Control Sticks'.