iFixit - Answers With Device "Joy-Con"

Joy-Con: Why is my new Gulikit TMR already drifting

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:58:57 -0700

Hi all,

I've recently replaced both my thumbsticks of my 2019 Nintendo Switch with Gulikit TMR Joystick.
I was very happy to run the calibration and to see that there was no drift anymore.

Soon after I noticed when booting the Switch or reconnecting the Left Joycon, the drift was back and like 100× worse. There is major jittering to the left, and it only goes away when tilting the thumbstick fully to the left. You can see it in this short video. Right Joycon is working nicely, noticed nothing weird during calibration or anything.

Thanks in advance!

⟐ Commented March 29, 2026 at 8:58 MST

Joy-Con: Question about the Gulikit TMR Joysticks caps

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:09:57 -0700

I was wondering if the black joystick caps on the Gulikit TMR Joysticks are interchangeable with Nintendo's own stock joystick caps? I know this might sound like a strange question, but I'm thinking of getting a pair of these to replace the joysticks on my Pokemon SWSH Switch Lite (starting to get drift) which has a blue left joystick and a red-ish pink-ish right joystick, so am I able to take just the rubber caps off of those and put them on the Gulikit TMR's to keep them matching the rest of the system?

Joy-Con: Both Joy-Cons doesn’t work wirelessly but does connected on switch

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 04:51:54 -0700

Hello,

So my only problem now is that my joy cons won’t connect wirelessly but can with my console. I even bought brand new ones and still doesn’t even connect wirelessly. I did much as I can, I did the disconnect controller but still didn’t work.

Joy-Con: Why do these things break so easily?

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:16:12 -0700

This isn't a repair question, per say, but if anyone knows why these things break so easily, I'd really like to know, especially when it comes to how the R-buttons are so flimsy! I took two apart, and both had serious problems, especially with the R-buttons. As soon as I touched the internal button, it pretty much dismantled itself. I have no clue why this happened. The remains had carried small flakes of the circuit board with them, so I'm not sure if I'll have to replace the board or just the buttons, because I don't know if it carried too much of the conductive surface away with it (if anyone knows the answer to that, that would help, too!). I'd also like to know why it's almost exclusively the R-buttons that break (at least, among the shoulder buttons)! So far, I've only had R-buttons break. Not L-buttons. Not those ZR/L buttons. Just the R-buttons! Anyway, if anyone knows why these things are so dang flimsy, I'd appreciate it.

⟐ Answer accepted February 25, 2026 at 11:16 MST

Joy-Con: Right joycon doesn't connect wirelessly

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:17:57 -0700

Hello

my right joycon works only when attached on the switch but does not connect wirelessly when taken off, the switch doesn't even recognize it.

It is not an antenna issue, i've already tried replacing it, its not a switch issue as it works with other joycons, the joycon (that doesn't work) doesn't connect wirelessly to any switch i've tried it.

From reading i suspect it being a problem from the bluetooth chip on the motherboard, any suggestions?

edit: I've tried connecting the right joycon to my phone via bluetooth and it doesn't show up but trying with the left one it does show up

⟐ Commented February 12, 2026 at 1:17 MST

Joy-Con: Right joycon disconnects when far from console

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 01:38:05 -0700

My right joycon works perfectly, but only very close to the console, when I move less than a meter from the console it disconnects... I can't understand

⟐ Commented January 20, 2026 at 1:38 MST

Joy-Con: Left Joy-Con drift only when pressure applied — Gulikit Hall stick

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:13:10 -0700

I replaced the analog stick in a left Nintendo Switch Joy-Con with a Gulikit Hall-effect joystick. Calibration is stable when untouched, but drift appears when light pressure is applied to the shell or when the joystick ribbon cable is lightly touched (even with a Q-tip).

I have already:

Cleaned the ribbon cable and ZIF connector with isopropyl alcohol
Fully reseated the ribbon cable and locked the latch
Insulated and taped the ribbon to the board
Recalibrated and power-cycled the controller

The issue persists and is pressure-dependent, not constant.

Is this consistent with a worn or damaged ZIF connector on the Joy-Con motherboard, or could it still be a defective Gulikit module? Has anyone seen left Joy-Cons behave like this after multiple joystick repairs?

Any confirmation or board-level insight would be appreciated.

⟐ Commented January 03, 2026 at 18:13 MST

Joy-Con: My right joy-con is not being recognized as connected into the switch.

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:28:24 -0700

Hi, I have a problem my switch does not recognize the joy con as connected when i slide it in the switch. The joy con still works but only wirelessly. It does get charged but nothing else. I tried other joy-cons with no luck.

I ordered a new right rail from eBay. I thought the rail might be the problem . I replaced it successfully but no change. If anyone has an idea i would appreciate it.

⟐ Commented January 02, 2026 at 6:28 MST

Joy-Con: Controller wont charge, but is recognized by the switch when attached

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:03:09 -0700

My controller is recognized by the switch when attached but wont power on when I remove it from the console. It also doesn't charge when attached to the console. When I opened it up, it started to work and when I tried closing it again the power cut instantly. I'm assuming I would have to replace the joy-con sensor rail.

⟐ Answer edited December 26, 2025 at 16:03 MST

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 December 26, 2025 at 13:31 MST

Joy-Con: Shell change, now no lights?

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:24:57 -0700

I have changed the shell and sticks on the joy cons ages ago following the guides and they both work perfectly except that the lights don’t come on anymore. I’m now trying to get into pairing mode to connect to an ipad and there’s no indication that it’s in pairing mode and the ipad is not recognising them. Any ideas? or do i need to get back inside the joy con?

⟐ Answered December 26, 2025 at 13:24 MST

Joy-Con: Why isnt my right Nintendo switch joycon working at all?

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:16:16 -0700

At first it just started with my controller sometimes not registering while on the console , now it doesn’t work at all . there are no lights on the connecting side and I’ve hit it against the wall multiple times as this is what others have said . Any takers?

⟐ Answer edited December 26, 2025 at 13:16 MST

Joy-Con: Loose Joy-con’s

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:51:52 -0700

Both of my Joy-cons (left and right) are loose and come out of the console very easy, how do i fix it?

⟐ Commented December 25, 2025 at 11:51 MST

Joy-Con: Right joycon only works with bloothooth and not without

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:10:48 -0700

Can this part of the Switch JoyCon cause the JoyCon's motherboard to stop working? The A, B, X, and Y buttons no longer work. I swapped them with one from a defective JoyCon and then swapped them back. But since then, the JoyCon that was already working fine hasn't worked either. I now suspect that both motherboards have developed a defect since I swapped them.

https://youtube.com/shorts/84F1gIaOENs?f...

Hi, im afraid that there is not anything wrong with the connector or how its Connected. But that there is a deeper meaning to this.

I have tried to put the switch off flight mode then suddenly the joycon works but if i put it in flight mode again the joycon doesnt work anymore

https://youtu.be/wtZxREn_leM?feature=sha...

⟐ Commented December 23, 2025 at 11:10 MST

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 November 23, 2025 at 11:08 MST

Joy-Con: Why do my Joy-Cons disconnect when they are attached?

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:26:45 -0700

My Joy-Cons always seem to disconnect after a period of time. This happens when they are attached to the screen; they seem to disconnect in the middle of games and act as if they came off. It tells me to take both off since I have one attached and one detached, even though they are both attached.

⟐ Answered November 20, 2025 at 0:26 MST

Joy-Con: Any good products for removing dirty marks like these?

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 02:11:05 -0700

Trying to restore some old switches and i got these joycons and they are quite dirty, alcohol cleaned off some of the dirt but i was hoping someone had some better ideas. I couldn't find much online about the topic

⟐ Answered November 15, 2025 at 2:11 MST

Joy-Con: joycon gets stuck in rail after reassembly

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:38:47 -0700

my left joycon, after playing handheld for a bit or leaving the joycon docked for a few hours gets stuck, and i need to wiggle it to make it unstuck. my lower screw on the shell, the one closest to the rail, is stripped, and the rail is a tint bit loose, as when i exert pressure on it it moves like 0.2 mm. i didnt touch the screw that joins the rail to the shell. is it safe to play this way. i am really scared i might ruin the switch or the joycon long term, making me unable to play handheld. any help would be greatly appreciated, either telling me if the problem is only the screw, or about the technicalities of keeping it this way. the stripped screw is really pushed deep and i dont know if i can screw it more. i really need an answer

⟐ Answer accepted November 05, 2025 at 6:38 MST

Joy-Con: Joy-con too tight on the rail after reassembly

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:36:43 -0700

I recently changed the joystick and flexible sl/sr cables of my joycons, however the left one gets "stuck", and only comes off of the switch after i wiggle it. When i put it on the switch or take it off the switch i also hear some faint creaking in the middle of the process. and i believe its because of the fact that the rail is moving more "freely" now, as it isnt as snug as my other joycon. im worried it can break the rail of the joycon or of the switch. ive tried to tighten the screws, loosen the screws, but nothing works (possibly because the lower screw close to the rail got stripped, and even though its quite screwed in i cant do much abt it). any help? i didnt touch the screws that keep the shell and rail in place, the only ones i touched were: the external ones, the ones on the rail to keep sl/sr and sync buttons stuck, the ones on the battery side and the joystick ones

⟐ Answer accepted November 05, 2025 at 6:36 MST

Joy-Con: Stripped screw and its removal

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:36:19 -0700

Do you think this screw can be removed by using the extractor tool set or should I just go for the drill solution? I've tried rubber band before and it didn't work and I really need to get into the joycon to fix my drift and lock mechanism. Thanks for the answers!

⟐ Answered October 01, 2025 at 16:36 MST