How Do You Deal With Thumb Stick Drift? - Lemmy.World
lemmy.world
So I like to use Xbox controllers (doesn’t matter if it’s first- or third-party) because I like the layout, it’s just comfortable to me. However I’ve noticed that on all my controllers in the past few years, the left thumb stick will start to “give out” over the course of a couple months. For instance I’ll be pushing it forward all the way, but it won’t register for some reason and my character will only move a little bit. Sometimes wiggling it a bit will fix it, sometimes it doesn’t. And it’s not like I’m squeezing the hell out of the controller or mashing the stick constantly; in fact it’s made me try to be more delicate with my controllers, even though I’m just playing the games normally. Is it just how controllers are, or am I just getting the shit end of the stick?

So I like to use Xbox controllers (doesn’t matter if it’s first- or third-party) because I like the layout, it’s just comfortable to me. However I’ve noticed that on all my controllers in the past few years, the left thumb stick will start to “give out” over the course of a couple months. For instance I’ll be pushing it forward all the way, but it won’t register for some reason and my character will only move a little bit. Sometimes wiggling it a bit will fix it, sometimes it doesn’t. And it’s not like I’m squeezing the hell out of the controller or mashing the stick constantly; in fact it’s made me try to be more delicate with my controllers, even though I’m just playing the games normally.

Is it just how controllers are, or am I just getting the shit end of the stick?

  • stealth_cookies@lemmy.caEnglish
    3·
    10 months ago

    Even some isopropyl alcohol works. My controller was drifting and I took it apart to blow it out and give it a good cleaning with alcohol. Works flawlessly now.

      • briskEnglish
        32·
        10 months ago

        WD-40 leaves residue, it is not suitable for cleaning

        • seathru@lemm.eeEnglish
          11·
          10 months ago

          It’s one of the messier options but it still works well. The switches in my logitech g604 have been bounce free for over a year now after hosing then down with WD-40. That’s longer than any of the warranty replacement mice lasted.

          Deoxit leaves a residue, too, that will stain clothes. That residue is what helps the contacts from oxidizing again in the future.