Introduction
I've grown up playing Xbox, and one problem that I've had to deal with consistently is stick drift. If you don't know, stick drift is when your controller's joysticks move on their own. Often you can't see it move, because it's such a slight movement, but the Xbox receives this input. This problem becomes extremely frustrating in many games because you have to constantly correct the self-moving character or camera angle. I've become pretty fed up with it, so I made this guide to help others fix their controllers instead of spending $60-$150 for a new one. It doesn't take very long. All you need is a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol, a few cotton balls, and 5-10 minutes of your time.
Tools
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Remove the battery case from the back of the controller
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Remove all batteries
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If you have a USB connected, remove it from the controller's USB port.
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Apply a moderate amount of 70% Isopropyl Alcohol to the tip of a cotton ball
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Keep your bottle of 70% Isopropyl Alcohol away from children and avoid touching your face and open wounds while using it.
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Thoroughly rub the cotton ball along the inside edges of the thumbstick to clean any internal debris.
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Connect your wireless controller to your Xbox and test for stick drift.
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If the problem persists, repeat step 5, or replace the potentiometers in the controller.
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3 comments
I feel stupid for not attempting to clean the thumb stick with alcohol sooner. thanks for the guide!
I didn't have any isopropyl alcohol, so I had to use Dr. Bob Goldstein's Nature's Protection Herbal Bug Spray 😅
it's 98% isopropyl alcohol, 1% cedarwood oil, and 1% peppermint oil
Adam -
Using Isoprop to clean contacts is effective in a lot of things. Did it work for your controller?
Me sinto estúpido por não ter tentado isso ainda kkk, obrigado.