How to Fix Analog Stick Drift on a PS4 Controller | Repair & Get Rid of Jittery Sticking DualShock 4

Рет қаралды 152,309

Күн бұрын

12 Solutions (some new) for resolving analog stick problems with a Sony DS4 Gamepad. Many involve cleaning from the outside, but also taking the controller apart and cleaning on the inside. Soldering fixes are also discussed. I also show how to properly test the controller, I explain dead zones, and I get honest about the risks involved with self-fixing. Finally, I include teardown instructions, as well as how to put it back together.
Other DualShock 4 repair videos:
7 Ways to Fix R2/L2 Trigger Button:
• 7 Ways to Fix R2/L2 Tr...
How to Fix Circle, X, Square, or Triangle:
• How to Fix Circle, X, ...
Other PS4 How-To Videos:
How to Transfer Screenshots from PS4 to PS5 (or to PC):
• How to Transfer Screen...
How to Transfer Data From PS4 to PS5:
• How to Transfer Data F...
References From the Video:
KZfaqr Who Shows How to Fix Battery Connector:
• How to fix a broken ba...
KZfaqr Who Teachers Soldering:
• Using Solder | Solderi...
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Product Links:
Button Replacement Kit: amzn.to/401p5xe
Precision Screwdriver Kit: amzn.to/3TtYrur
Micro USB Charging Cord: amzn.to/3LBsu1x
Charging Station: amzn.to/3ySg8ue
TESmart 16×1 HDMI Switch 4K@60hz: amzn.to/3Cqng3j
Kinivo 5x1 HDMI Switch 4K@60Hz: amzn.to/3GhtVhn
AVSTAR HDMI Switch 4x1 4K@120Hz 8K@60Hz: amzn.to/3IrNkyN
llano HDMI Switch 4x1 4K@120Hz: amzn.to/3GceEhO
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Timestamps:
00:00 How to Use This Tutorial
00:55 Will This Work?
01:28 How to Test Your Controller
02:46 Solution 1
04:41 Solution 2
06:18 Solution 3
07:00 Solution 4
08:44 Solution 5
09:31 Solution 6
09:55 Solution 7
11:07 Warnings
12:30 Solution 8 + Take Apart
18:55 Solution 9
22:48 Solution 10
28:19 Solution 11
28:54 Solution 12
33:34 Why No Solution 13?
34:46 Put Back Together
Additional keywords:
Solder, thumbstick, alcohol, disassembly, discs, contacts, debris, dirt, traces, take apart, problem, issue, running, run, sprint, sprinting, slow, slowing, generation model differences, repair, L3 R3, jitter, faulty
#ps4 #controller #dualshock4

Пікірлер: 160

@HowToX 10 ай бұрын

00:00 How to Use This Tutorial 00:55 Will This Work? 01:28 How to Test Your Controller 02:46 Solution 1 04:41 Solution 2 06:18 Solution 3 07:00 Solution 4 08:44 Solution 5 09:31 Solution 6 09:55 Solution 7 11:07 Warnings 12:30 Solution 8 + Take Apart 18:55 Solution 9 22:48 Solution 10 28:19 Solution 11 28:54 Solution 12 33:34 Why No Solution 13? 34:46 Put Back Together

@JJLongway 7 ай бұрын

I googled how to fix my controller before I went to Walmart! You just saved me $60. I appreciate it🤝

@HowToX 7 ай бұрын

Glad to help, and glad it's showing on Google.

@petervaday1414 29 күн бұрын

Same, solution 7 worked for me, thank you @HowToX

@DimzReacts 6 ай бұрын

Solution 10 works yet again. I watched a different videos ages ago when I had this problem. This video is far better, I have bookmarked it to make sure I know what to do next time. It didn't take much cleaning at all of the potentiometer. The joystick works flawlessly on the website now instead of shaking around when I would hold it still. Thank you! (I came from the old video btw where u linked this one).

@Visua0 9 ай бұрын

Solution 10 actually worked for me. Thanks a lot for the clear instructions! I only opened 1 door since only 1 direction was having issues. I did have to cut off the 3rd peg to get the door closed, so I'm glad you mentioned even that.

@hugojimenez8670 8 ай бұрын

solution 10 worked for me for both joysticks, took me like 2 or 3 hours cause I had no previous experience, but it's a really simple process and you explained it very well, thanks a lot!

@coreytodd1709 7 ай бұрын

I’ve spent a lot of money fixing this problem with an antique controller for ps4, never again. This was wonderful

@MrRi0T13 5 ай бұрын

Thank you very much. Within 20 minutes my controller was working like new again. I opened it and cleaned it with rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush. 6 years since I've had the PS4, I've changed 3 controllers due to drift. I wish I had seen your video earlier. Thanks again for the money I saved this time thanks to you

@jimejamm 6 ай бұрын

Fixed my nephews controller because of your video. He had stick drift. Solution 9 worked. THANK YOU!

@DLJames-gf1xr 6 ай бұрын

I dont have the money for a new controller, and mine was drifting up and as good as broke. I tried every solution to no avail and almost gave up hope until method 10. I opened a worse controller for practice, then opened up my good one. Followed the directions to a T and my controller works better now than it did before. Thanks so much, you helped a bunch.

@genore1993 6 ай бұрын

Belive it or not. The flipping it upside down smacking it and pushing the button in actual worked for now. Its a 2 month old controller. Didnt want to open it up. I have done that alot with my old controller though.😅

@Zeldavidson Ай бұрын

dawg, when i tell u i thought that was bs jus now it WORKED

@genore1993 Ай бұрын

@@Zeldavidson Right? it had been fine for months..... Literally started stick drifting again last nigt! Belive it or not.... Playing rocket leauge.... So every goal i did the same thing. Smack, click, blow, smack... Wroks like a charm again LOL

@BosskAviation751 Ай бұрын

@@genore1993what does smack click blow mean what are the hand movements for that

@michaelmccollum93 Ай бұрын

I have went through every video I could find and when I tell you, smacking it while it is upside down is THEE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY, you have a blessed day, random human ❤️ thank you for your comment

@genore1993 Ай бұрын

@@BosskAviation751 turn controller around so your looking at the back. Hold it at a angle .Click the L3 or R3 while tapping the back of the controller. You can also hold the joystick to one side and literally blow into the joystick.

@ling_uini 7 ай бұрын

Solution 10 was scary but worked and made me feel cool, thank you!!

@Valinthevirgen 12 күн бұрын

I've had my messed up controller for several years and this video fixed it and instead of buying a new controller I should've done this, great video

@JvMatt 26 күн бұрын

Solution 10 did it for me. Thank you very much for putting so much effort into this by leaving nothing ambiguous so it would be easy to follow!

@guidobarzaghi9475 3 күн бұрын

Solution 10 cracked it for me. Fantastic tutorial! Please do more!

@maripaananen9395 3 ай бұрын

Blowing air to the joysticks worked for a little while. Now I fixed two controllers with the 10th solution. Thank you so much! 😁

@sq_z 3 ай бұрын

The blowing worked. I had ZERO trust in this, but decided to try it anyway, but it worked. I've been trying to fix the drift on my ps4 controller for years now. Decided to randomly try to fix it again today, and was surprised by this awesome solution. Thanks man, appreciate the content.

@yealol1693 2 ай бұрын

Watch the entire video and did the trick with alcohol. At first it wasn't working and then I gave it a minute and played with the analog in circles. As soon as I said I was about to go buy a new. Boom it all worked out. Thank you man for the video man you saved me another 60 bucks. 👍👍👍

@queenasheeba2953 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I did solutions 4/5/6 & 7 - which basically cleaned gunk out of the joystick. You just saved me from buying a new controller! Thanks again 👏👏

@tobiasampersand 2 ай бұрын

Was all ready to crack my screwdrivers out, got to solution 3 and my controller seems fine again! Super helpful, thank you!

@szalyn8849 9 ай бұрын

The straw solution worked, thanks a lot

@iJobama 4 ай бұрын

Bought a controller last October after my old one was making weird inputs on the right stick, usually would send me looking at the sky. Even had one previously that would spin my character around anytime I pressed the L2 to ADS. This latest one started doing the same, looking at the sky randomly if I took my thumb off the stick. Didn't really want to buy a new one as they are 1/10 the price of a PS5. Tried the straw trick and blew air in and round the right stick and its fixed my issue for the time being. Just had a nice 3 hour session without it looking at the sky once. Thank you!

@FlavourFool 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for being so helpful and thorough.

@Doodsinho 2 ай бұрын

Solution 4 actually fixed the drift. I'm shocked, had no faith it would work, cause usually when my things break they demand the hardest solutions imagineable lmao. Thanks, man. I'll keep referring to this vid when I get further problems. It makes so much sense that the problem was being caused by dirt, cause I've always used my DS4 on PC. I've had it for 3 years and have probably used it only like 50 times, and in very short 30 min - 1 hour gaming sessions. I was like "There's no way it's wear", cause the controller still looks brand new from the outside. So I would definitely recommend y'all to try that solution.

@joakimnilsson261 4 ай бұрын

Absolutely brilliant this guide!

@marctunc4880 8 ай бұрын

Number 7 did it for me. Great advise. Thanks a lot.

@laimerkingdeguzman4679 9 ай бұрын

Thanks it worked, great step by step tutorial

@ravenwolf 21 күн бұрын

Solution 10 worked!!!! I was scared to death to try it, but now it's actually better than my other, "good" analog stick - zero jitter. I previously used another video of yours to replace the d-pad, so a huge thank you again! If you added anything, I'd appreciate some tips on where it is and isn't safe to press on the insides of the controller? I was afraid to break some other part while holding it steady to put pressure on the doors.

@brianbeard3577 Ай бұрын

with the controller upside down-ish, i used the corner of a plastic wrapper like you suggested with the cardboard. Then I blew air with it stil l mostly tilted.... It did the trick . Thanks dude!

@seeenrulez3450 5 ай бұрын

Well hot damn, turning the controller over and blowing into the joystick to clear debris actually worked. Thank you for the tip!

@user-ib1ht1xy8n 2 ай бұрын

Thank you it worked!! And also fixed my L2 interference.

@michelusac1798 3 ай бұрын

Worked great with step 10. Don't hesitate, it's not that hard if you have proper tools. Thank you very much.

@farhadmichael441 7 ай бұрын

Thank you dude,,this is the best explains for solutions,,good luck bro🙏🤘

@FiksIIanzO 8 ай бұрын

Stellar tutorial! Had to disassemble the potentiometer but cleaning both doors and rings worked like a charm! No drifting at all after this one, and I didn't even break anything else! I think. It's supposed to be making this sizzling sound on the inside, right?

@zakikd50 4 ай бұрын

Man.. The tapping thing worked like magic 😂😂❤thank you so much

@limbagakazerkynth2958 7 күн бұрын

Thank you so much you have a new subscriber the solution 10 really works.

@vidjandinevski2244 4 ай бұрын

The best tutorial on youtube

@jankenDE 4 ай бұрын

Solution 9 did the trick. Thank you! 😃

@quifix2506 18 күн бұрын

10 worked for me. This step should really be done by people who have worked on hardware before

@Friedrick_Hanz 4 ай бұрын

YOOOOOO IT WORKED THE TAPPING THANKE YOU IN MANY WAYS SAVED ME ALOT BRO❤❤

@nilfisktun 8 ай бұрын

Lovely, cleaning out the "box" prying it open as described and cleaning with alchohol fixed my drifting controller! Now i dont need to buy my son a PS5 :D :D

@slayer-jc4qd 2 ай бұрын

Yo the straw trying worked great thank you so much

@erenderdimyok 20 күн бұрын

solution 7 save my life. thank you so much

@rainsnowflake4664 3 ай бұрын

Thank you. Very helpful

@john00110101 5 ай бұрын

👍👍👍 Mate!!! You know!! I have sons and advising them to watch a tute (tutorial) once through then restart and slowly go for it!! Maybe even checking the comments for important changes!! Do they listen?? No! Loved you advising the “warnings come at the end of the book” So many of us “Grown Ups” do it too! Great vid! 👏🏻 Meticulous 🫡 and given the youth in your voice x

@solosh6041 7 ай бұрын

Thank you bro so much solution number 6 and 7 helped me in 80% so thank youu

@sooraj0609 3 ай бұрын

Solution 8 worked for me Thank you 😊

@sultanmuwaffaq6173 8 ай бұрын

pulling out the umbrella and blowing the parts below it fixed my problem. thank you very very much

@bud8254 9 ай бұрын

I went with the slap and blow method. So far so good.

@awakenkids 8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, the reset button worked for me!

@chetrusca.126 4 ай бұрын

Wow this worked and it wasn't hard at all thank you so much

@Nihaar- Ай бұрын

Thank you so much❤ the straw solution worked

@Carzon 5 ай бұрын

THANK YOU! Had to resort to solution 7 plus using a qtip with rubbing alcohol on the thumbstick doors (did not want to risk breaking anything), and now i am free from the chains of stickdrift!

@scriptings 4 ай бұрын

Fortnite

@jaimejunior2308 6 ай бұрын

Solution 10 worked for me it was realy dirty inside the potentiometer, Clear instructions and everything. Thanks a lot man

@HowToX 6 ай бұрын

Cool

@maryanneuduak7078 5 ай бұрын

@@HowToXwhich solution do you recommend for the left moving at rest to the left a bit but not too much but it does affect precision. mine is a PS4 console gamepad I tried the all solution to 7 so I'm not sure which one will work when I open it .and it also does this thing when I push up it turn left a lot and I can't go perfectly North anymore

@HowToX 2 ай бұрын

There's not really any way to map a specific symptom to a specific solution, so just try the things in the video, which I realize you said you already did.

@MrAcgolem 6 ай бұрын

Cool I karate chopped it from the back a few times and pressed the stick in while blowing compressed air all around the stick. It's 97% fixed. before, if I let go of the left stick my character would basically take off running to the left. Now maybe every 10th time I stop it takes a single step left. It's good enough. I may even repeat the process a few more times and I reckon it may get to 100% fixed. Great video.

@mattthemouse1 6 ай бұрын

_EDIT:_ Solution 5 didn't Work, but Solution 10 did. Solution 5 Did the trick for me! I swear, I was going to lose it if my DS4 controller went the way of my XBOX Series S controller. It had stick drift inside of 6 months and I was seeing that was common. I've had this DS4 for 4 years now and this is the first real issue I've had. Thanks to you, its no longer an issue and I didn't even have to disassemble it! I've found that on many things, the idea that Sony = Quality is a real thing; that's why I got a DS5 controller for my Roommate for Christmas this year to help get her into gaming; the quality was far superior. Once again from the bottom of my heart: *_THANK YOU_*

@SOFRONIS100 7 ай бұрын

Very nice video 👍🏻

@torofine 10 ай бұрын

Really nice video! It didn't fully fix my problem, but it is much better now. My problem is that it's harder to move my left stick than on the right stick ( I think it's because there is dust ). I did the solution 10, but it's still not fully solved. Nice video tho! :D

@steph5495 Күн бұрын

Thanks to this video I skip some part of the vid to see him taking apart of the controller and so I did and switch that little white piece and put it to that other and so put everything together and now everything works well and I'm very happy for it and video helped alot. Also during I thought I broke it, so please be careful. It's fine

@steph5495 Күн бұрын

Sorry for bad English

@steph5495 Күн бұрын

And I did with solution 11

@nomoral7500 Ай бұрын

Thanks alot my man!

@elena557 Ай бұрын

my controller used to make a squeaky noise and got blocked or drifted, after the vacuum and the straw, it worked brand new thank you:))

@mikerobotgaming9687 3 ай бұрын

very nice brother

@osamahadidi9225 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much the straw method worked woders saved me 60 bucks

@grimm66666 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much you saved me 40+ dollars ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

@TheDjeezus 6 ай бұрын

Wish I had found your video sooner! I had been trying videos that said to press analogs hard and blow on crevices! Feel dumb now! 3 new controllers later, my solution was resetting them. Now I have 4 working controllers! 😅😅

@RobertoMusicHelp 6 ай бұрын

SOLUTION #7 FOR THE WIN!!!!! I would also suggest taking that same straw that you are blowing with and passing it around the inside of the joysticks instead of the cardboard triangle. It's more flexible and if you cut at an angle, you can make a nice cleaner. Cutting the tip at an angle will also allow more air to circulate when you blow into the straw. Worked like a charm. Here's to NEVER having to buy another controller again!!!! Makes me wonder if something similar to this is what GameStop does???

@jaromirprochazka3544 6 ай бұрын

thanks, the straw really helped

@FnG_810 3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much

@pratheeshjoseph9529 Ай бұрын

Thanks brother

@Memnoch67 3 ай бұрын

Thank you if I wasnt broke I'd donate to your channel then again i would have bought a new one. I'll keep in touch soon as work picks up. Again Thank you I never forget a good deed.

@QNEGRO1 3 ай бұрын

For cleaning since the SNES days I been using rubbing alcohol, works wonders dries out fast

@CrazyAtharvaGaming 10 ай бұрын

Very nouce video

@armanipoe8047 6 ай бұрын

This is a very good vid,i own a P4 an i go through drifties due to me ping ponging my p4c to my P3 for street fighter 4 ultra and umvc3,that hinders me from playing wwe 2k22 cuz in that game i learned its hell playing that game with drift.It'll register as a effing snap mare if i inevitably have to button mash.Sony i feel purposely makes these delicate deliberately while pushing fighting games in order to squeeze money outta the fighting game community,a theory but it holds weight,thanks though dude.i learned from this.

@sporcukarti3989 5 ай бұрын

Thank you Bro, solution 5 worked for me. You saved my 30 Euros xd

@HowToX 5 ай бұрын

Cool

@jacksyyuen 7 ай бұрын

solution 11 with completely replacing the white disk always work for me!

@kailomonkey 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video. I just bought a second hand conrotller; it didn't look in great condition but it seems to work okay except the left stick movement forward would stop or veer off to the side too soon. I don't really want to move to opening it up and sadly none of the prior solutions have worked. It very specifically isn't registering any directions properly when pushing up so I think it's a mechanical fault.

@kristyns1640 16 күн бұрын

5 years of issues with my special edition star wars controller. 5 years. and all it took to fix its issues was smacking its ass. or, as my wife put it, burping it. thank you very much for your comprehensive guide 😅

@dayminnleduc3777 8 ай бұрын

You are so awesome very in depth explanation step by step. Awesome. I had to do the opening of the box itself but it workedd thanks sooooooo much.

@quantumgalang9691 3 ай бұрын

thanks

@ChanMan-mm7fe 3 ай бұрын

Yeah, I fucked it up and broke the ribbon cable. Had to get a new controller. Helpful video though. I'll learn from my mistakes! Thank you!

@Crato26 5 ай бұрын

10 worked for me only took less than 10 minutes but did rip one of the tapes but dunt care about the sensor pad neva use it...everything works perfect like new

@mateonatsi 4 ай бұрын

You saved me another 60 dollars thanks

@soluzaroi 8 ай бұрын

gr8 video

@PapaDoc30 8 ай бұрын

Bro the tapping worked

@deckenbonsai8915 6 ай бұрын

Solution 10 seems to worked for me. I didnt played with it yet but the tester-website shows that the drift is nearly gone. I hope that nothing changes for the next months...

@thatguy5767 8 ай бұрын

I need a tip on how to put the ribbon cable back in I have been trying for an hour straight

@ricardosilveira9482 4 ай бұрын

Solution 7 actually worked for me, just had to blow through a straw and the drifting is gone!

@we9691 6 ай бұрын

Half speed, one eye on screen one eye on the controller. A can of compressed air. Took it apart, sprayed the F out of it. Held it upside down shook it, tapped it. Put it back together, aaand? Wasn't expecting new ofcourse, but its a lot smoother then it was. Those microplastic gotten into my controller. It was full of scraping from the thumbstick itself.

@bestone3 6 ай бұрын

So at solution #10, the semiconductor is faded out, the metal got lot of "black dust" from that semiconductor. That's mean it is permanent damaged right?

@Teslarobotaxii 8 ай бұрын

I have on my dual shock the square the L1 and the up left and right buttons not working any idea ?

@Hmzyns 6 ай бұрын

I ront believe I'm saying this but this shi WORKSS

@highkey_wealthy 7 ай бұрын

I just blew into the stick and it started working properly😂

@warmpancaxe 7 ай бұрын

Hey I did a deep dive into the controller. I cleaned the pieces inside the green casing but now left and right are registering as left. Do I need to reposition the white piece with the spring?

@warmpancaxe 7 ай бұрын

Drift is gone btw

@Kingyigi05 3 ай бұрын

36:27 isn’t working for me because the black cover on top on it isn’t removable for me .I took the screw out but it’s still attached to it

@Rkginvincible 5 ай бұрын

My green doors and insides are perfectly clean .....problem seems to be on opposite ends without doors .....i have v2 ds4 ....what to do?

@crtcathoderaytube5206 Ай бұрын

OUTSTANDING VIDEO. I came up with another solution to assist in dead zone calibration without having to disassemble; two methods the second method a simple mod of plastic removal that worked! METHOD 1 CALIBRATION CALIBRATE PS4 CONTROLLER (POWER OFF NO LED LIT) HOLD L2 AND R2 30 SECONDS RELEASE, ROTATE BOTH STICKS FEW TIMES THEN CENTER STICKS AND HOLD L2 AND R2 FOR 30 SECONDS. Try sticks out to confirm if drift goes away. If still drift repeat the calibration, THIS TIME DO NOT PUSH STICK ALL THE WAY TO THE DIRECTION THAT DRIFTS; this will in effect move the dead zone away from the drift. However, unclear if the stick will continue to recalibrate during game play. METHOD 2 NO NEED DISASSEMBLY REMOVE PLASTIC IN STICK HOLE OPPOSITE OF DRIFT My left stick still drifts to the left, hold the stick to left and with sharp pointed knife force on the right side between the stick hat and the stick hole in controller housing. Scrape the hole on the right between stick hat and right side to remove just a slight amount of plastic in the hole. Try to make a smooth plastic removal, scrape around 30 degrees on the side being scraped. The idea is to allow for just a bit of increase stick movement on the opposite side of the stick drift. This allows increase movement opposite of drift during calibration so the dead zone moves to the opposite direction of stick drift. Calibrate after the knife scrape on opposite side by holding L2 R2 button method listed above. Since the stick can now move further to right the dead zone also moved to the right offsetting the drift. The easy fix which might result in slight rough stick rub though will be barely noticable if the plastic scraped off leaves a smooth transition.