Controller joysticks broken and I also have drift

This can either be stick drift, or broken joysticks.

Hello Camie Paiz，



Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

The Xbox controller drift (also known as joystick drift) you're experiencing is a common problem, especially after prolonged use. Drift usually refers to the controller's joysticks (especially the left or right joysticks) moving on their own without any action, or triggering certain motions when there is no manual input. This problem is usually caused by wear and tear on the joystick sensors or buildup of debris such as dust.
A common cause of drift is the buildup of dust, grease, or dirt under the joystick, which can affect the performance of its sensors. The following methods can be used



1. Clean the controller:
Turn off the controller and make sure it is not connected to any devices.
Use compressed air or a cotton swab (moistened with a small amount of alcohol) to gently clean the area around the joysticks, especially the edges of the joysticks and the sensor section.
You can also try using a microfiber cloth to clean the surface of the joysticks.



2. Recalibrate the controller
Xbox controllers sometimes drift because they are not calibrated correctly, try recalibrating the controller:
Open Settings → Devices & Accessories.
Select your controller, click Configure, then select Calibrate and follow the on-screen prompts. 3.



3. Check the deadband adjustment in Settings
Some Xbox controller drift issues may be caused by the controller's Dead Zone setting. The dead zone is the area of the controller that does not respond when the controller's joystick is not fully returned to center. By adjusting the Dead Zone, you may be able to reduce the effects of drift.
In some games, especially through the Xbox Accessories app, you can adjust the joystick's Dead Zone setting:
Download and open the Xbox Accessories app in the Microsoft Store.
Connect your controller and select it.
In the Settings menu, find the option for Joystick Deadband and try adjusting the deadband value to see if it alleviates the drifting issue.

Please feel free contact me if you need more help.



Best regards

|Microsoft Community Support Specialist

I only have one controller. what would joystick drifting do?

I have had the controller from last chrismas, the left joystick keeps drifting

Joystick drifting is where movement is being detected by the controller even when you are not touching the joystick.