How to fix drifting in PS4 controller?

[JRPGChris 29]

I purchased a second PS4 controller about a year ago, but sadly the controls are showing some heavy drift to the left at this point, and of course the warranty had to expire by the time this started happening.

 

I was wondering if there was any way I could make the control stop drifting on my second PS4 controller.  It is impossible to play many games with it as long as this keeps happening.

[RinkuKulkan 105]

This happened to me earlier this year to 3 of my 4 controllers. I have to tell you before diving into the fixes I tried: -I ended up buying a third party controller-. If you wan't to try to fix it yourself, here are two things I tried: 

 

• Spoiler

   

   This didn't do jack shit with the drifting problem, but is worth a try.

• Spoiler

   

  This is the one that temporally worked for me, until the drift came back months later. You'll have to disassemble your controller to the bare bone in order to clean the joystick sensors. It's simpler than it sounds, just follow the video step by step (Keep in mind this for the latest gen version, the one with the LED bar at the touch pad).

The last resort is to bring your controllers to a repair shop, because you'll need a completely new board. They aren't really expensive, but they are scarce now a days.

 

Hope this helps.

 

PS. If you are wondering, THIS is the controller I got. I give it a 7/10. If you want a more detailed review let me know

[DaivRules 15,283]

29 minutes ago, JRPGChris said:

I purchased a second PS4 controller about a year ago, but sadly the controls are showing some heavy drift to the left at this point, and of course the warranty had to expire by the time this started happening.

 

I was wondering if there was any way I could make the control stop drifting on my second PS4 controller.  It is impossible to play many games with it as long as this keeps happening.

 

Youtube has lots of great possible solutions:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dualshock+4+fix+stick+drift

Cleaning the sensors seems to help, but depending on the amount of wear and age, if it does work, it'll be temporary.
 

[Gueeds 40]

If you have soldering skills, you could buy replacement analog parts and solder off the bad one and solder on the new one. Probably the cheapest fix, but will require some bit of know how.

 

I’d go through cleaning or blowing air in it first to check before you go down this route 

[StraightVege 4,002]

Nearly every controller I've owned for PS3 and PS4 developed this problem eventually, and none of the YouTube "fixes" I tried helped for long, if at all. Always ended up needing to buy a new one. When it comes to third-party options, I like the Hori FPS Plus.

[Z1MZUM 2,247]

I had stick drift on the Berry Blue PS4 controller and just like every other stick drift I've taken it apart and drowned the pot in isopropyl alcohol. It's not drifting any more.

[ippikitako 38]

You can buy the stick mechanic and replace it. The "youtube fixes" don't last long.

You'll need a (adjustable) soldering iron and soldering skills.

[DanteIshimura 20]

On 12/22/2022 at 6:09 AM, StraightVege said:

Nearly every controller I've owned for PS3 and PS4 developed this problem eventually, and none of the YouTube "fixes" I tried helped for long, if at all. Always ended up needing to buy a new one. When it comes to third-party options, I like the Hori FPS Plus.

I watched a few of those videos lately. For the part where you take out the little white disc and then clean that section out, if its just dirt then it will work fine, but if those tiny circles have scratches on them then there is no fix other than buying spare parts or just buying a new pad.