Yes, Joy-Con 2 can drift. They still use potentiometer sticks, the same basic design as the original Joy-Con. If your Switch 2 is still under Nintendo's warranty, use Nintendo's Joy-Con 2 repair request route first. If it isn't, or Nintendo's route isn't open to you, I fit TMR sticks for £45 for one Joy-Con 2 or £79 for both.
Why Joy-Con 2 can still drift
A potentiometer stick has a small wiper that slides over a resistive track to report the stick's position. The track wears with use, and dust gets in. Once the reading is off, the console thinks the stick is being pushed when it isn't. That's drift, and the Joy-Con 2 stick works on the same principle.
Try the free checks first
- Update the console and the controllers.
- Calibrate the stick in the console's controller settings, and watch whether it moves when you let go.
- Test in two or three games. Some react to small stick movements more than others.
- Try the Joy-Con 2 on another Switch 2 if you can, to rule out the console.
Don't open the controller if you want to use Nintendo's repair route. The checks for original Joy-Con in how to fix Joy-Con drift apply here too, apart from the menu layout.
Nintendo first if it's under warranty
The Switch 2 has its own Nintendo repair route, including a Joy-Con 2 request form. If your Switch 2 is still under Nintendo's warranty and the fault isn't accidental damage, going to Nintendo first is the honest advice. It's their product, it's in warranty, and it shouldn't cost you anything.
Nintendo UK has a free drift repair for original Joy-Con and the Switch Lite, even out of warranty. Whether that covers Joy-Con 2 once they're out of warranty is something to confirm with Nintendo directly. Nintendo's free drift repair explained covers what the original policy includes.
When a TMR upgrade makes sense
My Joy-Con 2 drift repair replaces the original sticks with TMR sticks:
- One Joy-Con 2: £45
- Both Joy-Con 2: £79
It makes sense when:
- the Switch 2 is out of warranty and Nintendo's route would cost you, or isn't available;
- the Joy-Con 2 have already been opened, so Nintendo may refuse them;
- you'd rather not have the same potentiometer design refitted.
Once I've opened a Joy-Con 2, you should assume Nintendo may refuse to repair it later.
What a TMR stick is
TMR stands for tunnelling magnetoresistance. Like a Hall effect stick, a TMR stick senses position with magnets, not a wiper on a track. So there's no track to wear, and drift from that kind of wear is very unlikely. GuliKit makes TMR sticks for Joy-Con 2.
Why TMR and not Hall effect?
Joy-Con 2 attach to the console magnetically, with a release button, and connect through small pins. Nintendo confirmed Joy-Con 2 don't use Hall effect sticks, and magnets that close can interfere with Hall effect sensors. TMR sticks are also magnetic, but they're less affected by outside magnetic fields. That makes them the better fit for a controller that clips on with magnets, so I fit TMR sticks in Joy-Con 2, not Hall effect.
For original-style Joy-Con, which slide onto a rail, I fit Hall effect sticks. TMR sticks vs Hall effect explains the difference in more depth.
Why a Joy-Con 2 costs more than an original Joy-Con
Opening a Joy-Con 2 is fiddlier. A glued plastic rib hides the screws, and the battery is glued in as well. It takes more care to get in and out without damage, and the TMR sticks themselves are a different part from the Hall effect sticks I fit in original Joy-Con.
Sending your Joy-Con 2 to me
- Book and pay online.
- Post just the Joy-Con 2, packed well in a sturdy box. You don't need to send the console.
- I fit the TMR sticks, calibrate and test them on my bench, and send them back insured and tracked.
You pay the postage in; the return is included. It's no fix, no fee: if I can't repair it, I refund what you paid, less return postage. The repair carries a 12-month warranty. For every other Switch 2 price, see the Switch 2 repair cost guide, or browse the Switch 2 repairs page.
Frequently asked questions
Do Joy-Con 2 use Hall effect sticks?
No. Joy-Con 2 use potentiometer sticks. Nintendo confirmed they don't use Hall effect sticks.
Can I fit Hall effect sticks in my Joy-Con 2?
I don't. Because Joy-Con 2 attach with magnets, I fit TMR sticks, which are less affected by outside magnetic fields.
Should I send my Joy-Con 2 to Nintendo or to you?
If your Switch 2 is under warranty and the controller hasn't been opened or damaged, go to Nintendo first. If it's out of warranty, has been opened, or you want TMR sticks, a paid upgrade is the alternative.
