Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Joystick Module Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

                          35 - 40 minutes

Sections

Battery
6 steps
Case
5 steps
Joystick Caps
1 step
Joystick Module
4 steps

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BackNintendo Switch Pro Controller
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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the screws

Flip the controller over so the model stickers face the ceiling.
Use a JIS 00 driver or an official iFixit PH 00 driver to remove the two black flathead 8.4 mm-long screws that secure the handles, located at the ends of the handles.

Flip the controller over so the model stickers face the ceiling.

Use a JIS 00 driver or an official iFixit PH 00 driver to remove the two black flathead 8.4 mm-long screws that secure the handles, located at the ends of the handles.

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Step 2

              Remove the handle covers

Carefully remove the handle covers by pulling them away from the main body.

Carefully remove the handle covers by pulling them away from the main body.

Step 3

              Remove the screws

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four silver 6.8 mm-long screws that secure the clear back plastic cover.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four silver 6.8 mm-long screws that secure the clear back plastic cover.

Step 4

              Unclip the plastic cover

Carefully pry away the clear plastic cover using your fingernail.

Carefully pry away the clear plastic cover using your fingernail.

Step 5

              Remove the clear plastic cover

Remove the clear plastic cover.

Remove the clear plastic cover.

Step 6

              Remove the battery

Remove the lithium-ion battery by using a fingernail or plastic opening tool to pry it up on the left side.
Only a small amount of force is needed.

Remove the lithium-ion battery by using a fingernail or plastic opening tool to pry it up on the left side.

Only a small amount of force is needed.

Step 7

              Remove the screws

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 5mm-long screws from the back of the controller.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 5mm-long screws from the back of the controller.

Step 8

Delicately take off the plastic cover from the controller.
Do not completely remove the front cover just yet, as it is still attached to the motherboard via a white ribbon cable.

Delicately take off the plastic cover from the controller.

Do not completely remove the front cover just yet, as it is still attached to the motherboard via a white ribbon cable.

Step 9

              Open the flap

Use the tip of an opening pick to open the black flap of the ZIF connector by pushing it upwards.

Use the tip of an opening pick to open the black flap of the ZIF connector by pushing it upwards.

Step 10

              Disconnect the interconnect cable

Use your fingers or a pair of blunt nose tweezers to disconnect the interconnect cable from its connector.

Use your fingers or a pair of blunt nose tweezers to disconnect the interconnect cable from its connector.

Step 11

              Remove the front case

Remove the front case.

Remove the front case.

Step 12

              Remove the joystick caps

With light force pull the two joystick caps off of the controller.

With light force pull the two joystick caps off of the controller.

Step 13

              Unscrew the motherboard

Use a Philipps screwdriver to remove the four 5 mm-long screws securing the motherboard.

Use a Philipps screwdriver to remove the four 5 mm-long screws securing the motherboard.

Step 14

              Remove the LED light

Use your fingernail or a pair of tweezers to pry the LED light away from its slot.
Set aside the LED light with its corresponding screw for reassembly.

Use your fingernail or a pair of tweezers to pry the LED light away from its slot.

Set aside the LED light with its corresponding screw for reassembly.

Step 15

              Loosen the circuit board

Loosen the circuit board off the chassis by gently pulling at the bottom right corner.
Lift the circuit board up to expose its backside.
Avoid using too much force when lifting the circuit board to prevent damaging the wires.

Loosen the circuit board off the chassis by gently pulling at the bottom right corner.

Lift the circuit board up to expose its backside.

Avoid using too much force when lifting the circuit board to prevent damaging the wires.

Step 16

              Desolder the joystick module

Turn to the backside of the circuit board for clear access to the solder joints.
Desolder all of the outlined solder joints.
Remove the joystick module from the circuit board.
Refer to the following solder guide if necessary: How To Solder and Desolder Connections

Turn to the backside of the circuit board for clear access to the solder joints.

Desolder all of the outlined solder joints.

Remove the joystick module from the circuit board.

Refer to the following solder guide if necessary: How To Solder and Desolder Connections

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                                                                                      22 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 8 other contributors

                    Daniel Tagalog

Member since: 10/10/2019

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Team

                       Cal Poly, Team S11-G2, Regan Fall 2019                        

                                                  Member of Cal Poly, Team S11-G2, Regan Fall 2019 



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                                            37 Guides authored

Tyler - Aug 1, 2020

I managed to replace mine with much difficulty with the soldering but the stick does not seem to turn fully anymore, both with the replacement and the original. For reference, when I go to test it, it no longer registers as reaching the outer circle when pressed all the way down. Similarly when I go to calibrate it, it only reaches up til about the 2nd outer circle, not enough to actually trigger the green arrow. Since this seems to occur on both the replacement and original stick now, I’m guessing this must be some issue that arose while I was struggling with the desoldering process. Anybody have any ideas what might be causing my issue? Have I just damaged it beyond repair?

Gavin A - Aug 10, 2020

Without pictures it is impossible to tell, but there is the possibility that you strips the metal connection on the solder point. This is fixable by “bridging” the connection. You will want to find schematics of the wiring for the PCB and then solder the wire over to the next connection.

As a side note, I should mention that I have never tried this on a controller of any sort and that I have only used this method on keyboards with single wire connections. It is possible that the connection in a controller PCB have more going on and that this technique will not work.

Piero Grasso - Aug 21, 2020

I have the same problem, I buy 2 joystick module from iFixit and the two gave me the same issue, the joystick module don’t reach the green arrow.

I can’t calibrate because of that issue.

Any ideas?

marcos aguilera - May 25, 2021

I have also had the same issue with replacement, only reaches roughly 75%. I contacted ifixit and they sent me a replacement thinking it might be a faulty pot, I installed the new stick and have the same issue. Maybe different years used different resistance.

Brian - Sep 26, 2020

Excellent guide. Thank you. Saved me from having to buy a $70 controller.

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team