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PS5 controller drift

Your character walks off sideways, the camera slowly turns, the cursor drifts. A worn stick in the DualSense reports movement even when you're not touching it. We replace it with a new one, most often a Hall effect stick that doesn't wear.

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  • Over 50 controllers repaired in the last two years
  • Standard stick from 790 Kč, Hall from 990 Kč
  • Usually done by the next day, Příkop 27b
New orange Hall-effect stick in front of the original green stick from a DualSense controller
New Hall stick in front, the original behind.

Try this first

  1. Update the controller software in the console settings.
  2. Try it in another game or on another console. If the drift doesn't go away, it's the stick.
  3. Then bring it in or send it. You usually have it back by the next day.

What not to do: Don't spray contact cleaner into the stick and don't swap it yourself without a micro-soldering iron. The stick is soldered to the board and pins tear off easily in a home swap. We get those controllers in too.

Inside the controller

Opened DualSense controller with the board and vibration motors exposed
DualSense board from above, with the pins of both sticks
DualSense board with two new Hall-effect sticks under a microscope
Both sticks after the swap.

How we repair it

  1. Measure where the sticks drift

    We plug the controller into a computer and watch what the sticks report when nobody touches them. It should be zero. On the controller in the photo the left stick drifted to -0.57 and the right one all the way to -1.00.

  2. Open the controller

    We take the DualSense apart down to the board the sticks are soldered to.

  3. Desolder the old stick

    Each stick is held to the board by several pins. We desolder it carefully so the pads stay intact.

  4. Solder in a new one: Hall or standard

    A Hall stick senses movement with a magnet; nothing inside touches, so nothing wears. A classic stick is cheaper, but over time it wears out just like the original.

  5. Calibrate and test

    After the swap we set the centre of both sticks and check in the tester that they sit at zero. Then we try the controller on a console as well.

Stick tester showing drift: the left stick reads -0.57 and the right -1.00 with nobody touching them
Before the repair. Nobody is touching the sticks.
DualSense controller after the stick swap, the tester shows every axis at zero
After the swap.

What it costs

Our price list starts a DualSense stick replacement at 790 Kč, or 990 Kč with a Hall effect stick. You know the price up front, and if we find another fault as well, we call you.

Have your own sticks, such as TMR? We're happy to fit them. The warranty then covers the work, not your part.

Prices by model

Frequently asked questions

What is stick drift?

The stick reports movement even when you're not touching it. Inside a classic stick, a contact slides along a resistive track. Over time the track wears and the stick stops reporting its centre correctly.

What is the difference between Hall and standard sticks?

A Hall stick senses its position with a magnet, so nothing in it wears. A classic stick works like the original and can start drifting again over time. That's why Hall sticks get a 12-month warranty and classic ones 6.

How long does it take?

One to two days. The controller is often ready the very next day.

Do you repair other controllers?

Yes. DualShock 4, DualSense Edge, Xbox controllers, and Joy-Cons and the Pro Controller for Nintendo Switch.

Can I bring my own sticks?

Yes. We fit them and calibrate the controller. The warranty then covers only the work, not your part.

Is your controller drifting?

Bring it to Příkop 27b, no appointment needed. You usually have it back by the next day.

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