PlayStation 5's dreaded 'DualSense drift' has a super easy fix you can do in seconds

It’s always frustrating when we spend our hard-earned cash on devices that we’ve been saving up for only for them to break at no fault of our own. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve all been there.

A known flaw with video game controllers is the dreaded drift, something that many Nintendo Switch owners will be familiar with thanks to a production issue with the Joy-Con. Unfortunately, the dreaded drift is not exclusive to the Joy-Con as PlayStation 5 owners have also felt that frustration with the DualSense.

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In most cases, the best way to fix controller drift is to send it back to the manufacturer for repair if it's still under warranty or perhaps even a third-party repair company. However, the other option is to repair it yourself and that prospect may not be as daunting as it seems. There are many very helpful tutorial videos on YouTube. While I’ve yet to need to fix a drift issue, I have replaced shoulder triggers and analogue sticks in the DualShock 4 and more recently, replaced the battery in the DualSense. Seriously, if I can do it, you can too.

A Redditor who has experienced DualSense drift asked members on the thread if there was a fix and thankfully, a user came to the rescue with an easy fix that can be done in mere seconds.

“Can anyone help me fix stick drift on my PS5 controller?” asked Jakenexxa213. “I’ve got the standard white PS5 Dualsense controller, and I’m just wondering how to fix it without canned air, mainly because I don’t have any, does anyone know how I can temporarily fix stick drift without having to use canned air?”

“Gently, just hard enough to have the L3 or R3 button click, press down on the analogue stick with your palm. While constantly applying that gentle pressure, move the stick in a clockwise motion for a minute or so, then the same in the counterclockwise,” explained echoey-tentacle2. “Then apply just a little more pressure, not much more, just a little, and repeat. Many times this will fix stick drift that is caused by some kind of debris in the sticks.”

So if you have experienced the dreaded drift with your DualSense controller on PlayStation 5, it might be worth trying this little trick before sending it off for repair.