How To Fix Ps4 Controller Analog Stick Stuck

Recently, while playing, I noticed that the right analog stick on my controller gets stuck every time I push it up or up-right. It centers from every other direction, but these two. I have to manually push it towards center to make it return. Anything I can do to fix it? I think of spraying some WD40 on it, as it feels rough to move it in general, but I'm not sure as I don't know if it doesn't break the electronics inside the gamepad. I also can't unscrew and open it, because it had been broken in half once (just the casing, though; all the electronics is unharmed) while playing Dark Souls (I think the game itself is enough of an explanation to why the controller is broken) and is kinda heavily wrapped in duct tape, to prevent it from falling apart. Any help would be appreciated.

PS. I can't afford a new controller right now, so buying another one is out of the question.

: Apr 9, 2004

: 21,367

: 10,551

Try cleaning it with a damp cloth and see if that works.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It doesn't. The stick is still getting stuck in the same position.

Unfortunately, without opening it up, the only thing you're going to do is clean the plastic cap of the thumbstick, and not the part that's actually sticking. Only way to do it is to get to the ball-swivel mechanism and give it a thorough bath-style cleaning, which means full disassembly.

Unfortunately, without opening it up, the only thing you're going to do is clean the plastic cap of the thumbstick, and not the part that's actually sticking. Only way to do it is to get to the ball-swivel mechanism and give it a thorough bath-style cleaning, which means full disassembly.

Well looks like no controller for me, then until I save up for a new one cause if I try to open my current one, it'll fall into pieces which will take long to merge back together. Thanks for the helpful reply, though.

Just buy one put the old one in and return it.

: Apr 24, 2012

: 10,704

: 9,871

Bizarre necropost from a one-poster.

Bizarre necropost from a one-poster.

Weird huh!!?!

I'd take air spray and spray it in while rolling the joystick around and around. I'm guess WD would be better than general cleaner. I know people at GameStop just spray their counter cleaner on shit to clean them. That is what he did when I returned my Wii U when I said the joystick was sticky.

Sticks go bad man. Just get a new one. You could always take it to gamestop for a trade in and get like 15 bucks for it too.

: Apr 24, 2012

: 10,704

: 9,871

Bizarre necropost from a one-poster.

Weird huh!!?!
I'd take air spray and spray it in while rolling the joystick around and around. I'm guess WD would be better than general cleaner. I know people at GameStop just spray their counter cleaner on shit to clean them. That is what he did when I returned my Wii U when I said the joystick was sticky.

Lol. I read that as hairspray at first. That would be the worst thing to do. :^O

Well, if you are considering getting a new stick, it won't hurt to just go ahead and clean it.

WD 40 might work, or just spray some alcohol down it and work it around. It'll evaporate pretty quick if you're worried.

Last edited: May 17, 2017

I'm surprised that no one caught it until Wooden pointed it out. I know I didn't!

I'm surprised that no one caught it until Wooden pointed it out. I know I didn't!

Well his original post was basically what I was gonna say, that it is a rare oddity to see a 1st poster necropost, I mean I don't think that has ever happened ever. But I just wanted to talk again about how fucking whack GameStop is their procedures. 1, send me a Wii U from up north without even testing or cleaning the bitch, and 2, walk in saying its jacked, and his solution was spray it with a bottle of counter cleaner.....The dude was kind of grungy and gross, so I don't really blame them as whole as much as I do the shitty service dude......but he isn't the only gross person there, the other one was too busy ignoring me, that when I asked for Nintendo info, I got brushed off. Yet if they ain't gross, they are nooby clueless fools, like they know nothing of anything except core games aka most popular.

: Apr 24, 2012

: 10,704

: 9,871

Try putting WD40 on the socket. If that doesn't work, buy one then put the old one in and return it.

I wonder if kdoo created another account to re-bump this post after another 3 years had passed. If so, that is some serious commitment.

Marks on calendar to re-necro this post on September 2023....

: Apr 9, 2004

: 21,367

: 10,551

I wonder if kdoo created another account to re-bump this post after another 3 years had passed. If so, that is some serious commitment.
Marks on calendar to re-necro this post on September 2023....

Guess he still hasn't got his controller unstuck.

If no one objects, then I'll just close/lock the thread?

: Apr 24, 2012

: 10,704

: 9,871

I wonder if kdoo created another account to re-bump this post after another 3 years had passed. If so, that is some serious commitment.
Marks on calendar to re-necro this post on September 2023....

I'm choosing to just believe that's what is going on.

: Apr 24, 2012

: 10,704

: 9,871

I really want to know if he got it unstuck. He left us hanging for 3 years we gotta know.

It's been 6-7 years now. This is the second 3-year necrobump.

: Apr 9, 2004

: 21,367

: 10,551

It's been 6-7 years now. This is the second 3-year necrobump.

Oh lol. I guess he was hoping the second 3 years would yield an unstuck controller.

i got the same problem but instead it's is scuf. (fortnite was what happened HAHA) i was able to break the security screw and open the controller. i am trying to fix my joystick but i am so lost and there are literally no videos on youtube nor the internet for this problem smh. does anyone happen to know the reasoning to the stick getting stuck in different positions?

Maybe we should start a crowdfunding site to raise enough money so it can be repaired?

Maybe we should start a crowdfunding site to raise enough money so it can be repaired?

Lol! Don't encourage it?

sounds like normal wear and tear. just get a new one. had to replace my xbox controller last week due to the left thumbstick getting stuck, the d pad would stick, and the rb would stick.

Even Mouse and Keys on a Keyboard get funky sometimes and need to be replaced.

Recently, while playing, I noticed that the right analog stick on my controller gets stuck every time I push it up or up-right. It centers from every other direction, but these two. I have to manually push it towards center to make it return. Anything I can do to fix it? I think of spraying some WD40 on it, as it feels rough to move it in general, but I'm not sure as I don't know if it doesn't break the electronics inside the gamepad. I also can't unscrew and open it, because it had been broken in half once (just the casing, though; all the electronics is unharmed) while playing Dark Souls (I think the game itself is enough of an explanation to why the controller is broken) and is kinda heavily wrapped in duct tape, to prevent it from falling apart. Any help would be appreciated.
PS. I can't afford a new controller right now, so buying another one is out of the question.

Ok, so i have ran in to the same exact problem as you. I remember throwing my controller and a plastic piece coming out of the controller which was a very important part. When I was inspecting the l3 Rocker, i noticed a piece was missing in the left stick on the right side of the mechanism which where i had figured out the problem. Lack of leverage was the problem to this. I had used the same plastic part that had broken off of the controller from one of my old controllers and filled in that space where the plastic holder was and it sure did fix the problem. There is no possible way to fix this without opening it lmao. I am probably the first to find out the solution to this.

I once fixed that problem before.... What caused it? Apparently when we were kids a friend of mine's younger cousin would never wash his hands after breakfast and/or lunch and would play video games immediately afterwards causing "gunky" build up to go into their controllers and making them "stick" and/or "stuck"...
THE ONLY SOLUTION is to open the controller AND VERY CAREFULLY AND VERY GENTLY CLEAN IT with cotton swabs and/or cotton balls and rubbing alcohol [only using small amounts-obviously]...

OH AND ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE GAMING!!!!

If that doesn't work then the controller is probably past saving and you might have to buy another....

If that ends up happening buy a controller with the warranty on it.....

In the meantime I am not sure whether any of you guys have noticed this but most console controllers since xbox 360 are able to be configured for your PC as long as your windows drivers are updated....When you have an extra controller lying around from one of your consoles [most consoles after xbox 360-what was that 2005?] then you should be able to use it for PC Gaming........

Have you thrown your controller before? weird question lol

Some people get really mad during a game and have a tendency of smashing their keyboard, mouse, or in this case a controller!

: Apr 24, 2012

: 10,704

: 9,871

" " ?
@ INSXMNIA_LA$ and/or @ jawnTEM As to that topic and that and/or those instances; whatever you guys claim it to be? lol?

I threw a NES Max controller, and it broke, when I was a kid. Cost me a months allowance and lawn mowing's before my dad would replace it. I never threw a controller since.

People have it too easy these days. Did anyone here have an Atari VCS (2600)? The joysticks on that were a real problem when they broke (they basically had a plastic piece with no micro switches). I did try to manually repair them a couple of times (with limited success) but at a computer show one day (back in the 80s) I found there was an actual kit for repairing them (basically a piece of plastic that replaced the innards of the stick). Rejoice!

By this time I know longer played on the VCS but used the joystick on my Atari ST.

" " ?
@ INSXMNIA_LA$ and/or @ jawnTEM As to that topic and that and/or those instances; whatever you guys claim it to be? lol?

I ask cuz, i threw my controller and a peace popped out of it and when i opened the controller the piece that holds the l3 mechanism was not there and when ever i would move it left it would get stuck.

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