How to Repair Nintendo Joy-Con for Free
If your Nintendo Switch is experiencing Joy-Con drift, you can get the Switch repaired for free, and if you’ve already paid for the Switch repair, you may be eligible for a refund.
A few weeks ago, Kotaku reported that Nintendo Switch users were having problems with their Joy-Con :
For several months, Nintendo Switch users have suffered from the so-called “Joy-Con drift”. While they are not touching the joystick on the Nintendo Switch controller, the console still thinks it is moving. Since Nintendo doesn’t offer a permanent fix, they just got tired of it.
At the time, the only option was to pay to send the Joy-Con back to Nintendo and get it repaired, or find a solution for the home.
Vice then received documentation that Nintendo had quietly changed its policy :
[…] Nintendo recently told support representatives that the company will no longer charge customers looking for Joy-Con repairs and will no longer refund those who have already paid, according to internal Nintendo filings seen by VICE Games.
“Customers will no longer be asked to provide proof of purchase to repair the Joy-Con,” says internal customer support. “There is no additional need to confirm the status of the guarantee. If a customer is requesting a refund for a previously paid Joy-Con repair […] please confirm the previous repair and then return the money. “
Vice also confirmed that one of her team members was able to get a free Joy-Con repair from Nintendo under the new policy. (Yes, this includes free shipping.)
So if you’re currently experiencing Joy-Con drift – or if you’ve recently refurbished a Joy-Con – it’s worth contactingNintendo Support and requesting either a free repair or a refund.