Permanent FIX for loose Joy-Con on the Nintendo Switch by replacing the Latch
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ม.ค. 2018
- Hi, this video shows a permanent fix for the problem of the Joy Con coming off the Switch without pressing the release buttton. I show the full process of replacing the damaged latch with a metal one purchased from eBay.
This WILL VOID your warranty so do it at your own risk.
Nintendo may have made the latch out of plastic as an intended weak point so it breaks rather than breaking the more expensive Switch, if this is true then replacing them with metal could lead to damage on the actual Switch if you drop it. If you are worried then you can buy plastic replacement latches instead.
The video shows the complete process including testing.
The repair begins at 04:40 in the video.
Many thanks Vince. - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
When driving a screw back into plastic rotate the screw in the reverse direction (i.e. the direction to loosen a screw) until you hear/feel the screw "click". This will let you know you have aligned the screw with it's original hole, doing this will save you from wrecking the threads. Good video!
Dustin Roe Thank you very much man! Didn't know about that
I didn't know about it either, not until I went through tech school. It's a great bit info most don't know. Cheers
Great tip thanks :)
I've learned this since I was a kid when I dismantled my remote control carts, to look inside and sometimes repair too.
It works on anything, on metal you can feel the screw or bolt "drop" and you know youve hit the bottom or start of the thread.
so I bought from the seller you linked and I have to say, it arrived FAST. I've just fitted one of the metal latches in my right joy con and it is so much better, the button to open the latch has a firmer feel to it. Cheers for the guide, it made the whole thing a super easy repair. Unfortunately the head of one of the screws on my left joycon has stripped, so be VERY CAREFUL when unscrewing everything if you're going to try this yourself.
I have a question does it fix the wabbly feeling too? Because that's one of the reasons why I'm getting these grips if you respond and tell me how it is it would really help thank you
@@wii8236 Yes, it should.
@@echangwang1821 awesome thank you so much I'll get them right away!
ENDERBOUNDX Did they?
Bruh! I literally just striped my screw now i dont know how to take it out!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice, now I know every feature, every flaw of the switch and I know how to fix those flaws. Now only left is to buy a switch :P
And everything you need to fix the flaws
P.s.
Did you get a switch yet?
Lol i just got one,how about you?hope your switch won't be damaged:D
Skyline: I can’t open mine till Christmas
@@cookiemonster-ky9ru probably hasnt. Living the poor life. But same
bro its been a year and everyone wants to know if you got that switch
If you lose the spring you can take one from a "clicky pen" and trim it down to size with a pair of scissors.
Just make sure you use the most expensive hair dressing type scissors you can get hold of, they cut through metal the best :)
Tech Nirvana or use a pair of wire cutters like a normal person.
John Smith, Yeah I wouldnt even suggest doing such a silly thing, especially if it was in any type of public comment area!!
Tech Nirvana What?
LOL that actually happened to me but I used something way smaller very similar to the original even though it has rust it actually clicks pretty good, I swear I spend hours trying to finding it in the kitchen and then in the next day my mother found it easily grrrrr... Now I have the original here waiting for the next time I get patience to open it all up again to replace the spring :).
Right after your warning about the spring flying across the room, the spring flew across the room.. The good news is that I found it!!
Great video, thank you.
no this is patrick
A good way to avoid losing the spring is grabbing it with tweezers while removing
@@joking_oregon1 thanks for that this will save me being worried about it happening next week.
dude i owe you for this, i ordered a bag of these and was planning on paying someone to install them for me but couldn't find anyone at any computer store who knew how, both sides were worn out on my Switch but using your instructions i was able to install one perfectly on both joy cons and now they stay on like a charm. THANK YOU!!!
Thanks for the guide! I've ordered mine today to fix a loose joycon, and your guide was the one to convince me to pull that trigger. Very informative, especially the warning for the spring!
I've been waiting for the warranty to expire before attempting this. I did the fix tonight following your vid. I found it much more fiddly than you made it look. The hardest part for me was getting the metal bracket off. I bent mine on one side and was worried it would snap. However, it bent back into shape easy enough. I'm very pleased with the end result.
Thank you!
if you have warenty you would think that would be an easy fix just send it in to nintendo
This is Amazing! My friend had that problem with both joy-cons, and thanks to you for showing what to do! And now he is happy! Thank you Vince!
Thanks :-)
My Mate VINCE :-)
I know you probably don't care too much but a trick I've found for stripped plastic threads is a dab of (the thick viscosity stuff) super glue in the hole, screw into what you can, let it sit then give it a proper torque down once it's pretty much dried.
Thanks for the video man. I truly do appreciate your time.
Thanks for the tip :-)
Vince hundreds of thanks to you, I just replaced my old worn out latches with metal ones. Thanks to this video I was able to understand the issue and get the solution, thank you very much.
Great video. I bought my OLED about a month ago and I gave no mind to the warranty, already re-shelled the joy cons, soldered new LEDs to the rails and did this latch fix. Since I had my launch switch I have been modding these little joy cons and they are eerie to work on if you are not careful. Appreciate this video, thank you so much!
Thank you for this video. I wasn't aware that replacement parts were available.
I did this repair just now, thanks for the video! I would recommend getting an additional set of screwdrivers, the ones that came with the parts were terrible for opening up a joycon for the first time.
Thanks for the Guide Vince!! I had a loose left joycon for years and never knew the problem till now! Did the replacement myself following your video and now locks flawlessly.
I can’t tell you how simple this guide is like holy shit, I was able to do it half awake at 3am with no problems (except that damn metal latch) but this is the go to guide for fixing your joy cons latch.
Thanks for the video! I was able to easily repair my left joycon for only $1.12. Now it locks in securely, and I didn’t have to pay a repair shop to do it.
for those of you out there who are considereng doing this yourself i recommend being VERY careful that you dont yank the ribbon cables out of their sockets, it is easier than you think to pull them out and if that happens youll have to take the device apart further to get the cables back in place
I just like the way you make the guides really for people that don't know much about electronics and repair. Keep it up! You gained a new subscriber. (I haven't got a switch but still its a really good video!)
Very scary doing this procedure but your video guide was extremely helpful in switching the latches successfully! Thank you so much!
Definitely worth it, I will be following this tutorial to fix mine asap!! 😏
Great video, followed your tutorial and fixed my joycon 😊
Thank you so much! I bought a kit from amazon and followed your guide and now my joycons are not loose! Keep up the good work 👍
Thank you for posting this. I was able to repair my Joy-Con in 20-minutes using your video.
THANK YOOUUU!!!!
MY JOYCONS GOT IN LOOSE LAST WEEK AND YOU SAVED ME!
adrianprimob what a coincidence... the same happend to me last week too.
adrianprimob dude mine fell off my bed and it like the one in the vid
why are they loose? is it from normal use or did you drop your switch?
Fendera my switch fell two times used by kids
adrianprimob wow
Great vid as always, i'm gonna do this when I'm installing a dpad on my joycon as it's going to be opened anyway.
Lexx and how did it go??
Rip
How did it go
Thank you. My Joy con cracked and I thought "If I'm going to rip it apart I might as well fix it". I followed your vid and it worked perfectly!
on Amazon I got a great kit of metal latches as well as two replacement control sticks for about 18 dollars canadian. Came with all the tools, and that was my project for the evening. Worked like a charm! These youtube videos are amazing for this work because the instructions weren't exactly all encompassing!
Finally! The days of it falling out of my hand when I try to turn it on are over!
Just got mines today. Replaced successfully but they didn’t help.
EDIT : the problem was I had the wrong latch on the wrong joy-con. Made the switch and now it’s a pretty solid connect. Thanks
Made the "switch" ;)
@@taffowst dad jokes 101
Damn, just did the same thing. Didn't know there was a left and right latch. Now I'm redoing the latch....thank you for the info
Guess that's why you don't skip ahead in the video
Excellent video, thanks for posting this. A friend gave me his switch and these metal replacement parts and I couldn't for the life of me see where I needed to start working, joycon or main console. Now they are fitted, it's obvious where to work, the metal sticks out a mile visually.
Way easier than I thought, I remember every step. Amazing video 👍
Excellent video. I very much doubt that is built in weakness as the forces required to break the plastic first time are still significant, plus but moving up it actually exposes the corner of the screen to damage. I'm more inclined to go with cost cutting.
plus that only applies if you drop the switch right-side-up (as opposed to up-side-down).
+Evil Genius I think its metal against metal were the clip is held on the side rails.
The force required isn't much at all as my Switch slipped off of my bed and fell maybe a foot onto soft carpet and that was enough that my left Joy-Con no longer fully secures and can be pushed off with a little force. Currently looking into these metal replacements because that is absurd for an $80 controller.
Get metal latches and don't drop the fucking thing. Problem solved. ;)
yea maybe ones made with stronger plastic.
Works like a champ. I agree the metal ones “click” better than the plastic. Had a weird glitch where the right joycon was always registered as undocked, but a reboot and resync fixed that.
The glitch was probably just dirt on the connections
Hey vince! Thanks for the video, I will be doing this "upgrade/fix" tomorrow and I was curious to see it done and reviewed.
Thank you!
It's great that you include the fact that you need to turn the screws counter-clockwise, but I feel like anyone who needs to be told that probably shouldn't be taking a tool to a $50 piece of equipment.
10/10 Best cure for Loose Joy-Coneritis
lol
With my warranty almost over on the switch, my right Joy-con just started to get the problem. I called Nintendo and they gave me a free replacement. If this was going to happen, I’m glad that it happened within the warranty time.
What did you say or how did you convince them to give a replacement? Did you have to pay shipping or ship them your joycons first?
You just explain the problem and if it’s been less than a year since you got it, they email you a printable shipping label. It’s completely free.
Dude you videos are incredible. I love that you give explanations as to why you need to be careful and when. Love the content and subscribed.
Got mine off Amazon. About 8 quid. Came with 3 drivers a set of needle tweezers. Spare springs/screws and 2 sets of locks. Great video helped immensely thank you.
Hey Vince, I'm interested in purchasing a set of metal Joy-Con latches for greater durability in handheld mode. I was wondering, though, have you noticed any wear on your Switch's rails as a result of this modification?
+My Mate VINCE Awesome video and congrats on reaching and surpassing 100,000 substers👍
Thank you, and thanks for the views :-)
My Mate VINCE You are welcome sir. You have great content👍
You are eating really good TH-camr quality videos
Eating? did you mean making
My Mate VINCE The screw which holds the Joycon lock will not budge, any suggestions?
Just got metal pieces and changed with your video! It works perfectly!
Mine should be in tomorrow. This video came in perfect time. Only my right one is getting loose but I will replace both ASAP.
Thanks for the little tips (like about the spring and screws in the plastic).
Bought one of these last night. Thanks for the video :D
Its held up perfectly
Still going strong
I fixed mine be last night and it works perfectly! 😀
Watched this video while i did mine, very informative and the warning about the spring saved me a large headache. Thanks!!
I got your "filing" idea so I filed the damaged face and super-glued a small metal square (cut out off a can) so it's metal-to-metal contact when locked. My son's a happy chap now. Worked out perfect.
My switch has this issue from when my son accidentally dropped it, I may see if I can fix it!
hopefully nintendo will make a statement on this latch being a intended weakspot or not
RogueGamer25 Its intended so if you drop the console, the little plastic piece will broke, saving the console rail to broken and possibly to buy a new console instead of a Joy-Con
Actually i'm NOT a fanboy, I like more PC Gaming and PS4 Console, but that its my point of view, but yeah, hope somebody makes a drop test with this metal latch and see what happens...
RogueGamer25 I disagree, one side will always grind down based on friction. Nintendo will have designed it so the Joycon is what gets damaged over time and not the console. Mass producing tiny metal latches would cost Nintendo almost nothing. Also as pointed out, if you drop your switch, chances are it will fall on a Joycon and you want it to take the stress rather than the main unit.
RogueGamer25 Fanboy this and Fanboy that, my main platforms are PC and PS4 so that's nonsense - typical irrelevant argument. Smart phones having high quality screens makes perfect sense and isn't in any way related. Fact is, if the Joycon uses metal then any stress will be passed on to the unit (and might damage that instead) - Nintendo know alot more about this stuff than you, I'm sure they tried various combinations.
Actually the reason why phones have hard glass screens is because they spend a lot of time in pockets and so can get scratched easily otherwise. There are many advantages to having a plastic screen though, indeed that's why the switch has one, besides being lightweight, they're also much better at protecting the display matrix. There is a video here on TH-cam of a group of guys drop testing a Switch from 1000ft onto solid tarmac... one of the joycons - the one that hit the ground first - broke and the rail came loose, but other than that the Switch itself was absolutely fine.
Now I'm not saying Nintendo necessarily designed it this way... But if they didn't I'd call it a happy accident that it worked out this way because it very obviously, and demonstrably, helps protect the switch from fall damage.
Thanks!! I don't have this issue, yet so I'll wait until my warranty expires. Glad to know there's a simple and permanent fix for it.
Very detailed and still relevant in 2024! Bravo!! I love the internet community! Cheers from America!
So I have tape at the bottom of my Switch because the JoyCons wobble, they aren't loose like that but they are not solidly attached to the switch
As soon as my joy-cons turn 1 (and thus the warranty ends), I'll probably get myself a pair of replacement latches.
Mine did at March 3rd
nowonmetube Mine did too, I had it in on preorder for launch :) I still didn't get round to order latches though, even though the one on my left joycon is broken and I'm using a bit of gaffer to keep it on firmly (which it does extremely well by the way).
I tried to send mine in for repair, turns out there's no warranty on joy cons because they count as acessories. So you should be good to go replacing them now (maybe check the warranty pdf for your country but i'm pretty sure it's like that everywhere)
Tardsmat I got a warranty through another retail store (Walmart). I filed a claim and never got a response from them. I don’t know what happened but it told me my claim had been filed but I never heard anything back, it has been about a week and a couple days. I just did my right joy Cons lock and now I have to do our left.
That necro just reminded me that I was supposed to do that. I've ordered the exact same set as Vince for a grand total of 3.18 euros. Nice and cheap!
I tried it after watching this video!! Much stiffer and was easy to do. Thanks again!!!
Amazing video, I am a tech idiot who can't event reassemble a pen, but this is so detailed I might give it a try cuz my warranty is about to expire.
A lot of people don't know how those zooms you did explaining and showing the parts help people like me actually understand how
it works. Thanks :)
For anyone wanting to do this themselves, it's quite easy, but the screwdrivers included with my kit (a red and blue diagonal cardboard pack in plastic) were absolutely useless (I only managed to undo one out of the eight screws and gave myself a sore hand trying) so I ended up doing a 40 minute round trip to work to get the iFixit toolkit. I probably saved time doing that actually.
But this was a great tutorial. Good tip about catching the spring with the screwdriver head too!
YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!
Dave Van Tol mmmm8m8jjj m8m8mmmm8m8mjjmmjm
I know isn’t it a great feeling when it actually works!? :DD
You saved me, mate. My right joycon had a loose latch near it's end. Thankfully, I managed to install the metal latch and now it's secure as it should be.
Nice fix, part made to break to make them money, but your fix is cheaper and longer lasting. Nice one Vince 👍🏻
"You won't go out and buy proper tools for this one job" - you don't know me pal :D
Man you are genius... I’m getting ps4 soon and i watched your every video bout ps4
Ploxxy why are you posting this on a Switch video?
Louis Wouters The real question is why is he getting a ps4 in 2018.
Oliver Stigsen because its still a good masterpiece?
Kevin it's still a good masterpiece what are you trying to say?
That the ps4 is a "good masterpiece" as far as hardware it pretty mediocre.
You really don't know what the word masterpiece means.
Masterpiece= perfection
So you are basically saying perfect good there is no point in saying good anymore since its a masterpiece it's perfect. Think before you type weeaboo.
Triggers retro Phags Wow you're so mature aren't you?
Playing M rated games.
So what if I play Nintendo games, I like them and so do many other people. Just because I play chlildish games that that doesn't make me a child
You're truly the worst, a sony fanboy.
Perfect Tutorial, since the repair kit I bought came without any instruction. Thank you, Sir!
Just finished fixing two left side joycon latches! Thanks for the video!!
I think it is a weak spot but it's to weak I almost dropped my switch because my right joycon is the loose one
justin rivera what he mean by a weak spot is that if you drop your switch, that is the part to go out so it doesn't break anything else
All Tech Universe no I was saying mine broke without me doing anything to it that should have caused it to brake
All Tech Universe then I was using my switch one day and the right joycon just came off the system and I almost dropped it
justin rivera same, if you do this fix, don't use the screws it comes with.
personally i think the left being loose is worse, because it always slips off when i hit the power button
What is the brand/model of your mini laptop??
gpd win
Gpd pocket
TheCinderDude gpd win is different
o whoops.. I actually want one for streaming cemu my bad
Really great video. With some patience and attention this was a really easy swap out. New metal latch works great now.
I found a Swedish version of the retailer that sold one of these badboys. I changed it on all my 4 joycons and I'm really happy with the results. This video helped me, thanks mate
they now have this on Amazon and its on prime shipping!
You're right. Nice one, thanks for sharing. £8.99 in the UK with next day delivery on Prime and it includes the screwdrivers.
yep!
anytime
Extra £6?? for what? its the same piece of metal lol, rather wait 2 weeks :)
its if you already have prime, i wouldn't pay $6 more either. (or maybe i would)
My left jocon has come loose and i am very careful with it. The fault is the power button and the volume placements, when you use them in handheld mode you automaticly put pressure on the catch. In the end everyone who has a Switch will have this problem.
I have heard other people mention this. Thanks for sharing :-)
Marko Deniro , i assumed that was the case for mine when it got lose on the left side, but after fixing that one, my right side is becoming lose also now. I heard that the chipping is due from not pressing the button all the way, that when pulling out the clip rubs on the rail for not being fully pushed.
I took mine off once or twice in the beginning.
Im getting the heavy duty mumba case to address my joycon slipping off when in midgame. I like my warranty. But this video is very much appreciated
Thank you so so much for the great tutorial!! It worked perfectly and now my switch is back to the way i love it! Thank you and I hope to everyone that you have a great day! :)
nice video!
You can put super glue in the stripped hole, let it dry, then re-insert the screw.
I use some epoxy, works a little better as it fills and "grabs" the threads in the original hole really solidly
This is gonna save my day.
Since 2 months, both sides of my joy-con are wore to the point that one of them could loose off even when I am just holding the device. I called Nintendo repair support and they dared to say that this particular part ( the latch ) is not included in the warranty. However I could, if I proved that the joy-con has connection or battery issue, to exchange for a new pair.
Sadly my joy-cons are perfectly working except for that badly designed latch. It's a mercy that I live in China and I just need to pay for around 2dollars to get the exact same pair of metal latch.
Thank you! Followed your instructions step by step and my joycon is better than ever! Side note, if your ribbon cable does slip out like mine did, you can slide it back in and close a lid on top to hold it in. So no need to worry about the ribbon cables :)
Thanks so much for this video. I followed along and was able to replace the latch on my left joycon with no issues whatsoever :-)
Hey Vince, how much of a concern is it that these latches will wear down the Switch's slot that holds it? One of the reasons the stand is made of plastic is so that with continual use, the stand wears down and can be replaced rather than the Switch.
ChibiZone at that point you would just have to get another rail and thats it
Samster Birdies seems like a hassle. But perhaps it may be easier to replace the rails than the joycon latch.
ChibiZone i would think so.
That's definitely possible but it depends. The strongest metal will wear the weaker down. Judging on how cheap these metal latches were. I would think that the Nintendo Switch rails would wear out the metal latch
zero?
I hope you don't break the joy-con again like you did with the red one.
Vince, you mad lad, you saved me 60 dollars on buying a new set of Joycons! In my case, the right one was the faulty one, but following your instructions, I managed to fix it. Sadly, I was only able to get the plastic ones in this short amount of time, but I'm ordering the same ones you ordered to have them for later.
Thank you very much for this video! It's 2020, but it still does the trick.
Thanks for the video. I've replaced the analog sticks twice now because of drift so I am familiar with taking them apart. Never knew it had metal replacements for the latches so thank you as I never would have just purchased some.
Could yo give a link pls? :(
Not necessary anymore,I found it
The "Designed weakspot" thing might be true. But not as a solution to saving the switch when you drop it 💀 If anything, they "intended" you to have to buy more joycons.
Great video. I followed along with a set from Amazon and it went very smoothly.
Finally a video with close ups thanks 🙏
You forgot the link to EBay, I really want to buy them
try this one www.ebay.com/itm/202262810466
Thanks
Someone should manufacture these and sell it
CryptedYT did you watch the video? I guess not because it's told, EXACTLY what you just said, in the video!
They do, that's why the guy ordered them LOL. He didn't get it custom made, it was manufactured. Unofficially of course.
CryptedYT there official on Amazon
Thanks for the tut! For first timers: use a large clean well transparent plastic bag to remove the latch spring. If it flies away, then there is much less chance of loosing it!
gonna buy these, my switch felt off on the left joycon and the plastic latch broke (a little piece broke away). Good to know that this fix works and also is more reliable than original ones.
Heres one of the most expensive solutions:
*nintendo switch Lite*
Why did Nintendo not do this in the first place? Please please Nintendo, recall all your joy cons and change the plastic latches to metal. They will last a lot longer.
CLC1000 its cheaper for the joycon to break when it falls, than for the joycon to stay in and potentially break the switch itself. Its probably plastic for children who will drop it. I will probably replace weak plastic for the metal though because i am not planning on dropping my 300 dollar device
True. I guess you have just got to be careful with it.
Actually the plastic one will never break if you don't put on the strips wrong
Jason Krusche that is false. I have never used the straps and it has barely fallen and I have one that is starting to wear out
metal against metal is not too good will end up grinding down the switch unless painted
Thanks for the guide, worked perfectly with a very similar kit I picked up to repair my right joy-con buckle
That little button fell out I had no idea where it came from until I reached that point in your video. Thank you
Being careful is essential to performing these repairs correctly. I accidentally pulled the ribbon cable too much and I had to take the controller apart trying to reattach the ribbon cable to the latch. Luckily the ribbon cable never ripped. If the metal latch does not seem to be locking in correctly or getting jammed. Try some WD-40. (NOT TOO MUCH) Spray the WD-40 in a cloth and lightly rub the cloth on the latch. That will get the job done. (NOTE I'M USING THE WD-40 ON A METAL LATCH, NOT A PLASTIC ONE, WD-40 WILL DAMAGE THE PLASTIC LATCH)
Mbapnyc N >WD-40
Was that a joke? You aren't supposed to use that on plastics as it melts the plastic.
Mbapnyc N DON'T oil your inside electronics! Are you insane!?!?!!
"It is safe to use on metal, rubber, wood and plastic. It can also be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint. Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40® Multi-Use Product."
I am well aware of the dangers of WD-40 and plastic. I've learned the hard way.
I sprayed a tiny bit of WD-40 on the metal latch and on the metal thing holding the latch in. I opened it up this morning and no damage to the plastic.
Maybe It sounded a bit extreme. I meant I sprayed it in a cloth and lightly applied it to the latch. No electronics were harmed in the possess
This is awesome. I'm ordering one of these kits ASAP. I left the house with my original black joy-cons and the right one slips off somewhat easily, and will probably only get worse. I told myself t was the last time id take my black joy-cons out of the house. Here is my solution!
Very helpful. I just fixed my right controller. The left one is fine at the moment but I decided to replace it as well so I don’t need to worry about it anymore. I bought the tool kit from amazon, which costed me like 10 bucks. It really is a better option than simply just buying new controllers as it’s cheaper and more durable
I got this problem because my friend accidentally dropped it. Thank you for making this video.
you are lucky, my friend dropped mine on purpose... :D
Thanks a lot for the video! Had been bothering for more than a year and thanks to your video I fixed it!
Thank you for this tutorial, I just repaired one of my Joy-Cons using this video. I still don't understand why this one has this issue while the other seven are ok...
I just friggin' love your videos, Vince!
Thanks for this Video! I was able to repair my left Joy Con! Thanks a lot!