Cleaning an Xbox Controller

Modern game controller can break easily, with stick drift and unresponsive button. One might think its a conspiracy to get consumers to buy more controllers. That said, some controllers are easier to fix than others. Using the wonderful guides at iFixIt, this is the journey of fixing the sticky buttons on an Xbox controller.

The first step in opening an Xbox controller is the scariest of them all, removing the side plates of the controller. The ideal is to use a flexible thin plastic tool, like an iFixIt plectrum or a rigid guitar pick. Even when pried, quite a bit of force is required.

To remove the back, 5 screws must be removed : two under each side panel and one hidden under the stick of the battery compartment. This allows the back to be removed and work to be done on the top and shoulder buttons. You can then remove the top plate and the two stick cover. When dealing with stick drift, you can usually try cleaning the joystick. If this fixes the problem, you don't need to disassemble the controller further.

Unfortunately, the buttons are hidden under the two PCB boards, so the controller will need to be fully disassembled. Gently move the rumble motor aside, unplug the antenna connectors and keep removing screws.

Once the top PCB board is removed, the audio jack will most likely fall out. It is only held by the two board wedges. Carefully set it aside.

Last step is to unscrew the bottom PCB, which will give access to the button membrane. Clean the membrane carefully using contact cleaner, or highly concentrated (98%+) isopropyl alcohol. Avoid acetone as it can damage plastics.

The reassemble the controller by doing all of the steps described above, in inverse order. You can test your repair useful a joystick tester, like the following one available on the web.

Dissassemly an xBox controller is not an easy task, but you have little to lose once your controller starts malfunctioning.

While disassembling and repairing an Xbox controller can be daunting, it is entirely possible with the right tools and guidance. Stick drift, unresponsive buttons, or other malfunctions may tempt you to discard your controller, but taking the time to repair it can extend its life and save you money in the long run. Anyways, the controller is already broken, so there is little to lose. And ultimately, the satisfaction of fixing your own equipment is well worth the effort.