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Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement

Archived Guide
This guide is retained solely for historical purposes. Use the updated version of the guide to perform your repair.

Introduction

This guide will show you how to replace the joystick on your Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) and fix stick drift.

Note: This guide requires soldering. For more information on soldering take a look at this guide for How to Solder and Desolder Connections.

Caution: The soldering iron gets very hot and can cause injury.

Note: It is also important to solder in a well-ventilated room.

What you need

  1. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement, Joystick: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Start by flipping the controller over and opening the battery compartment located on the middle back of the controller.

    • Remove the batteries. Place both the cover and the batteries off to the side for now.

    • Hold the Xbox button for a few seconds to drain any remaining power.

    • This will make sure you don't shock yourself or short the device.

    Edit

  2. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Next, take your opening tool and pry off the grip plates.

    • Using your opening tool, insert it into the grove found on the back of the grips.

    • Slide the tool throughout the groove, apply more pressure when you feel more resistance.

    • If done properly, you'll hear clicks as the clips come loose.

    • Repeat this until the grip cover comes off.

    • Do the same for the other grip.

    • This step requires some force so be cautioned.

    Edit

  3. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • After removing the grip plates, remove the 5 screws holding the front plate.

    • Use a T8H sized Torx Safety bit for these screws.

    • The screws are shown in the picture with two in each grip and one in the battery bay.

    • The battery bay screw is underneath the sticker. You can either poke through it with your tool or peel it away.

    Edit

  4. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 2 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • After removing the back screws, the face plate should be easy to remove. Remove it and place it to the side for later.

    • Next, locate the joysticks covers and remove them by simply pulling them up from the controller.

    • Place the joysticks off to the side.

    Edit

  5. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Place your spudger as shown and gently peel the sync button plate off using the same method as before.

    • Remove the plate and place it off to the side for later.

    Edit

  6. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • After that, locate the RB and LB bumper piece and using your metal spudger, place it between the frame and the hinge.

    • Gently pry the piece away and off, doing the same for the other end of the bumper piece.

    • Having done this successfully, the bumper piece should come off cleanly and with little effort.

    • Set the bumper piece off to the side.

    Edit

  8. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • By now, the back plastic frame should simply fall off the main components.

    • Take the back piece off and leave it off to the side for now.

    Edit

  9. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Take the main piece and flip it over to show the main components.

    • Next, we will be removing both triggers.

    • Move the triggers forward and expose the back parts of the trigger.

    • Using the T6 sized bit, remove the screw from the trigger and place it safely off to the side.

    • Do the same for the other trigger and set the pieces off to the side.

    Edit

  10. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • With the trigger frames out of the way, remove the trigger weights from the triggers and place them out of the way.

    • These weights are attached by wires and cannot be removed easily so just follow the wire, loosening it as far as it can go.

    Edit

  11. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 2 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • Next, we will disconnect the wires for the select and menu buttons.

    • Using either your fingers or a set of tweezers, gently pull the connection up and away to disconnect it.

    • Do this for both connections.

    • While here, remove the two screws above the connections. These connect the motherboard to the frame.

    Edit

  12. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Next is the grip rumble weights.

    • Simply using your hands or forceps, remove the weights by sliding them towards you and lifting them out.

    • These weights are also connected by wires, keep this in mind when removing them.

    Edit

  13. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 2 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 2

    • With both set of rumble weights out of the way, next is the board screws.

    • Using the T6 bit screwdriver, unscrew the screws located on next to where the grip rumble weights were.

    • Set these screws aside for now.

    Edit

  14. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 3 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 3 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 13, image 3 of 3

    • Flip the controller over.

    • Following the cord attached to the trigger it should be attached to the controller via small tracks.

    • Gently pull the wire out from the tracks and lay the wire and trigger parts out of the way.

    • The trigger rumble weight cannot be completely removed so just keep it as much as possible out of the way.

    Edit

  15. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 3 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 3 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 14, image 3 of 3

    • Find the D-pad plate surrounding the outer rim of the D-pad.

    • Using your spudger, slide it underneath the piece and pull it up from the controller.

    • The D-pad plate is attached at the top and bottom parts of the rim. Keep this in mind when applying pressure to remove this piece. Try to keep the pressure around those areas.

    • Remove the plate and set it to the side.

    • Remove the D-pad from the controller and set aside for now.

    Edit

  16. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • This step involves flipping over the controller to continue but the motherboard is no longer connected to the controller frame, so when flipping it over, keep the loose parts together.

    • Isolate the motherboard. It will be attached to the joysticks.

    • Lay the board flat and observe for any debris or clear obstructions.

    Edit

  17. Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 Xbox Series X Wireless Controller (Model 1914) Joystick Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2

    • Flip the board over.

    • Locate the joystick solder nubs on the back of the bottom of the board.

    • Using the soldering iron, heat it up to around 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit and lay the tip on the aforementioned nubs.

    • Hold it for around 5-7 seconds or until the solder nub liquefies. Repeat this for the rest of the nubs.

    • Having done this, the joystick should slide out the board. Install the replacement joystick by sliding in the joystick prongs into the slots that the old joystick sat in.

    • If the replacement joystick does not slide in properly, check the prongs to make sure they are aligned with the slots.

    • With the joystick in, solder the prongs until they are secured into place on the boards.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

5 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 10 other contributors

Josh Lucas

Member since: 03/05/24

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CSU Los Angeles, Team 7-11, Grodsky Spring 2024 Member of CSU Los Angeles, Team 7-11, Grodsky Spring 2024

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4 Comments

Granted I've only ever soldered and desoldered keyboards before, but I'm relatively sure that this is impossible without a hot air reflow station. Keeping all 10 solder joints hot enough to get the joystick out was impossible in my opinion, I couldn't do it. So much for those hall effect joysticks I bought...

David C - Reply

Get a solder sucker or one of those copper thingys, they cost under 10 bucks and work just fine for stuff like this
ifixit themself made a video guide on this recently

Verhulstak -

Use solder wick (the copper thingy Verhulstak mentions) to get the solder sucked out of there. I think the video posted by ifixit has this process explained more thoroughly, I suggest you follow that.

Lenin Nava -

Just watched the video that they put out and I'm considering trying again - I think my problem was that I was using low quality solder wick.

Not gonna lie, from using solder suckers fairly often I do not think that's the move here, solder wick is what you want to do. Cutting it like the video is also important, I didn't do that and I'm assuming that's why it didn't work for me the first time.

David C -

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