how to fix sticky buttons

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I recently let a friend use my controller, but through some unfortunate transference of filth, my Y and B buttons now stick down when I press them. I've never had this problem before, and the advice I found on google seemed impractical or idiotic, so I decided to ask you all.

Does anybody here have experience with successfully fixing stuck buttons? Preferably without damaging the controller in the process. It's an Xbox One controller if that matters

: Jun 10, 2004

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Pre order an NX

Or, you know, open and clean.

I haven't taken apart a controller since the N64's but... open it up and clean the buttons and around the buttons and then put it back together?

Yup, take it apart, clean the dirty parts, pray to Hardware Jesus, put back together.

: Aug 12, 2014

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i just take it aparts and scrub scrub the shit out of it with soap and water

One of my cocksucker friends knocked a Coke on my Wii U Pro Controller and I just used a damp cloth followed by a damp toothbrush to clean it. Like it never happened.

Blow into them. Like cover your mouth around the filthy button and blow your heart out.

...Might work. Has for me.

: Mar 30, 2014

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I've sprayed mine with isopropyl alcohol from an aerosol.
It gets in the cracks, press the buttons till they stop sticking.

Buy a new one, Keep the receipt, return the older one.

Being serious now, open it and clean it.

No real substitute for opening it up. Very easy to do, just be careful to do it in a clean area with a hard surface to avoid losing small screws or springs. Once you have the electronics separated from the plastic you can literally drop all the plastic parts in a bucket of soap and water and scrub away (or be a little more discriminatory, up to you). Then just make sure to let it dry thoroughly obviously. I recently cleaned my collection of controllers from when I was a kid, NES thru 360 and they all came out great and were very simple to do.

jroc74

Phone reception is more important to me than human rights

: Jun 1, 2013

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Yup you are going to have to open it.

I've sprayed mine with isopropyl alcohol from an aerosol.
It gets in the cracks, press the buttons till they stop sticking.

Never tries this but it might work too.

There's no proper substitute for disassembly to allow proper cleaning, really. I've done this with a DualShock 3 and it wasn't all that difficult, but I've no experience of doing so with Xbox controllers, which I assume is what you're referring to.
This might help: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+One+Wireless+Controller+Buttons+Replacement/36845

Thanks. I guess I'll go with this option. Gotta go buy a Torx screwdriver now

I've sprayed mine with isopropyl alcohol from an aerosol.
It gets in the cracks, press the buttons till they stop sticking.

Might try this first though since I have alcohol on hand

Try pouring some rubbing alcohol on the buttons and pressing it a few times. I rarely have to open up the controller

How old is the controller?

If it's still under warranty MS are usually great with getting them replaced for you.

If not, well, you're either gonna have to take it apart and try to clean it (use a walkthrough on ytube) or buy a new one.

: Feb 20, 2009

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Dunk the entire controller in 90+% alcohol and let it dry for a few days. (Don't actually try this. It might work but I still wouldn't recommend it.)

Just take it apart and clean the dirty bits with rubbing alcohol. It's really not that difficult.

#8 security torx

works on 360 and xb1 controllers

If you can't take the controller apart and properly clean it just put some window cleaner/90% rubbing alcohol into the button cracks and work it for a bit. Won't solve the problem permanently but will let you game with it for a while.

Cut a straw down the middle, slip it between the button/controller and rotate it.
Clean the button with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol.

If you don't want to go through the mess of taking it apart you can unplug it and use isopropyl alcohol doused cloth. Squeeze the cloth a little and allow the alcohol to seep between the cracks around the buttons while pressing the button. Should dry fairly quickly. Then light the cloth on fire while it's resting on your pubes.

I disassemble my controllers and consoles to clean them every three or four months. Same with my Beretta. Tools need to be taken care of.

If the leak is true (which I hope it isn't) Nintendo's answer to this problem seems to be to release a controller without buttons.

Serious reply: Get a screwdriver, take it apart and clean it with rubbing alcohol.

I've had success with alcohol wipes, don't squeeze too much liquid in, press the buttons repeatedly to get it in. Wait and repeat.

I've used rubbing alcohol and q-tips. It evaporates quickly as long as you don't absolutely douse the controller.

Pre order an NX
Or, you know, open and clean.

I honestly came in here expecting this to be the first post lol. OP just open it and clean it, hell for all you know it may be faulty.

Yeah, careful with using too much rubbing alcohol and letting it sit too long. It can mess up some plastics.

: May 13, 2013

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welp, one of my controllers r2 is sticky... is it really just as simple as cleaning it? I Feel like if i open it, i wont ever be able to put it back together again -.-

Think this is my launch ps4 controller.

How did you manage to get your controller so greasy that a button got sticky?

Fun fact: controller gunk is a mix of dead skin cells, sweat and forehead grease.