The issue you're describing—stick drift on the L3 (left analog stick) when you push it to the right and release—is common in analog joysticks due to wear, dust, or calibration issues. Since it's a Redragon USB joystick, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially fix it:
- Go to https://gamepad-tester.com/
- Move the stick to the right and release it.
- See if the stick visually returns to center or if the X-axis value stays off-center.
If the values don't return to 0, the joystick is registering input when it shouldn't—classic drift.
Try recalibrating the controller in Windows:
- Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
- Right-click on the joystick → Game controller settings.
- Select the device → Properties → Settings → Calibrate.
- Follow the wizard to recalibrate.
After that, test again using Gamepad Tester.
Stick drift can also be caused by dust or debris. Try this carefully:
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Unplug the joystick.
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Use a can of compressed air or isopropyl alcohol (90%+) with a cotton swab or dropper.
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Gently move the stick to the side and:
- Spray air around the base of the stick.
- OR add a small drop of alcohol around the base of the stick and rotate it in circles.
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Let it dry for a few minutes before plugging it back in.
If cleaning/calibrating doesn't help:
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In Steam:
- Big Picture Mode → Controller settings → Adjust deadzone for L3.
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In emulators or games:
- Increase the right X-axis deadzone until the drift no longer registers.
If none of the above work, the potentiometer (sensor under the stick) might be worn out.
Options:
- Open the controller and clean/realign the stick internals.
- Replace the analog stick module (requires soldering).
- Replace the whole controller if repair isn't worth the cost.
Would you like me to show you how to adjust deadzones in Steam or any specific game?