In recent years, Microsoft has come out as an unexpected advocate for device repairability. The company put its money behind aRight to Repair study, began creatingmore repairable laptops, and solidified a partnershipwith iFixit. Today, this mentality extends to the Xbox controller.
The official Xbox store now sellsreplacement partsfor Xbox and Xbox Elite gamepads. Microsoft’s catalog includes replacement circuit boards, buttons, face plates, and more. Additionally, Microsoft is offeringrepair guidesfor its Xbox controllers, and has even published instructional videos on YouTube.
Even if you’re completely disinterested in repairing a controller, this is a big deal. Microsoft is setting itself apart from Nintendo and Sony, which do not sell first-party parts for their controllers. Also, if you’re interested in customizing your Xbox controller, this is a good opportunity to buy an official faceplate, which you can paint or stylize in any way you’d like.
The first-party replacement parts are more expensive than third-party options—an official Xbox controller face plate is $20, for example. But that’s to be expected, and realistically, most people will buy from Microsoft because they want to fix stick drift or other issues without the risk of buying inferior products. (That said, if you’ve repeatedly fixed stick drift, it may be time to switch to ahall effect joystick.)
Also, Microsoft’s first-party parts only come with a one-year warranty. That’s better than you get with most third-party sellers, but it falls short ofiFixit’s lifetime guaranteeon Xbox parts. I suggest comparing Microsoft and iFixit’s offerings if you plan on fixing an Xbox controller.
Related:iFixit Manta Driver Kit Review: Self Repair, Bit by Bit
Bear in mind that Xbox controllers come with a warranty, which covers common problems like stick drift. you’re able to check your controller’s warranty informationfrom the Microsoft website. You can also get in-person support at Best Buy, a Microsoft partner (at least in the United States).
To shop Microsoft’s selection of first-party Xbox controller parts, simply visit theMicrosoft web store. And double-check that you’re buying the right parts. It’s very easy to mix up the Xbox Elite and standard Xbox gamepad parts, as they look very similar.
