How do I fix stick drift?

Start by confirming it is actually hardware drift before opening anything:

1. Plug the controller into a PC (USB is most reliable), open Chrome, and run a free online gamepad tester. Press a button so the browser detects it, then leave the sticks untouched for 30 to 60 seconds. A healthy stick rests at 0.00 (plus or minus 0.02 is normal noise). A steady offset or slow creep means genuine potentiometer drift.

2. For mild drift, try non-invasive fixes first: short bursts of compressed air around the stick base while rotating the stick, and a cotton swab lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol around the seam.

3. As a workaround, raise the deadzone in your games' settings — it masks mild drift.

4. If the controller is still under warranty, contact Sony for a replacement before opening it (opening voids the warranty).

5. Persistent severe drift means the stick module itself is worn; replacement means soldering on a new module, which the DualSense repair guides here cover.

For step 1 I use this free online stick-drift tester — it settles the 'is it really drifting?' question in about a minute: https://www.gamepadtesterpro.com