3 Ways to Fix a PS3 Dualshock 3 Controller

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DIY repair guide for your PS3 & Dualshock controllers
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PlayStation 3 controllers can develop a wide variety of problems. While some of these issues are easy to resolve, others require specialized tools and a bit of technical know-how. In this article, we’ll start with easy troubleshooting techniques for your PS3 controller, then move on to more advanced fixes like correcting random button pushes, fixing your analogue stick, and saving a water-damaged controller.

Easy Fixes for a PlayStation 3 Controller

  • If the buttons are pushing randomly, remove the motherboard. Make sure the green ribbon is making contact with the motherboard.
  • If an analogue stick is dislodged, remove the motherboard, and put the stick back on the metal shaft.
  • If the controller has water damage, power it down and take it apart. Allow it to dry for at least 24 hours.
Section 1 of 4:

General Troubleshooting

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  1. 1
    Reset the controller. You can often fix simple glitches and connection issues by resetting your PS3 controller. Unbend a paperclip and insert it into the pinhole on the back of the controller to push the tiny button inside. Give the controller a few minutes to reset, then try connecting again.
  2. 2
    Make sure your cable supports data. If you’re using a controller with a USB cable, check that the cable supports data and not just power. A simple charging cable won’t allow your PS3 controller to properly pair with your PS3 or computer.
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  3. 3
    Re-sync your controller with your PS3. If your controller is powered on but won’t connect to your console, you might be able to re-pair it using the PS button. While your console is powered on, plug the controller into the console. When the lights on top of the controller start flashing red (indicating standby mode), press the PlayStation button at the center of the controller.
    • If this works, a single red light should turn on at the top of the controller, indicating that your controller is connected to the first available slot.
    • You should now be able to unplug the cable and allow your controller to connect wirelessly.
  4. 4
    Charge or replace the battery. If your controller won’t power on, the battery might be dead. Plug it into your PS3 while the console is powered on and wait for it to charge. If your controller won’t charge, or if it doesn’t hold a charge after you unplug it, you may need to replace the batteries.
  5. 5
    Remove competing Bluetooth devices. Too many Bluetooth devices near your controller can interfere with a wireless connection. If your controller won’t stay connected to your PS3 or your computer, try turning off or disconnecting other wireless devices nearby.
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Section 2 of 4:

Fix Random Button Pushes

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  1. 1
    Gather your supplies. Fixing random button pushes isn’t super difficult, but you’ll need a few basic supplies, including:
  2. Step 2 Remove screws from the back of the controller.
    There are five 7.2 mm Phillips screws holding the controller together. There are two on the top and bottom of both sides, and one on the top middle.[1]
  3. Step 3 Remove the back.
    You may need to pry open the controller with a plastic spudger or a flathead screwdriver. Open it from the bottom and carefully tilt it towards the top trigger buttons. Then lift it over the trigger buttons.
    • Be very careful that you don't accidentally dislodge the R2 or L2 trigger buttons while removing the back. They can be hard to put back on.
  4. Step 4 Remove the battery.
    The battery is the grey square piece on the back of the motherboard. You don't need to disconnect the battery. You can just pull it up out of its holder and move it to the side.[2]
    • If you do decide to disconnect the battery, pull on the white plastic part that the wires are connected to. Do not pull on the wires.
  5. Step 5 Remove the screw on the motherboard.
    The motherboard screw is located on the bottom of the motherboard, between the analog sticks.
  6. Step 6 Remove the motherboard.
    Carefully pull the motherboard up and tilt it away from the shoulder buttons.[3]
    • Once again, be careful not to accidentally dislodge the R2 and L2 trigger buttons.
    • You should be able to lift up the motherboard and turn it over without having to disconnect the rumble motors.
  7. Step 7 Lift the green ribbon and pull it back.
    The green ribbon is located at the top of the controller front. It's above the hole where the left analogue stick goes. Place a flat-head screwdriver or a pair of tweezers under the ribbon and carefully lift it up over the two plastic pins that are sticking up out of the controller. Be careful not to tear or damage the ribbon. You will see a strip of black foam underneath the ribbon.
  8. Step 8 Remove the black foam strip.
    Over time, the foam strip gets compressed, and the connectors on the ribbon aren't able to make contact with the motherboard. This is why the controller is not working properly.
  9. Step 9 Place tape on the bottom of the black foam strip.
    For the best results, cut a strip of thick double-sided tape the same length and width as the black foam strip. Place it under the foam strip. Use scissors to cut off any excess tape from the sides.
    • If you don't have thick double-sided tape, you can cut about an inch-and-a-half of black electrical tape and roll it up into a tube.[4]
  10. Step 10 Replace the foam strip.
    With the tape underneath the foam strip, you can now place the foam strip back under the ribbon.
  11. Step 11 Replace the ribbon.
    Pull the ribbon over the foam and place the two holes over the pins that are sticking up out of the controller. Make sure it is firmly in place.
  12. Step 12 Clean the ribbon.
    Since the controller is open, it's not a bad idea to use a tissue or cotton swab to wipe any dust away from the ribbon.
  13. Step 13 Clean the motherboard connector.
    If you look at the motherboard, you will see a box that is a darker shade of green with some metal connectors sticking out of it. It's above the left analogue stick. This is where the motherboard connects to the ribbon. Use a tissue or cotton swab to wipe the connectors on the motherboard.
    • If the motherboard connector or ribbon has gunk on it, you can dab a cotton swab with a little bit of isopropyl alcohol and use it to clean the ribbon or contacts.
  14. Step 14 Replace the motherboard.
    Carefully place the motherboard back in its place, with the analogue sticks freely able to move through the holes.
  15. Step 15 Screw the motherboard back in place.
    Using the same screw you took out of the motherboard, screw it back in at the bottom in between the analogue sticks.
  16. Step 16 Replace the battery.
    The motherboard has a plastic holder on its back that holds the battery in place. Place the battery back in the holder.
  17. Step 17 Replace the controller back.
    To replace the back panel, place the thin part that goes between the two trigger buttons at the top of the controller in place. Carefully tilt the back over the R2 and L2 trigger buttons and firmly push it back in place at the bottom of the controller. Go along the edges of the controller and squeeze gently to make sure the back panel is properly attached.
    • Be careful not to accidentally dislodge the R2 and L2 trigger buttons.
  18. Step 18 Replace the screws on the controller back.
    There are five screws that hold the controller together. Replace the two on the sides and the one in the middle. Your controller is now fixed.[5]
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Section 3 of 4:

Fix a Dislodged Analogue Stick

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  1. 1
    Gather your supplies. Since this fix involves taking your controller apart, you’ll need a few basic tools:
  2. Step 2 Remove screws from the back of the controller.
    There are five 7.2 mm Phillips screws holding the controller together. There are two on the top and bottom of both sides, and one on the top middle.[6]
  3. Step 3 Remove the back.
    You may need to pry open the controller with a plastic spudger or a flathead screwdriver. Open it from the bottom and carefully tilt it towards the top trigger buttons. Then lift it up over the trigger buttons.
    • Be very careful that you don't accidentally dislodge the R2 or L2 trigger buttons while removing the back. They can be hard to put back on.
  4. Step 4 Remove the battery.
    The battery is the large grey square on the back of the motherboard. You don't need to disconnect the battery. You can just pull it up out of its holder and move it to the side.
    • If you do decide to disconnect the battery, pull on the white plastic part connected to the circuit board. Don't pull on the wires.
  5. Step 5 Remove the screw on the motherboard.
    The motherboard screw is located on the bottom of the motherboard, between the analogue sticks.
  6. Step 6 Remove the motherboard.
    Carefully pull the motherboard up and tilt it away from the shoulder buttons.
    • Once again, be careful not to accidentally dislodge the R2 and L2 trigger buttons.
    • You should be able to lift up the motherboard and turn it over without having to disconnect the rumble motors.
  7. Step 7 Place the plastic stick back on the metal rod.
    There is a D-shaped metal rod that sticks up out of the motherboard. Place the plastic analogue stick back on the metal rod.[7]
  8. Step 8 Replace the motherboard.
    Carefully place the motherboard back in its place with the analogue sticks freely able to move through the holes.
  9. Step 9 Screw the motherboard back in place.
    Using the same screw you took out of the motherboard, screw it back in at the bottom next to the right analogue stick.
  10. Step 10 Replace the battery.
    The motherboard has a plastic holder on its back that holds the battery in place. Place the battery back in the holder.
  11. Step 11 Replace the controller back.
    To replace the back panel, place the thin part that goes between the two trigger buttons at the top of the controller in place. Carefully tilt the back over the R2 and L2 trigger buttons and firmly push it back in place at the bottom of the controller. Go along the edges of the controller and squeeze gently to make sure the back panel is properly attached.
    • Be careful not to accidentally dislodge the R2 and L2 trigger buttons.
  12. Step 12 Replace the screws on the controller back.
    There are five screws that hold the controller together. Replace the two on the sides and the one in the middle. Your controller is now fixed.
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Section 4 of 4:

Fix Water Damage

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  1. 1
    Gather your supplies. To thoroughly dry out your controller after getting it wet, you’ll need to take it apart. Have the following tools on hand before you start:
  2. Step 2 Power off the controller immediately.
    If the controller gets wet, turning off the power immediately will prevent the circuit board from shorting out.
  3. Step 3 Wipe away any liquid from the outside.
    Use a dry cloth to dry any liquid from the outside of the controller.[8]
  4. Step 4 Remove screws from the back of the controller.
    There are five 7.2 mm Phillips screws holding the controller together. There are two on the top and bottom of both sides, and one on the top middle.[9]
  5. Step 5 Remove the back.
    You may need to pry open the controller with a plastic spudger or a flathead screwdriver. Open it from the bottom and carefully tilt it towards the top trigger buttons. Then lift it up over the trigger buttons.
    • Be very careful that you don't accidentally dislodge the R2 or L2 trigger buttons while removing the back. They can be hard to put back on.
  6. Step 6 Disconnect the battery.
    The battery is the large grey square on the back of the motherboard. To disconnect the battery, pull the white plastic piece that connects to the motherboard. Do not pull on the wires. Pull on the plastic piece.
  7. Step 7 Remove the motherboard.
    To do so, remove the screw between the analogue sticks. Then lift the motherboard straight up so that the analogue stick slides through the holes.
  8. Step 8 Remove the buttons if needed.
    If anything sticky was spilled on the controller, you may need to clean the buttons to prevent them from sticking. If so, go ahead and remove the rubber pads from behind the buttons and then remove the buttons.
  9. Step 9 Clean anything that needs to be cleaned.
    If there is anything that needs cleaning (i.e, if soda or something sticky was spilled on it), go ahead and use cotton swabs lightly dipped in 90% isopropyl alcohol to clean anything that needs cleaning.
  10. Step 10 Place the controller under a lamp, fan, or window.
    This will help the water in the controller evaporate.
  11. Step 11 Wait at least 24 hours.
    To ensure the controller is completely dry, wait 24 hours or longer.
  12. Step 12 Replace the buttons.
    Go ahead and put the buttons back in their proper place, then put the rubber contact back in behind the motherboard.
  13. Step 13 Replace the motherboard.
    Put the motherboard back in place with the sticks through the holes. Then, screw the motherboard down with the screw between the analogue sticks.
  14. Step 14 Reconnect the battery.
    Replace the white plastic part that the battery wires are connected to back in the white plastic connector on the side of the motherboard.
  15. Step 15 Replace the controller back.
    To replace the back panel, place the thin part that goes between the two trigger buttons at the top of the controller in place. Carefully tilt the back over the R2 and L2 trigger buttons and firmly push it back in place at the bottom of the controller. Go along the edges of the controller and squeeze gently to make sure the back panel is properly attached.
    • Be careful not to accidentally dislodge the R2 and L2 trigger buttons.
  16. Step 16 Replace the screws on the controller back.
    There are five screws that hold the controller together. Replace the two on the sides and the one in the middle.
  17. Step 17 Test the controller.
    To properly test the controller, launch a game that utilizes all the buttons on the controller. Test every button to make sure they do what they are supposed to do. If all the buttons are working, the controller is fixed. If there are any random button presses or buttons not working, the motherboard has a short in it. You will need to replace the controller.
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  • Question
    How do I fix a scratched PS3 disk?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Try putting mint Colgate toothpaste on it, just a tiny dab. Gently wipe the excess toothpaste off with a paper towel. You can see some different methods in the article How to Fix a Scratched CD.
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  • Question
    How do I fix an analog stick that sometimes gets stuck in certain positions?
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    Community Answer
    Usually, it's just dirty. Open it as described and clean it with some alcohol.
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  • Question
    My dualshock's battery is still unusable after 2 hours of charging. All the lights are blinking for 2 hours but still can't use it. What's the problem and how to fix it?
    Toasterflame
    Toasterflame
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    It may be that the battery on your controller has failed. Many repair shops can replace the battery for you. Or, if you are familiar with electronic repair, you can find many guides on this site to mend it yourself.
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Tips

Tips from our Readers

  • Be extra careful when removing the rumble packs from each hand grip. They have wires attached to the motherboard that can be easily broken. If they break, you will have to get the wires resoldered to the motherboard
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/DualShock+3+Rear+Cover+Replacement/3252
  2. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/PS3+Wireless+Controller+Teardown/64801
  3. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/DualShock+3+Motherboard+Replacement/3261
  4. ↑ https://youtu.be/7cnXHaHw1qA
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_bblXi2dKg
  6. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/DualShock+3+Rear+Cover+Replacement/3252
  7. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/DualShock+3+Analog+Stick+Covers+Replacement/3256
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUNQgyGQfh8&t=60s
  9. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/DualShock+3+Rear+Cover+Replacement/3252

About This Article

Travis Boylls
Written by:
Travis Boylls
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Travis has been a tech writer at wikiHow for more than 10 years. He has also worked in technical support for Dish Network and AT&T Wireless. He studied graphic design and web design at Pikes Peak Community College. He specializes in Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and video game consoles. Travis has had a fascination with computers and technology that goes all the way back to childhood. He is proficient in all manner of software and computer operating systems. This article has been viewed 125,955 times.
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Updated: February 25, 2026
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