Can you fix unresponsive buttons on PS2 controllers? Maybe.

Some buttons on the ps2 controller are more likely to fail than others, and it has to do with a hidden feature: pressure sensitivity. This video explains what's going on and what can possibly be done to fix it, but don't get your hopes up - it's not an easy fix.

[@Trendsetta89]

Thank you for explaining everything you did about the inner working of the controller. It really helped me to understand how it all works. Well done.

[@xeostube]

Glad it helped!

[@-pLoU.]

I believe the pressure sensitivity is the most important feature on the PS2 controller reason being my favorite game of all time that I still play is SOCOM and the triangle button for example is a vital feature for going crouch to prone or stand without this feature believe it or not the game experience suffers severely as result. Unfortunately this would be the selling point for myself to purchase an original PS2 controller for $80 opposed to just dealing with a crappy aftermarket controller. Hence why I am here on your channel😊 If this doesnt work I'll be breaking out the clown face paint for myself as I bite the bullet and pay the money for an original. Very useful and informative content, thank you!

[@xeostube]

Interesting. I've never played a game where it was a useful feature. How exactly does the pressure level map to the stance? Couldn't it have worked just as well by using hold time as a stand-in?

[@-pLoU.]

@@xeostube Great question! So, for myself I play SOCOM 3/Combined Assault multiplayer online. The pressure sensitivity was used for various actions in this game, the stance for example paired with the pressure sensitivity allows you to quickly tap the triangle button to go back and forth from crouched to stand. Now if you applied a descent amount of pressure on triangle while standing you will lay straight down. If you had to cycle (Beginning of round you start out in the crouch position) crouch>stand>prone or the other way around I could imagine the animation and how silly it would look lol the pressure sensitivity worked beautifully for the flow of this game. It’s a bit hard to explain in words but in certain scenarios I couldn’t imagine how the experience would have been without it when the game came out!

[@xeostube]

@@-pLoU. thanks for the detailed explanation. So while I can see that that is a great design, I wonder strongly if an almost identical design except for using hold duration wouldn't work as well, and also I suspect strongly that a harder press results in a longer press almost all of the time, so with minor code tweaks you could probably have almost the same experience from a gamers perspective.

[@thinksie]

I think metal gear solid 2 had pressure shooting! I was confused at first. So apparently. If you lightly hold square, you'll start aiming, when you release it then, you stop aiming right? So how do you shoot? Hold harder and release the button faster. That's why it feels amazing to play this game on ps2 :D

[@jonathanjimenez2361]

Great explanation, I have over 40 controllers that have the same issue. Thats crazy that Sony made them Like this wow thank you

[@xeostube]

Sony contracted out the controller to two other companies, but the design must have been mostly specified by Sony since they all look pretty similar inside.

[@LamarlovesJesus]

Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again put your faith in Christ ………

[@Dannyfr33sh]

@@LamarlovesJesus amen

[@abzhuofficial]

The Hosiedon (H) ones are the crappiest by far, and are most prone to this failure as a result ​@@xeostube- I used your conductive ink trick, which seems to work for 1 of the H controllers I got so far, but it isn't time-tested from my experience. There's another 1 I got BUT the L2/R2/Up/Left buttons DON'T work and the membrane seems to be too far gone

[@christus321]

I think the problem lies on the unequal surface that you create. The conductive material under each button must touch both sides of pcb. Sometimes it warps and makes poor contact(fix is wet sanding). Why dont you put these connective blobs on both sides, and befores they harden, try pushing them against a flat surface. Hope it works. By the way great explanation on your video!!

[@xeostube]

I don't think that would help - this is not a matter of too much resistance, but needing the exact right amount. If you short the contacts with a metal test probe it doesn't detect that as a button press, either.

[@Vinnay94]

@@xeostube He didn't say anything about RESISTANCE. You literally need a perfectly flat even surface so that everything contacts evenly across the board, otherwise you need to press harder on some buttons or you don't get contact at all.

[@RaffaelloLorenzusSayde]

Try sanding the black stuff before adding any conductive ink. It could be that the conductive ink isn't coming in proper contact with the previous black stuff to make a proper connection to the traces.

[@xeostube]

Have you specifically tried this approach for fixing ps2 buttons? In general sanding is good advice, but in this case the controller needs the resistance to be in a fairly narrow range due to the nonsense "pressure sensitive" feature that almost no game uses. So I don't think that would help.

[@RaffaelloLorenzusSayde]

@xeostube no, but I saw a KZbinr do that, but lightly sanding graphite until there was a reading on the multimeter, and the buttons became responsive again. I plan to try the lightly sanding method first and then the silver paste unto the pcb film carbon conductive pads. I believe that's what they are called. I will try both methods. I case plan A didn't do much. Maybe plan B will improve upon it. Btw, I am doing this for my Dualshock one controller. I don't know if they have pressure sensitivity. You could try sanding more or adding more of the carbon to see if you get the correct exact amount for the sensitivity special feature. It might be a trace issue if they aren't working for you, but I might be wrong.

[@briansantiago3223]

Thanks for the explanation brother, it was very clear, but too bad it can't fix my Dualshock 2 :(

[@AngelStarStudios]

Thanks for posting. I've had mine for about 20 years and today on Thanksgiving it broke :( I was literally fighting a last boss also. I'm trying to fix it. It presses "random" buttons whenever I plug it in, but then becomes unresponsive after it's plugged in.

[@xeostube]

do the joysticks continue to work?

[@AngelStarStudios]

@@xeostube Yes and no. When I turn the red joystick light ON/OFF it seems to press all the buttons randomly. I would guess it doesn't. Seems to be pressing the L1/R1 and O buttons, not sure what else. In any case, I bought a $10 replacement from China, but I'd be willing to fix my old one in the future. We're on discord if that's easier to chat!

[@bxpress6507]

I bought my slim ps2 brand new 2010..the one button just started to not work..very annoying..so I got one on ebay..I looked into parts like on here but as talked here I saw bad reliability problems with unofficial parts..wonder how long my ebay purchase one will last..but works like new again🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@Nurodas]

Thanks for this, this is really helpful and you know your stuff dude!

[@rishichauhan86]

Thanks - This is an incredible walk through and explanation in how it works. Can somebody help me? I've unearthed my old PS2 and it powers on, but the one controller I have isn't working and so far I haven't seen a fix for this fault... The analogue button definitely works, and I can see the red light illuminate when I press it. No other buttons seem to work. The pins look ok, it's definitely slotting into the console. I can't see any damages to the cable or the controller's plug component. I took apart the controller and couldn't see anything that was obviously broken. Hardly any dirt/dust inside. Any thoughts?

[@jkucukov]

I wish there was a way to see where the break is, I have a controller where D-pad and the L1, L2, R2 buttons don't work.

[@ICalverz]

Interesting. Mine has the exact same issue.

[@jharvey5540]

I scratched a line threw the black pressure pad and got it to work. Figured it already didn’t work so what do I have to lose.

[@xeostube]

Interesting. So you mean you scratched button rubber, or?

[@esai708]

Your ps2 controller still works?

[@scaare]

@@esai708 i think "class A" ps2 controllers are a better opcion that does not fail in that case, i have a "A" class joystick very used and all buttons work perfectly and i have one joystick "Class H" almost new and left side buttons dont work

[@lord_beethoven1169]

Me: is there any way I can get my original PS2 controller working again? Sony: that’s the cool part; you don’t.

[@xeostube]

To be "fair" to Sony the controllers mostly lasted the retail lifespan of the PS2. By the time the design stared failing of old age I don't think sony was still selling ps2 controllers anymore. At least in my experience. So this wasn't exactly engineered obsolescence.

[@omegapointsingularity6504]

was wondering about this, thanks.

[@SimonJones265]

My ps2 controller was new (with sealed console in 2023). Controller was fine but now X button not working correctly. Example is playing THPS3 if i hold X to do an ollie, it performs it continuously without me releasing the button.

[@doimanator9999]

Tnx alot, I wanted to play KH1 again but up on my d pad doesn't work. It sucks that I probably can't fix it but it feels alot better knowing it's not my fault or my cats. I wish I knew enough about electrical engineering to know how to add transistors and copaseters (I think that's what I need) to only have the correct voltage be outputed

[@xeostube]

I don't think that would help in this case, as it's very likely that the resistance of the traces has gone up, and adding resistors would only make it higher still.

[@doimanator9999]

@@xeostube that's annoying but I'm very glad for the response. Perhaps someone will come up for a real way to fix the controllers without swapping internals

[@flamestoyershadowkill]

you could use the right stick.

[@scaare]

i think "class A" ps2 controllers are a better opcion that does not fail in that case, y have a "A" class joystick very used and all buttons work perfectly and i have one joystick "Class H" almost new and left side buttons dont work

[@siebren005]

Hey man, thanks for the video! What about an overstimulated button pad button? Even if you don't press it, the computer thinks your are always pressing it maximum, therefor when selecting options in the menu, it keeps on sliding through the menu at maximum speed. By pressing the opposite button, the selector stops but doesn't go the other way. What do you think would be the problem?

[@xeostube]

That sounds more like analog stick drift, but since that's rare on the ps2, you could also try taking the controller apart and cleaning the contacts under the dpad.

[@izzzzzz6]

Perhaps the rubber part is broken or lost it's spring. Ask the guy above with 40x controllers to send you a spare part.

[@WeebGamer101]

How do I fix my Start Pause and Analog buttons in the center that are unresponsive?

[@danielsaturnino5715]

Well, I'll give it a try. Thanks

[@izzzzzz6]

But you only put the conductive ink on one side of those connectors. How do you know the break wasn't on the other side of the connector? Why didn't you put the ink on both sides?

[@xeostube]

You can use a multimeter to determine where the break is

[@DokesConspiracyNetwork]

​@@xeostube i left my my multimeter in a different state and the directional pad isn't working with 3 buttons by not detecting them. You think I just dump some of that there ink and ill be good

[@edwinngure3870]

Nice job bro

[@harrygregory6227]

i will try this to revive my black PlayStation2 controllers

[@shephardburnout3]

That's why the ds1 controllers are more reliable because they are not sensitive

[@xeostube]

Or almost all 3rd party controllers - actually wait those aren't more reliable. Or maybe they are now that the major factor is age, not use.

[@RaffaelloLorenzusSayde]

My DS1 controller had the same issues.

[@shephardburnout3]

@@xeostubeOnly DS2 "H" controllers tends to die because of the circuit board having it's carbon worn out. "A" model is probably the most reliable DS2 no matter how old it is it will always work thanks to better quality circuit boards (as far as I know they don't get the non-responsive buttons issue like the H models)

[@thiagolucas3573]

Great video! I have one doubt: if the green film is damaged, it affects only direcional and the usual buttons (triangle, circle, square and "x"), or it affetcs the functioning of the analogs sticks too?

[@xeostube]

Analog sticks and the button below them are on a different circuit.

[@lurkerrekrul]

What if you were to put the paste on each side so that the button would be bridging the gap between the paste splotches?

[@xeostube]

The issue is the resistance has to be exactly right. You might want to watch the whole video for the complete explanation

[@xboxheavy]

Wich type of membrane is that? I have the same but IDK the model.

[@xeostube]

If you are hoping for a replacement membrane, very few models are available, and some you have to mod :-(

[@noobboy4259]

Hey my right analog stick button doesn't work you can look around but it doesn't click

[@xeostube]

They are two distinct parts but are so hard to remove and separate that I've never found it worth trying to replace the button that is attached to the stick. sometimes spraying circuit cleaner into the button will get it to start responding again though, but you probably don't want to get any of that into the analog stick.

[@cryeredd7563]

where can you find the green film?

[@xeostube]

eBay, for one.

[@Juicepepper]

How hard would it be to replace the conductive film? can you just pop off the old ribbon connection and pop in a new one?

[@xeostube]

Depends, in this case it's soldered on, though some models do use slip on connectors. As I mentioned in the video the quality of the replacements is highly variable.

[@naturegarcon]

i had success replacing a couple with some ones i found on ebay for $2. you just have to disassemble the controller first and figure out which model you need since there are soldered and slip-on connectors, as well as different numbers of pins.

[@dreadGodshand]

My select button doesn't work. 😞

[@xeostube]

That should be fixable then, since it's not pressure sensitive.

[@dreadGodshand]

@@xeostube how? I don't know how to fix that.

[@xeostube]

@@dreadGodshand watch the video again you need conductive ink

[@claclamorri2927]

Ottimo tutorial, io uso vernice conduttiva con argento

[@harrygregory6227]

what kind of ink did you use?

[@xeostube]

Conductive. The brand is in the video on the right.

[@KV-1484AN]

U sound like chris from family guy

[@GOATGamerProSticks]

It sounds like some form of general degradation that metals go through when there surface oxidizes? That & wear rate. I once had a remote control car speed control go dead my uncle suggested dabbing on Petroleum Jelly it worked great for conducting power for a while right up to total failure of the contact not sure it was healthy for it lol. Corrosive reaction may have took place i dont know tech stuff that side. Im just trying to learn about soldering, flux cleans up metal contacts but also eats it away not cleaned off. Live & learn or fix it till its broke seems about right lol. "Its alive" Oh wait why did it do that! lol. Nothing last forever in this landfill cancel culture of modern minimal viable product, disruptive technology? Dont mind me i get stuck in data feedback loops more often than not ;^) the pitfalls of warped & twisted humour & modern buzz words that wont quit. Back to the subject please carry-on.....

[@xeostube]

could be - or it could be that a crack is forming between the two different materials that make up the conductive layer of the green plastic film. As best I can tell that's what's going on in the sample shown in the video, but it's hard to be sure. At least one other sample I've tested is suffering the corrosion problem you mention.

[@JohnPaulBuce]

oh well ill just buy a new one, repairing it is a hit or miss anyway

[@xeostube]

By new one do you mean a third party one? Do you have a brand to recommend because in my experience the third party ones are mostly junk

[@JohnPaulBuce]

@@xeostube i mean a working, official ps2 controller, even if its second hand, i typed the wrong word sorry ive tried repairing mine and i ended up breaking it even further 😐, im not really good at repairing stuff

[@MitraDaGalp]

@@xeostube Logic3 used to make PSX peripherals, Memory Cards, controllers, etc.. I think it's good stuff. I just happened to strike gold 3 weeks ago, bought a (chipped) PSX 9004, a PS2 70004, a PS2 90004, an official Sony PS2 8MB Memory Card, two Sony Dualshock2 controllers, one Logic3 PS2 controller, a copy of Need for Speed Underground 2, Need For Speed Undercover, Midnight Club 3 Dub Edition, WWE 2010 and Tourist Trophy all for 25€ (less than 26$). One Dualshock2 controller has unresponsive R1, R2 and Triangle buttons, the other is fine and the Logic3 one is like new and it feels quite sturdy and resistant. At first I couldn't believe how lucky I was.

[@xeostube]

@@MitraDaGalp that's not a brand that we seem to have a whole lot of access to here in the US. I've never heard of it before. But I'll keep an eye out for it.

[@MitraDaGalp]

@@xeostube I don't mean to say it's very good but I think it's not bad. The controller isn't as smooth as Sony originals but it's quite acceptable. Only the directional pad isn't as good for fighting games in my opinion.

[@kennethshiro9500]

time to bust out the fingernail trimmers. I let it go for a while too but i'd definitely clip them if a closeup of my hands were gonna be in a video

[@xeostube]

But how else can I game the youtube engagement algorithm without all the pointless posts about needing to trim my fingernails?

[@kennethshiro9500]

@@xeostube was i not the first? i cant be expected to look thru all the comments.

[@mooseydeucy]

So therefore it's done and you have to buy a new one. China??? He'll know have you read about how they acting towards America these days. Nyet!