Quest Pro 2 Update Causes Major Drift Issues

When I fired up Asgard’s Wrath 2 last week on my Meta Quest Pro 2, I barely had time to get immersed before a major problem hit: my right-hand controller was suddenly veering off on its own, completely out of sync with my actions. I wasn’t even touching the joystick, yet my character kept drifting sideways—like the controller had a mind of its own.

At first, I tried to convince myself it was just fatigue or maybe my imagination. But a quick search on Reddit erased any doubts: this “controller drift” wasn’t just in my headset—there was an entire wave of users reporting exactly the same thing.

The Drift Is Real—and Spreading Fast

Google Trends reflects a sharp spike in searches for “Meta Quest controller drift fix” since the beginning of July. Over on r/Oculus and Meta’s own forums, it’s post after post sharing the same frustration:

• “Updated firmware and now my controller is unusable.”
• “Can’t aim in Beat Saber—drift is insane.”
• “Anyone else seeing joystick drift after the July update?”

And it’s not just gamers, either. Developers using the Quest Pro 2 for creating XR apps are reporting headaches. One indie dev wrote, “I rely on precise controller tracking for testing—now my inputs are garbage. Meta needs to roll this back.”

What’s Actually Happening?

For the uninitiated, “controller drift” is when the joystick (or thumbstick) starts registering movement without your input. On the Quest Pro 2, the July 2025 firmware update seems to be the culprit, causing both left and right controllers to misbehave.

Some users report the problem starts as a subtle nudge and grows worse over time; others say their controller is stuck in maximum tilt, with zero finger contact. Ironically, this update was meant to improve stability and tracking—likely something went wrong at the firmware level, perhaps with joystick calibration or how the controller interprets the deadzone (the area where small stick movements are ignored).

How I Tried to Fix It

Like anyone hit with a sudden tech hiccup, I dove into troubleshooting. Here’s what I tried—and what happened:

1. Controller Recalibration—Useless
   • Tried the built-in “Recalibrate Controllers” feature; after a reboot… no luck. Drift persisted.
2. Factory Reset—Short-Term Relief
   • Set both the headset and controllers back to factory settings. The drift improved for a few hours, then crept back in stronger than ever.
3. Developer Mode Deadzone Tweak—Partial Help
   • By enabling Developer Mode and sideloading custom tools, I was able to increase the deadzone values. This did make the drift less dramatic, but responsiveness took a hit—twitchy games felt much slower.
4. Contact Cleaner—Not for Everyone
   • Some on Reddit recommend opening the controller and cleaning the sticks with isopropyl alcohol. Frankly, I didn’t want to void my warranty or risk breaking anything, so I passed on this one. Maybe it helps for physical gunk, but this issue seems rooted in the firmware.

Meta’s Response: Frustrating Silence

As of August 7, 2025, Meta hasn’t made an official public statement about the controller drift epidemic. Some users say Meta Support acknowledges the complaints and swaps out defective controllers for those under warranty—but that feels like a band-aid, not a real fix.

A few support reps have hinted that a software hotfix is in the works, but so far? No ETA, no clear roadmap. For many in the community, the silence is almost worse than the bug itself. As one developer put it, “The lack of transparency is worse than the bug itself. We need to know if a fix is coming.”

What This Means for XR

The Quest Pro 2 isn’t just a gaming toy—it’s a tool for developers, researchers, and digital designers. When a core input device goes haywire, it doesn’t just spoil a session of Beat Saber—it stalls creative projects, interrupts esports competitions, and even derails virtual workspaces.

For XR as a whole, these issues threaten user faith in Meta’s ecosystem. With Apple’s Vision Pro gaining attention, Meta needs to show it cares about reliability—otherwise, developers and users might look elsewhere.

What You Can Do Right Now

• Boost Deadzone Sensitivity via ADB Tools
  • If you’re tech-savvy, enable Developer Mode and use SideQuest or ADB to tweak joystick deadzone values. It’s a workaround, not a proper fix—but it might stave off the worst drift until Meta releases a patch.
• Contact Meta Support
  • If your hardware is still under warranty, reach out and ask for a controller replacement. Some users have received new units with less or no drift (for now).
• Switch Games or Modes
  • Play games that use hand tracking instead of joysticks, or focus on titles that don’t rely on precise stick control.
• Make Your Voice Heard
  • Join ongoing threads on Reddit and Meta forums. The more people speak up, the more pressure Meta will feel to move quickly.

Final Thoughts

The Quest Pro 2 delivers some of the best XR experiences out there—when it works. This latest firmware update, though, has created a major stumbling block that Meta needs to fix urgently. Even a tiny flaw like controller drift can ruin immersion or disrupt professional workflows in XR. If you’re experiencing joystick drift on your Quest Pro 2, follow Meta’s official troubleshooting guide for possible fixes and warranty support.

As a long-time Quest user and developer, I’m disappointed in how opaque Meta has been about the problem and solution. XR is still finding its footing as a technology, and trust is essential.

Let’s hope Meta rolls out a fix soon—so we can get back to the precise, immersive experiences that made the Quest Pro 2 special in the first place.

You might also be interested in the leaked launch details of Samsung’s upcoming XR headset, including its features and expected pricing.”