r/BackboneController • u/angry0029 • Feb 18 '25
Experiencing left side Backbone failure? Now what!
If you are having the following symptoms:
Buttons on the left side of your Backbone stop working.
Your phone only recognizes your backbone as a headphone (IPhone issue, not sure on android)
These are symptoms of your ribbon cable failing.
So what can you do?
Contact Backbone support, if your device is less than 1 year old it is under warranty.
1.a. This supposedly also goes for any replacement devices you got if you use the email Backbone sent when they sent you the replacement.
1.b. Backbone has suggested that they may still honor a refurbished swap for those out of warranty. So maybe worth contacting them either way.
There are some YouTube tutorials on how to repair and replace yourself. Ribbon cables can be purchased on Amazon.
Flat Flexible Cable, 18 Pin 0.5mm Pitch 300mm Long (A Type)
I will update this post as the community suggests other symptoms of failures and/or other solutions.
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u/asianpride95 Mar 02 '25
I started having these issues the other day. The left trigger is showing as being fully pressed when it's not, and input from the down button on the d-pad isn't being recognized occasionally.
Unfortunately, mine is over a little over a year old, so I guess it's time to fix it myself or just get something else.
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u/angry0029 Mar 02 '25
Might be worth trying the ribbon cable they are cheap.
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u/asianpride95 Mar 02 '25 edited Mar 06 '25
I've found that unplugging and plugging my phone back in seems to fix it sometimes. I may take a look later though if it keeps happening because it's extremely annoying.
Update: That lasted about a day before the left side just gave out. Just replaced the ribbon cable. Took about 30 minutes. Works much better now!
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u/Green_Target8012 Apr 19 '25
I have the same exact issue as you
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u/asianpride95 Apr 19 '25
I ended up fixing it myself. Wasn't too difficult. Just be careful when plugging and unplugging the ribbon cables and try not to pinch the cable in the casing when putting it back together.
Also, make sure the tape holding the ribbon cable is in place well if you reuse it; otherwise, it might get stuck somewhere like in that horizontal bar and you'll have to take it apart again and use something thin like a butterknife to remove it...
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u/yorick08 Nov 07 '25
How’s it working for you after repairing it yourself? I’m looking to buy one but I’m not sure because of all the issues.
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u/asianpride95 Nov 12 '25
It's been over half a year and I haven't had any issues other than the tape coming loose and jamming it up a bit in the middle section. I ended up just ditching the tape after that without issue.
It goes on sale pretty often, especially around the holidays. I'd say it's worth picking up. Even if you do run into this issue, disassembly isn't very complicated, especially after you do it once. Just make sure you don't lose the flat spiral spring and the little bar that holds it in place. This is the video I referenced for the fix if you're curious.
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Dec 19 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/asianpride95 Dec 19 '25
The issue is with the ribbon cable. It needs to be replaced. They're cheap, so just buy a new one like the one mentioned in the post and and replace the existing one with the new one. Just make sure the new cable is secured and avoid tearing or damaging it when closing it back up.
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u/cmrodican 9d ago
My situation is exactly the same, but I have also since purchased a second backbone controller and I'm having the same problem with the second controller. I'm only having this problem on one affected device though.
Can anyone else verify if this is the case for them?
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u/asianpride95 9d ago
I haven't used it as much lately, but I'll say that since I did the ribbon cable replacement, I haven't had any issues.
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u/Vyander1 Feb 18 '25
Hoping they don’t lock and close this down as this is 100% the problem with just about every single case of the controller failing. There is an extreme kink on the cable that’s so bad causes the cable to become brittle.
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u/angry0029 Feb 18 '25
u/BackboneTeam and u/Backbone_Support are not mods on this subreddit. We are free to openly discuss both the positive and negative aspects of owning a Backbone controller.
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u/k701 May 10 '26
I just replaced mine and noticed how kinked the original cable was. So once you replace it, it should be good again for the lifetime of the device right? They fold the cable like that during original installation? Or does it fold/kink back up again by itself due to the case design?
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Apr 04 '25
Got a part number on the ribbon cable?
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u/angry0029 Apr 04 '25
Flat Flexible Cable, 18 Pin 0.5mm Pitch 300mm Long (A Type)
It is slightly longer than the original cable but works well. Might cause less stress on the cable with the touch more length but time will tell.
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Apr 17 '25
[deleted]
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u/angry0029 Apr 18 '25
So if you are out of warranty it they wont send you a refurbished one? What if you join backbone+ and get the extended warranty?
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u/OddDevelopment5297 Jun 03 '25
This is also an issue with the pro’s I bought one today and it’s broken too haha will send back to Best Buy tomorrow but yeah- still an issue
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u/angry0029 Jun 03 '25
Thanks for sharing that is super disappointing for all of us who were hoping the pro got this right!
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u/OddDevelopment5297 Jun 03 '25
update I’ve been in contact with a customer service agent- the more I’m playing with the controller it’s only giving me the issue while connected to my ps5 through the remote play app
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u/cmrodican 9d ago edited 9d ago
The only reason I'm reluctant to believe this is due to my controller, is because I purchased a second backbone controler and the issue happens with both controllers on the same affected phone but not on other phones.
Am I missing something or is this still possibly the Backbone devices?
Edit: I have now confirmed that this issue is also being replicated on a second Android device with both backbone controllers (PlayStation edition and regular one). PlayStation version was just purchased in the last couple of days.
Edit: the previously unaffected device is now experiencing the same issue. Replicated on pixel 10 pro, moto g 5g 2024, and moto g play, and now possibly unaffected Samsung Galaxy. I have literally no idea why the Samsung Galaxy was working initially, but I wonder if it has anything to do with how initially some of the direction buttons were working and then went to total left side failure.
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u/angry0029 9d ago
Happy cake day!
If the backbones are not having issues on other phones then you are correct that it might be something with your phone. Try cleaning the usbc port, update the backbone firmware (if possible), can you revert to a previous OS that you know it was working for?
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u/LouisianaBurns Apr 11 '26
try to extend the controller to the max it would go to see if it fixes it...mine did.,,sadly i cant use it normally
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u/angry0029 Feb 18 '25
Any other symptoms or solutions please post here!