Hall effect controller
Hall effect sensors have no moving contact patch to wear, which is why they are the usual hardware answer to drift.
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Gamepad Tester and Stick Drift Test
Plug in or pair a controller, press any button, and see every button, trigger and stick respond live. A 5-second drift test measures how far each stick sits from centre at rest.
Connect a controller, then press any button to wake it up.
Drift test: leave the sticks alone when you press the button. It measures a resting offset; it doesn't diagnose a fault.
Runs in your browser. Nothing leaves this page.
Quick answer
Connect your controller, press a button and it appears below. Buttons light up, triggers fill, sticks show a live dot. For stick drift, press "Run drift test" and leave the sticks alone for 5 seconds.
How to use the Gamepad Tester
Connect and wake it
Plug in with USB or pair over Bluetooth, then press any button. Browsers hide controllers until they see input.
Press and move everything
Every button, trigger and stick should respond. Rotate each stick around its rim to draw its range.
Run the drift test
Press Run drift test, hands off for 5 seconds. You get each stick's resting offset and how it compares with common deadzones.
How the gamepad tester works
Your browser exposes connected controllers through the Gamepad API. This page reads every connected pad many times a second and shows what the browser reports: which buttons are down, how far each trigger is pressed, and where each stick is on its X and Y axes. Standard Xbox, PlayStation and Switch controllers are labelled where the device ID makes that clear; other pads show as generic.
The faint dashed ring on each stick circle marks a deadzone of 0.15. The purple outline is the furthest each direction has reached since you started, so a healthy stick draws a roughly round shape. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
How the stick drift test works
Stick drift is when a stick reports movement while you are not touching it. The test collects readings for 5 seconds with your hands off, averages them, and reports the offset on X and Y plus the total distance from centre, where 0 is perfectly centred and 1 is fully tilted.
Most games apply a deadzone of roughly 0.05 to 0.15, meaning they ignore stick readings smaller than that. So the same reading can be invisible in one game and cause a slow creep in another. This is a measurement, not a diagnosis, and a result can change with how the stick came to rest. Run it two or three times.
| Offset | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Under 0.05 | Inside the smallest deadzone most games use. A game would normally ignore it. |
| 0.05 to 0.15 | Inside the range many games use. Games with a small deadzone may show slight movement. |
| Above 0.15 | Above what most games ignore. A game would likely show movement; re-test with the stick fully at rest. |
Browser and device notes
- Chrome, Edge and Firefox on desktop give the most complete support, including vibration where the controller allows it.
- Safari and iOS have limited Gamepad API support. If your controller does not appear, try a desktop browser.
- Chromebook: most controllers work over USB or Bluetooth. If yours is not detected, read our Chromebook controller guide.
- Android: works in Chrome with Bluetooth controllers; vibration support varies.
Gear that helps
Category searches on Amazon, picked because they relate to what this tool checks. Compare options and read the listing before you buy.
Controller charging dock
A dock keeps a wireless controller charged and ready, so low battery is not mistaken for a fault.
Search on AmazonBraided USB controller cable
A good wired connection rules out Bluetooth as the cause of dropouts when you test.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I test my controller online?
Connect it by USB or Bluetooth, open this page and press any button. The controller appears with live buttons, triggers and sticks. Move each stick and press every button to confirm they respond.
How do I test for stick drift?
Press Run drift test and leave both sticks untouched for 5 seconds. The page averages the readings and shows how far each stick sat from centre. Compare that with the 0.05 to 0.15 range many games use as a deadzone.
What offset counts as stick drift?
There is no single line. A small offset below a game's deadzone is invisible, while the same offset in a game with a tiny deadzone makes the camera creep. If the reading is over about 0.15, most games will show movement.
Why isn't my controller showing up?
Press a button first, since browsers hide controllers until they see input. Then try another USB port or cable, re-pair Bluetooth, and use a desktop Chrome, Edge or Firefox. iOS Safari support is limited.
Can this fix stick drift?
No. It only measures. If a stick reads far from centre at rest, common next steps are cleaning around the stick, checking for a firmware or calibration option, and, if it persists, a repair, a replacement or a Hall effect controller. Our stick drift guide has the steps.
Does the vibration test work on every controller?
Only where the browser and controller expose a vibration actuator, usually Chrome or Edge on desktop with a wired or supported wireless pad. If it is unsupported the button says so.
Is the test safe? Does it send data anywhere?
Controller readings stay in your browser tab. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
This article reflects independent editorial research and disclosed buying criteria, not hands-on lab testing or manufacturer sponsorship. Some links on this page are Amazon Associates affiliate links; see our affiliate disclosure.