Controller Tester

Beta

Plug in or pair your controller to test the sticks, buttons and triggers, then get a plain-English verdict on any drift.

Beta: I'm still calibrating the verdict bands against controllers on my bench, so treat borderline results as a guide rather than a final answer.

Plug in or pair your controller, then press any button.

USB or Bluetooth · Chrome, Edge or Firefox

No controller showing?

    How to use the controller tester

    1. Connect your controller. Connect it to a computer or Android phone, by USB cable or Bluetooth. Use Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
    2. Press any button. Browsers only show a controller once it has been used, so the tester appears after your first press.
    3. Check the live view. Press every button and move both sticks and triggers. Each one lights up on the drawing as you use it.
    4. Run the stick drift test. Put the controller down, then follow the prompts: push the stick and let it go, three times for each stick. The test reads where the stick comes to rest each time.
    5. Read the result. You get a verdict for each stick, what it means, what to try for free, and the repair options if it needs one.

    Nothing you test is sent anywhere. All the readings stay in your browser.

    What the results mean

    The drift test measures how far each stick sits from dead centre when you're not touching it, as a percentage of its full travel.

    • Healthy: the stick comes back close to centre. Every stick sits slightly off zero, and games ignore small amounts with a dead zone.
    • Minor: a small offset that many games hide. Worth keeping an eye on.
    • Noticeable: enough that you'll probably see it in menus and when aiming.
    • Severe: the stick moves things on its own in most games.
    How a dead zone hides small drift The outer circle is the stick's full travel. A shaded circle around the centre is the dead zone, which the game ignores. A resting point inside the dead zone is hidden; a resting point outside it is drift you'll see. Drift you'll see Dead zone (ignored by the game) Hidden Full travel

    Each stick is tested three times, after being pushed in different directions, because a stick doesn't always come back to the same place. The verdict uses the worst of the three, and the range shows how much it varies.

    Two kinds of drift

    From the bench, drift comes in two main patterns, and they mean different things.

    The same offset every time. If the stick settles in the same direction whichever way it was pushed, that's classic drift. It's usually wear on the sensor inside the stick, and it tends to get worse.

    A different offset each time. If the stick comes back to different places depending on the push, it isn't centring consistently. That's usually the centring spring, play in the stick's mechanism, or dirt. In games it shows up as the odd creep after certain movements.

    The tester tells you which pattern your stick shows.

    Same place every time

    Usually a worn sensor.

    Different place each push

    Usually the centring spring or dirt.

    Free things to try first

    Before paying for a repair, try these:

    • Raise the dead zone in the game's controls settings. It's a workaround, not a fix.
    • Update the controller through your console or, for Xbox, the Xbox Accessories app.
    • Recalibrate an Xbox controller in the Xbox Accessories app. There's no official recalibration for PlayStation controllers.
    • Clean around the stick with short bursts of compressed air while rotating it. No liquids.

    If the drift is severe, or settles in the same place every time at a noticeable level, these usually only help for a while. A worn stick needs replacing.

    Getting it repaired

    I repair PS5 and Xbox controllers by post. A drift repair replaces the worn stick, and I test it on the bench with this same tester before and after. You can choose a standard replacement, or upgrade to Hall effect or TMR sticks, which use magnetic sensors and are designed to resist drift. See PS5 controller repairs and Xbox controller repairs, or all controller repairs.

    Guides

    Already know it's drifting?

    I replace drifting sticks on PS5 and Xbox controllers by post, and test them with this tester before and after.

    PS5

    Xbox Series X & S

    Xbox One: standard and Hall effect

    See controller repairs

    Questions people ask

    Does this controller tester work on PS5 and Xbox controllers?
    Yes. It works with PS5 DualSense and DualSense Edge, PS4 DualShock 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Elite controllers, Switch Pro controllers and most standard PC controllers.
    Can I test my controller on my console?
    No. Console web browsers don't give websites access to controllers. Use a computer or an Android phone, and connect the controller by USB or Bluetooth.
    Does it work on iPhone or Safari?
    Only partly. Safari limits what websites can read from controllers. For a full test, use Chrome or Edge on a computer, or Chrome on Android.
    My controller isn't showing up. What should I do?
    Press a button first, as browsers only show a controller after it's been used. Then check the cable carries data, not just charge; try Bluetooth instead; and close Steam, DS4Windows or other controller software that might be taking over the controller.
    What counts as stick drift?
    Drift is when a stick reports movement while you're not touching it. A tiny offset is normal and hidden by games. It becomes a problem when it's big enough to move your camera, cursor or character on its own.
    How accurate is the test?
    It reads the same stick values your games receive. It tests each stick three times because sticks don't always settle in the same place, and the verdict uses the worst reading. Put the controller on a flat surface and keep your hands off for the best results.
    Is my data sent anywhere?
    Your test readings aren't. Everything happens in your browser, and nothing you test is uploaded or stored.
    Can stick drift be fixed?
    Usually, yes. Minor drift can sometimes be managed with a dead zone setting or cleaning. Worn sticks are fixed by replacing the stick module.
    Is a Hall effect or TMR stick worth it?
    They use magnetic sensors instead of the parts that wear out in standard sticks, so they're designed to resist drift. They cost a little more than a standard replacement.

    Paul Walsh runs The Repair Works and has been repairing electronics for over 25 years. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo.