Gamepad Tester
Plug in or pair any controller and press a button. Every button, trigger and joystick lights up on the diagram with its exact analog value, so you can spot stick drift, sticky triggers and dead buttons in seconds.
Let go of both sticks: the resting value should stay inside the dashed deadzone circle. A larger resting value is stick drift.
Vibration test
Connect a controller to test its rumble motors.
- Controller
- –
- Mapping
- –
- Buttons / axes
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- Input updates/s
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Raw buttons and axes
| Axis | Value | Position |
|---|
How to use the Gamepad Tester
- Connect your controller with a USB cable or pair it over Bluetooth with your computer or phone.
- Press any button. Browsers only reveal a gamepad after it has been used, so the status bar turns green once it is detected.
- Press every button and pull each trigger. The matching part of the diagram lights up and the raw table shows the exact value.
- Move both sticks in full circles, then let go. The drift readout shows how far each stick rests from the centre compared with your deadzone.
- Press Test weak rumble or Test strong rumble to check the vibration motors, if your browser supports it.
Standard gamepad button and axis numbers
Browsers expose controllers that use the W3C "standard" mapping with the same numbering, whatever the brand. Use this table to match the numbers in the raw view with physical buttons.
| Index | Xbox style | PlayStation style | Nintendo style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Button 0 | A | Cross ✕ | B |
| Button 1 | B | Circle ○ | A |
| Button 2 | X | Square □ | Y |
| Button 3 | Y | Triangle △ | X |
| Buttons 4 / 5 | LB / RB | L1 / R1 | L / R |
| Buttons 6 / 7 | LT / RT (analog) | L2 / R2 (analog) | ZL / ZR |
| Buttons 8 / 9 | View / Menu | Share or Create / Options | − / + |
| Buttons 10 / 11 | Left / right stick click | L3 / R3 | Left / right stick click |
| Buttons 12 to 15 | D-pad up, down, left, right | D-pad up, down, left, right | D-pad up, down, left, right |
| Button 16 | Guide button | PS button | Home |
| Axes 0 / 1 | Left stick X (−1 left, +1 right) and Y (−1 up, +1 down) | ||
| Axes 2 / 3 | Right stick X and Y | ||
How to read your stick drift result
| Resting value | What it means |
|---|---|
| 0.00 to 0.05 | Excellent. The stick centres almost perfectly. |
| 0.05 to 0.10 | Normal for most controllers; hidden by any game deadzone. |
| 0.10 to 0.20 | Mild drift. Some games may register slow camera or character movement. |
| Above 0.20 | Clear drift. Expect unwanted movement in most games. |
Drift is usually caused by dust or wear inside the potentiometers under the stick. Try rotating the stick firmly in circles for a few seconds, cleaning around the base with compressed air, and updating the controller firmware. Many games and platforms also let you raise the deadzone to hide mild drift.
Connecting a controller
- Xbox controllers: connect with USB-C or micro-USB, or hold the pairing button and pair over Bluetooth (newer models).
- PlayStation controllers: plug in with USB, or hold Share/Create and the PS button until the light bar flashes, then pair over Bluetooth.
- Nintendo Switch Pro controller: hold the small sync button on top and pair over Bluetooth, or use a USB-C cable.
- Phones and tablets: pair the controller in Bluetooth settings first, then open this page and press a button.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my controller not detected?
For privacy, browsers hide gamepads until you press a button while the page is open. Make sure the controller is connected and recognised by your system, then press a face button. If it still does not appear, try a different USB cable or port, re-pair it over Bluetooth, or use Chrome or Edge, which have the most complete Gamepad API support.
How do I check for stick drift?
Move each stick in a full circle, then let go completely. The drift readout shows the median resting distance from the centre, from 0 to 1. Values inside the dashed deadzone circle are normal. A resting value above about 0.10 to 0.15, or a dot that creeps away from the centre on its own, indicates drift.
What is a deadzone?
A deadzone is a small area around the centre of a stick where movement is ignored by games. It hides the tiny offset every analog stick has at rest. Games typically use a deadzone between 0.05 and 0.25. Use the slider to see whether your stick rests inside the deadzone you play with.
Can I test PS4, PS5, Xbox and Switch controllers?
Yes. Any controller that your operating system recognises as a gamepad works, including Xbox, DualShock 4, DualSense, Switch Pro and most generic USB pads. Controllers that use the standard mapping match the diagram exactly; others still show every raw button and axis in the table.
Why does the vibration test not work?
Rumble needs both browser and controller support. Chrome and Edge support vibration for most Xbox and PlayStation controllers. Firefox and Safari often do not expose the vibration motors, and some Bluetooth connections disable them.
Are the triggers analog?
On most modern controllers the left and right triggers are analog and report values from 0 to 1, shown here as 0 to 100%. If a trigger only jumps between 0% and 100%, it is digital or the controller is in a compatibility mode.
Does this tester send any data?
No. The tester reads the controller through your browser's Gamepad API and everything stays on your device.