Stick drift test
Put the controller down and leave both sticks alone. The dots show where each stick rests and how far that is from centre.
Stick drift test workspace
How to use
4 short steps.
Put the controller down
Rest it on a table and press any button so the browser sees it. Keep your hands off both sticks.
Wait five seconds
The page records where each stick rests. The offset appears under each circle as a percentage with X and Y.
Compare with a deadzone
Drag the slider to the deadzone your game uses. Drift inside the dashed ring is ignored by that game.
Move and release
Roll each stick around and let go. The return to centre line shows where it settled half a second later.
What the result means
Match what you see to one of these.
If the offset is under 5%
If the resting offset is below about 5%, the stick sits where games expect it. Most titles ignore movement inside a 5 to 15% inner deadzone, so this much drift will not show up in play.
If the offset is above 10%
If the stick rests more than 10% from centre, a game with a small deadzone will see movement you did not make. Raise the in-game deadzone or recalibrate before replacing anything.
If the return to centre wanders
If the stick settles in a different spot each time you let go, the module is wearing rather than simply offset. A stable offset can be corrected, but a wandering one usually gets worse.
Troubleshooting
If the test fails, try these in order.
Reset if you touched the stick
The resting position only counts if your hands were off the controller. Press Reset baseline and wait five seconds again.
Raise the deadzone in the game
Most games and Steam Input let you set a larger inner deadzone. Increase it a little, then come back and compare with the slider.
Recalibrate where the maker allows it
Xbox Accessories, the DualSense Edge menu, and the Switch system settings can recentre a stick. Retest here after calibrating.
Clean around the stick
Compressed air or a little isopropyl alcohol around the base can clear debris that holds a stick off centre. Let it dry, then retest.
Compare wired and wireless
Test the same stick over USB and Bluetooth, and on a second computer if you can. If the drift follows the controller, the stick itself is the cause.
What this test can't tell you
Where a browser check stops.
- The browser sees axis values after any deadzone in the controller firmware, not the raw sensor, so a heavily filtered pad can look drift free.
- There is no single percentage that proves a stick is faulty; the practical cutoff is the deadzone of the game you play.
- This page cannot recalibrate or repair the stick. It measures, and the fix happens in the game, the system settings, or the hardware.
FAQ
Common questions about this test.
How do I test for stick drift?
Put the controller down, leave both sticks alone for five seconds, and read the offset under each circle. Anything the dot does while you are not touching the stick is drift.
How much stick drift is normal?
A resting offset under about 5% is normal and games ignore it. Most games apply an inner deadzone of 5 to 15%, so drift inside that range does not show in play. Above 10% you will usually notice slow camera movement.
Can stick drift be fixed?
Often, at least for a while. Raise the deadzone in the game or Steam Input, or recalibrate with Xbox Accessories or the DualSense Edge menu. Update the firmware and clean around the stick. A worn module needs replacement or a warranty claim.
What does the deadzone percentage mean?
It is the radius around centre that a game ignores. A 10% deadzone means the stick has to move more than a tenth of its travel before the game reacts. The dashed ring shows that radius.
Does this work for the right stick and for PS5 or Switch controllers?
Yes. Both sticks are shown side by side for any controller the browser recognises, including Xbox, DualSense, DualShock 4, and the Switch Pro Controller.