Connect a controller and press any button to begin…
Left stick
Right stick
Rest your hands off the sticks: values beyond ±0.05 from zero indicate drift.
Quick answer: Connect your controller (USB or Bluetooth) and press any button to wake it – the browser only sees gamepads after an input. Every button lights with its pressure value, the stick crosshairs expose drift (a stick that doesn't return to 0,0), and the vibration button tests rumble motors.
This tester uses the browser's built-in Gamepad API – the same interface web games use – to display every button, trigger and stick of your Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro or generic PC controller in real time. It's the quickest way to diagnose the most common controller ailment: stick drift, where a worn analog stick reports movement while untouched, making your game character wander on its own.
To check drift, connect the pad, keep your hands off the sticks, and watch the crosshair readouts: a healthy stick rests within about ±0.05 of center. Values stuck at 0.1–0.3 mean the potentiometer is wearing out – games hide small drift with deadzones, but past a point only cleaning or repair helps. The button pressure values also reveal failing triggers that no longer reach 1.00 when fully pulled.
How to test a game controller
- Connect your controller by USB cable or Bluetooth pairing.
- Press any button – browsers hide gamepads until the first input (a privacy feature).
- Press every button and pull both triggers: each should light up and analog inputs should reach 1.00.
- Take your hands off the sticks and read the resting values – more than ~0.05 from zero indicates drift.
- Rotate each stick in a full slow circle – the trace should be a smooth round shape reaching the edges.
- Click Test vibration to check the rumble motors (supported controllers/browsers).
Why use the GadgetsFocus gamepad tester?
- Live view of every button with exact analog pressure values (0.00–1.00).
- Dual stick crosshairs with numeric X/Y readouts – the definitive drift check.
- Works with Xbox, PlayStation (DualShock/DualSense), Switch Pro and most generic pads.
- Vibration/rumble test where the browser supports it (Chrome and Edge, most pads).
- USB and Bluetooth – nothing to install, works on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
Honest limitations
- The controller stays invisible until you press a button – that's the Gamepad API's privacy design, not a fault.
- Vibration support varies: Chrome and Edge support most pads' rumble; Firefox and Safari often don't, and some Bluetooth connections drop rumble entirely.
- Special buttons (Xbox Share, PS touchpad gestures, paddles) may not map to standard slots and can appear as extra numbered buttons or not at all.
- Browser button numbering follows the standard layout (0 = A/Cross, 1 = B/Circle…); on exotic controllers the mapping can differ from the labels printed on the pad.
Frequently asked questions
My controller isn't detected – what do I do?
Press a face button first – pads are hidden until an input arrives. Still nothing? Re-seat the USB cable (some charge-only cables carry no data), re-pair Bluetooth, and try another port or browser (Chrome/Edge have the broadest support). On Windows, check the pad appears in Settings → Bluetooth & devices.
How much stick drift is normal?
At rest, values within ±0.05 of 0.00 are healthy – games' deadzones absorb that. Consistent resting values above ~0.1 on one axis mean measurable wear: expect wandering in games with small deadzones. Cleaning around the stick base helps when it's debris; worn potentiometers or Hall-effect replacements are the durable fix.
A trigger only reaches 0.85 – is it broken?
It's losing range – dirt or spring wear is stopping full travel, or the potentiometer has drifted. Games will register it as a partial pull. Compressed air around the trigger slot sometimes restores it; otherwise the trigger mechanism needs service.
Why doesn't vibration work?
Three suspects in order: the browser (Firefox/Safari often lack rumble support – try Chrome or Edge), the connection (some pads only rumble over USB, not Bluetooth), and the pad itself. If it rumbles in a console/PC game but not here, it's the browser, not your hardware.
Does this work for PS5 DualSense adaptive triggers?
The DualSense works fully as a standard pad here – buttons, sticks, triggers and basic rumble. Adaptive trigger resistance and haptic effects are proprietary features games access through special drivers, beyond what any browser test can trigger.
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Last updated: July 11, 2026. Built and tested by the GadgetsFocus team on Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari (desktop & mobile). Everything on this page runs locally in your browser — we never see, store or transmit your files.