Connect a DualSense, Xbox, or Switch Pro controller, release both sticks, and run a timed rest check. This stick drift tool plots live axis values, deviation from center, jitter at rest, and a range trail — so you can confirm stick drift before cleaning or replacing a stick module.
Need buttons and triggers too? Open the full controller test
Stick drift lab
Press any button to wake the Gamepad API
Analog stick readout
Live axes, deviation, and range trail
Left stick
Right stick
Stick drift means the thumbstick reports movement while your hands are off the pad. Games read that as camera creep or walking input. This browser tool measures raw Gamepad API axes — the same 0.05 threshold many how to fix stick drift guides cite — without installing drivers or console menus.
Hands-off measurement with a clear pass/fail verdict. Max axis offset above 0.05 during the rest window flags hardware drift on left or right stick.
Normalized X/Y values, per-stick deviation, and jitter meters update every frame through the W3C Gamepad API — no in-game deadzone hiding the raw signal.
Plot stick travel while you move, then watch jitter at rest. Erratic trails or rising jitter bars with a centered dot often mean debris or worn potentiometer grease.
Stick drift is measurable unwanted analog input — not just a feeling in one game. These three ideas explain what the tester reads and why hardware drift differs from software deadzone.
Stick drift is input from a centered thumbstick. The stick module’s potentiometer or Hall sensor reports a small X/Y offset — often above 0.05 on a normalized −1 to +1 axis — so the game thinks you are pushing the stick when you are not.
Software deadzones hide small offsets in one title. This tester shows the hardware readout directly, so you can document drift for warranty claims or compare sticks after cleaning without guessing from camera creep alone.
Steady offset above 0.05 at rest is classic drift. Rising jitter with a visually centered dot points to micro-movement inside the module — dust, dried grease, or a worn wiper — even before deviation looks severe.
Particles under the stick collar can push the wiper off true center. Compressed air and isopropyl alcohol on the shaft often help mild cases.
DualSense, Xbox, and Joy-Con modules use compact pots that dry out over time. Gradual creep that worsens month over month usually points here.
A drop can misalign the stick gate. Grind, looseness, or slow return to center means cleaning may not be enough — plan on a replacement module.
Sometimes drift appears only in one game or after an update. Recalibrate in console settings and re-test here with a raw axis readout before opening the shell.
Confirm hardware stick drift in under a minute: wake the Gamepad API, run the timed rest check with hands off both sticks, then read deviation, jitter, and the range trail before you open the shell.
Plug in via USB or pair over Bluetooth, click this page, and press any face button so Chrome or Edge exposes the Gamepad API. Pick the correct P1–P4 slot if multiple controllers are connected.
Tip If nothing appears, try a USB cable first — Bluetooth wake timing varies by browser.
Rest your palms away from the analog sticks. Do not lean on them during the rest test — even light pressure cancels the measurement or fakes a pass.
Tip Set the controller flat on a desk. Triggers and bumpers must stay untouched too.
Click Start 4s rest test and keep hands off until the timer finishes. Max offset above 0.05 on either stick flags drift; the verdict panel shows pass or DRIFT.
Tip Screen-record the max offset readout if you need proof for warranty or a used-sale return.
Move each stick through its full travel to see the range map, then release again and watch the jitter bars. Rising micro-movement with a centered dot often means wear inside the module.
Tip Clear the trail between tests so old movement does not clutter the readout.
Firmware updates and cleaning come first. If max offset stays above 0.05 after compressed air and IPA on the shaft, plan a stick module swap. See also: how to fix stick drift guide .
Tip Follow platform-specific steps in our repair guide for PS5, Xbox, and PS4.
Many repair guides treat 0.05 on normalized −1 to +1 axes as the point where drift becomes noticeable in games without aggressive deadzone software. This tester uses the same value for pass/fail.
Deviation is how far the stick sits from center right now. Jitter averages frame-to-frame shake over the last second at rest — useful when the dot looks centered but games still creep.
The adjustable ring on each stick well is a reference overlay. It does not change your controller firmware or in-game deadzone — it only helps you see how much offset sits inside a typical software deadzone.
The rest check works the same on every pad — connect via USB or Bluetooth, press a button once, then start the 4-second measurement with hands off both sticks. Use these paths for PS5, Xbox One, Series X, or PS4 stick drift — then follow how to fix stick drift steps in our repair guide if drift is confirmed.
Plug the DualSense into a PC or phone browser, wake the Gamepad API, and run the rest check. Persistent max offset above 0.05 on the left or right stick confirms hardware stick drift — update firmware in PS5 Settings → Accessories first.
Xbox One, Series X|S, and Xbox Wireless controllers map cleanly on Windows through the Gamepad API. Check stick drift here before opening the Xbox Accessories app or swapping modules — a clear DRIFT verdict strengthens return or repair decisions.
Older DualShock 4 modules drift frequently after years of use. The same 0.05 threshold applies: if deviation stays high with hands off during the rest window, cleaning or a replacement Alps-style stick is the durable fix.
Stick drift is unwanted analog input from a centered thumbstick — the stick reports movement while your hands are off the pad. Games read that as camera creep or walking. This tool measures raw axis offset so you can confirm hardware stick drift before you clean or replace a module.
Open this page in Chrome or Edge, connect your controller, press a button once, then start the 4-second rest check with hands off both sticks. If max offset stays above 0.05, you have measurable stick drift on that axis.
Yes. DualSense controllers work over USB or Bluetooth on PC and many phones. The left stick uses axes 0–1 and the right stick uses axes 2–3 in the standard mapping.
This page diagnoses stick drift only — it does not repair hardware. Start with firmware updates and recalibration, then compressed air and isopropyl alcohol on the stick shaft. Our how to fix stick drift guide covers PS5 controller, Xbox controller, PS4, and Switch steps in order.
Confirm stick drift here first with the 4-second rest check (max offset above 0.05). Then update DualSense firmware in PS5 Settings → Accessories, and try compressed air and IPA on the stick shaft. Persistent drift usually needs a replacement stick module — see how to fix PS5 stick drift in our repair guide.
Check stick drift here with hands off both sticks — a DRIFT verdict above 0.05 means hardware offset, not just in-game deadzone. Update firmware in the Xbox Accessories app, recalibrate in Windows, then clean the stick shaft. Xbox One and Series X|S modules are swappable when cleaning fails.
Connect the Xbox One pad, run the rest check with thumbs off both sticks, and note which stick drifts. Update firmware in Xbox Accessories, clean the shaft with compressed air and IPA, then recheck. If offset stays above 0.05, plan a stick module swap — full how to fix stick drift Xbox One steps are in the repair guide.
DualShock 4 stick drift is common on older modules. Confirm offset here, then clean the stick shaft and recalibrate. If drift returns quickly, replace the Alps-style stick module. Our how to fix stick drift guide includes PS4-specific cleaning order.
You cannot get rid of stick drift in software alone when the stick module reports false input. Confirm stick drift with this checker, then follow cleaning (compressed air, IPA), recalibration, and module replacement if needed. Our how to get rid of stick drift guide walks PS5, Xbox, and PS4 fixes in order.
Stopping stick drift means fixing the underlying module — not raising in-game deadzone forever. Confirm DualSense stick drift here, document the max offset, then try firmware update and cleaning. If drift returns within days, plan a DualSense stick module swap.
Common causes are dust under the stick collar, dried lubricant in the potentiometer, worn wipers, or impact damage. Sudden stick drift after a drop often means debris; slow worsening over months usually means wear.
It is a practical rest offset line on normalized −1 to +1 axes. Many how to fix stick drift guides treat 0.05 as the point where drift becomes noticeable in games without aggressive deadzone software. This tool uses the same value for pass/fail.
On Android Chrome and some mobile browsers, Bluetooth controllers work after you press a button on the pad. iOS support varies by browser — USB adapters or a PC give the most reliable Gamepad API readout.
People often say controller drift when they mean analog stick drift. Trigger drift or stuck face buttons are different faults — use our full controller test for buttons, triggers, and rumble.
