Stick Drift Test
Let go of the sticks and see how far each one drifts from centre, compared with the deadzone your games use.
- Resting drift values
- Deadzone overlay
- Circularity score
- No install
What is stick drift?
Stick drift is when an analog stick reports movement while you are not touching it, so your character or camera moves on its own. It is caused by wear, dust or a worn potentiometer inside the stick. Games ignore small values inside a deadzone, typically 5–15% of the stick range, so drift only shows up in game once it exceeds that. This test shows the exact resting value of both sticks, draws your chosen deadzone around the centre and tells you whether the drift sits inside or outside it.
How to test for stick drift
- Connect your controller and press any button so the browser detects it.
- Put the controller down and do not touch the sticks.
- Read Left drift and Right drift. Values under 0.02 are normal; higher values outside the shaded deadzone will move in games.
- Flick each stick and let it snap back, then check the reading again. Drift that changes after flicking is usually a worn stick.
Controller not detected?
- Press a button: browsers only reveal a gamepad after it is used on the page.
- Use USB first: wired connections are the most reliable. For Bluetooth, pair in system settings, then press a button.
- PlayStation controllers on Windows work in Chrome and Edge; Steam Input can hide them from other apps, so quit Steam if nothing appears.
- Safari and Firefox support fewer controllers. Try Chrome or Edge if yours is not listed.
Why use this stick drift test
- Nothing leaves your deviceController input is processed by your browser on this device. There is no upload, no server-side recording and no account.
- Stick drift and circularityMeasures resting drift against your deadzone and scores how round each stick’s outer path is.
- Analog valuesSee exact trigger pressure and axis values to three decimals, plus how many times each button was pressed.
- Works with most controllersXbox, PlayStation DualSense and DualShock, Switch Pro, 8BitDo and generic USB or Bluetooth gamepads.
When to run a stick drift test
- Before a warranty claim. Record the drift reading as evidence.
- Choosing a deadzone. Find the smallest in-game deadzone that hides the drift.
- After cleaning. Check whether compressed air or contact cleaner helped.
- Buying used. Spot drift in seconds before paying for a controller.
Checking a whole setup? Run the mic test, webcam test, keyboard test, mouse test, gamepad tester, sound test, dead pixel test and refresh rate test, or browse all device tests.
Example: right stick reading 0.08
With both sticks untouched, the right stick rests at 0.080. With a 10% deadzone, the tester reports minor drift inside the deadzone, so most games ignore it. If your game uses a 5% deadzone, the camera will creep. Raise the deadzone to 10% in the game settings or clean the stick.
What to expect from the result
Readings are what the controller sends through the browser and may differ slightly from console firmware, which applies its own deadzones and calibration. Drift that appears only when the controller is warm, or intermittently, may need several tests.
Stick Drift Test questions
How do I check for stick drift?
Connect the controller, press a button and leave the sticks untouched. If Left drift or Right drift is above about 0.02 and outside the shaded deadzone, the stick is drifting.
What drift value is normal?
A healthy stick rests below 0.02. Values between 0.02 and your deadzone are usually invisible in games. Values above 0.2 are strong drift.
Can stick drift be fixed?
Sometimes. Cleaning with compressed air or contact cleaner can help early drift. Replacing the stick module, or upgrading to Hall-effect sticks, fixes worn potentiometers. Raising the in-game deadzone hides minor drift.
Does this work for PS5 DualSense drift?
Yes. Connect the DualSense by USB or Bluetooth in Chrome or Edge. It also works for Xbox, Switch Pro and most PC controllers.
Is the test the same as a console drift test?
It reads the same raw stick values but without console calibration. Consoles may hide small drift with their own deadzone, so this test can show drift a console does not.