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Controller · stick drift test

Stick Drift Test: Does Your Controller Drift?

This stick drift test reads your controller's thumbsticks directly through the browser, shows where each stick rests in real time, and measures how far off centre it sits when you're not touching it. Five seconds of hands-off readings give each stick a verdict — no drift, slight, noticeable or severe — plus the deadzone setting that would hide it. It works with PS5 DualSense, PS4, Xbox, Switch Pro and most USB or Bluetooth controllers in Chrome, Edge or Firefox. Nothing is installed or uploaded.

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How the stick drift test works

  1. Step 1

    Connect and press a button

    Plug in or pair the controller, then press any button — browsers only reveal a controller after a button press.

  2. Step 2

    Let go of both sticks

    Start the test, take your thumbs off, and set the controller down. We record the stick positions for five seconds.

  3. Step 3

    Read each stick's result

    You get the resting offset, the direction it drifts, a verdict, and the deadzone that would hide it in games.

How we grade stick drift

VerdictResting offset (0–1)What it means
No drift≤ 0.05Rests at centre. Nothing to do.
Slight0.05–0.1Hidden by most games' deadzones; often the first sign of wear.
Noticeable0.1–0.2Visible in games with small deadzones (shooters, racing). Raise the deadzone or clean the stick.
Severe> 0.2Leaks through generous deadzones. Usually needs a repair, a new stick module or a warranty claim.

Offset is the 95th-percentile distance from centre over five seconds hands-off. For reference, Microsoft's XInput default deadzones are 0.24 (left) and 0.27 (right).

What this test can and can't tell you

  • Reliable: Reads the raw stick values. The Gamepad API reports each stick from −1 to 1 with no deadzone applied, so resting drift shows up exactly as the controller reports it.

  • Estimate: Thresholds are practical, not official. No standard defines "drift". Our grades are anchored to Microsoft's documented XInput default deadzones (about 0.24 left, 0.27 right) and typical in-game settings.

  • Limit: Can't open the controller. It shows that a stick drifts and by how much, not why — dust, a worn potentiometer and a weak spring look the same from software.

Stick Drift Test — frequently asked questions

How do I test my controller for stick drift?
Connect the controller, press a button so the browser detects it, then let go of both sticks and run the five-second test. A stick that rests within 0.05 of centre is fine; a steady offset beyond that is drift, and the result tells you how bad and which direction.
What causes stick drift?
Most thumbsticks use potentiometers — carbon tracks with a sliding contact. Over time the track wears and dust gets in, so the stick reports a position that isn't centre when you let go. Worn centring springs can add to it. Hall-effect and TMR sticks use magnets instead and are far less prone to wear.
How much drift is acceptable?
Under 0.05 is normal. Up to 0.1 is usually hidden by in-game deadzones. Beyond 0.2 it starts to leak through even generous deadzones such as XInput's default of 0.24 on the left stick.
Does this work with PS5, Xbox and Switch controllers?
Yes in Chrome and Edge on Windows and macOS, and in Firefox: DualSense, DualShock 4, Xbox controllers and the Switch Pro Controller are recognised over USB or Bluetooth. Joy-Cons may appear as separate devices or with a non-standard layout.
Can stick drift be fixed?
Sometimes. Cleaning around the stick base and increasing the in-game deadzone help mild drift. Persistent drift usually means a worn stick module that needs replacing, by warranty repair or a repair shop. See the fix guide for what works.

Sources

  1. Gamepad API — MDN Web Docs
  2. Gamepad (W3C Working Draft) — standard gamepad layout — W3C
  3. Getting Started With XInput — dead zones — Microsoft Learn
  4. PS5 Controller Stick Drift — iFixit
  5. Hall-Effect Joysticks: how they work — iFixit

Last reviewed .

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