Controller Stick Drift Test

Check your PS5, Xbox, Switch, or PC controller for stick drift. A 10-second measurement with a magnified view of your analog sticks at rest.

Plug in via USB or pair via Bluetooth, then press any button

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How to Test Controller Stick Drift Online

This tool measures stick drift precisely: it records analog stick positions while the sticks are untouched, magnifies the center of the stick's range, and grades the drift from None to Severe.

What is stick drift?

Stick drift is when an analog stick reports movement even though nobody is touching it. In games it shows up as a character walking on its own or a camera that slowly rotates. It is usually caused by wear or dirt in the potentiometer sensors inside the stick module, and it tends to get worse over time.

How this test works

Set your controller down and start the test. For 10 seconds the tool records the position of both analog sticks on every frame while they rest at center. The magnified scope view shows every recorded sample at 4x zoom, so even sub-percent drift is visible. If you touch a stick during the test, the measurement automatically restarts.

Drift vs. dead zones

Games ignore small stick movements inside a dead zone, typically 5-15% of the stick's range. If your drift stays under 5%, most games will never notice it. Drift above 10% exceeds many default dead zones and can cause unwanted movement, forcing you to raise the dead zone at the cost of responsiveness.

How to fix stick drift

Light drift can often be fixed by cleaning around the stick base with isopropyl alcohol or blowing compressed air under the stick cap. Recalibrating the controller in its official software can also help. Persistent severe drift usually means the potentiometer sensor is worn and the stick module needs replacement.

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Frequently asked questions

Connect your controller via USB or Bluetooth, press any button so the browser detects it, then set the controller down on a flat surface and press Start. Keep your hands off the sticks for 10 seconds while the tool records their resting position. You get a drift percentage and a severity grade for each stick.
Drift up to about 5% is common, even on new controllers, and stays inside the default dead zone of most games — you won't notice it while playing. Drift between 5% and 10% is borderline. Anything above 10% exceeds many default dead zones and will likely cause visible movement in games.
The test magnifies the center of the stick's range four times, so a drift of even half a percent is clearly visible as a cluster of dots away from the center. The severity grade tells you whether that amount actually matters in games.
The colored rings mark common dead zone sizes: 5%, 10%, and 15%. If all recorded samples stay inside the 5% ring, virtually every game will filter your drift out. Samples beyond the 10% ring mean the drift is large enough to leak through many default dead zones.
Yes. Both analog sticks are measured at the same time, each with its own scope view and result card. If your controller only reports one stick, only the left stick is shown.
First try cleaning: rotate the stick a few times, then blow compressed air under the stick cap or apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol around the base. Recalibrate the controller if its software supports it. If drift persists, the stick module is likely worn out and needs to be replaced or serviced.
New sticks based on potentiometers always have small manufacturing tolerances, so a reading of 1-3% out of the box is normal. It only becomes a problem when drift exceeds your games' dead zones. Controllers with Hall effect sensors typically show near-zero drift.
Yes, the drift test is completely free, with no download, registration, or account. Everything runs locally in your browser using the Gamepad API — no stick data leaves your device.