Testbench

Gamepad test — press a button on the controller

Left stick—
Right stick—
Drift at rest L—
Drift at rest R—
0.10

Mapping: —

Buttons
Axes

Rear panel

PAD Gamepad test

Measures
Buttons, triggers, stick drift and deadzone, vibration
Browser API
Gamepad API · vibrationActuator
Known quirks
A controller only shows up after you press one of its buttons. Rumble works in Chrome and Edge.

Operating procedure

Connect your controller and press any button to wake it. Every button, trigger and stick shows up live, with drift measured at rest.

  1. Plug in the controller by USB or pair it by Bluetooth, then press any button. Browsers only reveal a controller after a button press.
  2. Press every button and pull both triggers. Each lamp lights and triggers show how far they travel, from 0 to 100%.
  3. Let go of both sticks. Drift at rest shows how far each stick sits from centre: under 0.05 is good, over 0.10 is noticeable drift.
  4. Roll each stick slowly around its edge. The trace should form a smooth circle (or rounded square) without flat spots.
  5. Press Vibration test to check the rumble motors (Chrome and Edge, Xbox and PlayStation controllers).

Fault codes

  1. PAD-E1

    The controller isn't detected

    Fix Press a button after the page has loaded: that's required. Try a different USB cable (many are charge-only) or port. Close Steam if it's running, since Steam Input can take over the controller. Switch Pro and some generic pads only work in Chrome or Edge.

  2. PAD-E2

    Buttons are in the wrong place

    Fix If Mapping says non-standard, the browser doesn't recognise the layout and lists raw buttons by number. That's common with older generic pads and some Bluetooth modes; games may still map them correctly.

  3. PAD-E3

    A stick drifts

    Fix Drift is caused by wear or dirt in the stick's potentiometers. Rotate the stick firmly around its edge for a few seconds and re-check. If it persists, raise the deadzone in your game settings or have the stick module replaced.

  4. PAD-E4

    Triggers don't reach 100%

    Fix Some controllers have trigger stops or a short-travel mode (Xbox Elite, some PlayStation settings). Check for a physical switch on the back.

  5. PAD-E5

    Vibration doesn't work

    Fix Web vibration works in Chrome and Edge with most Xbox and DualShock/DualSense controllers. Firefox and Safari don't support it. Check that vibration isn't disabled in the controller's own settings.

Service notes

How do I test my controller online?
Connect it, open this page and press any button. All buttons, triggers and sticks appear live. Press every button once and move both sticks to check them.
How do I check for stick drift?
Let go of both sticks and read Drift at rest. A perfectly centred stick reads 0.00. Up to about 0.05 is normal; above 0.10 you'll notice the character or camera moving by itself in games.
What deadzone should I use?
Set your in-game deadzone a little above the drift value shown here. If the stick rests at 0.07, a deadzone around 0.10 hides the drift without making the stick feel sluggish.
Which controllers work?
Xbox One, Series X|S, PlayStation DualShock 4 and DualSense, Switch Pro, 8BitDo and most generic USB pads. Chrome and Edge support the most models.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, on Android with Chrome and a USB-C or Bluetooth controller. iPhone and iPad support MFi, Xbox and PlayStation controllers in Safari.