Connect your controller, put it down and press "Run drift test". In 3 seconds you see how far each stick rests from the centre, whether that is real drift, and the deadzone that hides it.
Connect your controller and press any button.Use USB or Bluetooth. Browsers only show a controller after a button press. Works best in Chrome and Edge.
Controller
Layout
Buttons / axes
The diagram uses the standard layout. Press a button and it lights up.
Vibration
Stick values
Left stick 0.00, 0.00Right stick 0.00, 0.00
Stick drift test
Put the controller down and do not touch the sticks. We record their resting position for 3 seconds.
Circle test
Press start and turn both sticks slowly around their outer edge for 10 seconds. A healthy stick draws a smooth circle.
Raw input values
Axes
Buttons
How to test for stick drift
Connect the controller by USB or Bluetooth and press any button so the page detects it.
Move both sticks around a few times, then let them go and put the controller on a table.
Press Run drift test and do not touch anything for 3 seconds.
Read the result for each stick. Then run the circle test: a stick that cannot draw a full, even circle is also worn.
How to read the drift result
Under 5%: normal. Every analog stick rests a tiny bit off-centre and games ignore it.
5% to 10%: minor drift. A 10% deadzone in the game settings hides it.
Over 10%: real drift. Your character or camera may move on its own. Clean the stick, and plan a repair if it stays.
Drift that changes between tests, or appears only after you move the stick, is typical of a dirty or worn stick sensor.
This test measures the stick position your browser reads. If a game still drifts with a clean result here, check the game's own deadzone and Steam Input settings.
How to fix stick drift
Clean it: with the controller off, blow compressed air around the base of the stick, then put a drop of isopropyl alcohol at the base and rotate the stick fully for a minute. Let it dry and test again.
Update the firmware: use the Xbox Accessories app, or Sony's DualSense firmware updater for Windows, then test again.
Raise the deadzone: set the in-game deadzone a few % above the drift this test shows. In Steam, Controller settings also have a deadzone per stick.
Replace the stick: drift that stays after cleaning means the stick sensor is worn. Use the warranty if you can, replace the stick module (the DualSense Edge has swappable modules), or pick a controller with Hall effect or TMR sticks, which measure with magnets and do not wear the same way.
Stick drift is when an analog stick reports movement while you are not touching it. In games it makes your character walk or your camera turn on its own. It usually comes from wear or dirt in the stick sensor.
Which controllers get stick drift?
Any controller with classic potentiometer sticks can drift with time, including the PS5 DualSense, PS4 DualShock 4, Xbox controllers and Nintendo Joy-Cons. Controllers with Hall effect or TMR sticks are much less prone to it.
Can a deadzone fix stick drift?
A deadzone hides drift by ignoring small movements near the centre. It works well for minor drift, but a large deadzone makes small aim adjustments harder. For drift over about 15%, repair or replace the stick.
Does stick drift get worse?
Usually yes. Wear in the stick sensor tends to grow with use. Test again every few weeks to see whether it changes.
Is stick drift covered by warranty?
Usually yes while the controller is under warranty, because it is a hardware fault. Contact the maker's support before opening the controller, since opening it can void the warranty.
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