Gamepad Tester
Check every button, trigger and stick on your controller, with live values.
How to use the Gamepad Tester
- Connect the controller, then press any button on it so the browser sees it.
- Press each button and trigger — they light up as you go.
- Move the sticks and let go: values that do not return to zero mean stick drift.
About the Gamepad Tester
Plug in a controller, press any button, and every input on it appears live: each button lights up as you press it, analogue triggers show a value from 0 to 100 as you squeeze them, and each stick axis is drawn on a bar with its exact reading from -1.00 to 1.00. The controller name your browser reports is shown too, which is useful when you are not sure whether a pad is being seen as an Xbox device, a DirectInput device or something generic.
One thing catches everyone out: the browser will not show your gamepad until you press a button on it. That is a privacy rule in the Gamepad API specification, not a bug and not a broken pad — hiding controllers until you deliberately use one stops any page silently fingerprinting your hardware. So connect, press a button, and it appears. Chrome, Edge and Firefox all support the API; Safari support is limited, and the tool says so rather than showing an empty panel.
To check for stick drift, let go of both sticks and watch the axis numbers. A healthy stick settles at or very near 0.00. If one keeps reporting a value on its own, that is drift. The laptop and PC tests cover the rest of your setup.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my controller not detected?
Press a button on it. Browsers deliberately hide gamepads until you interact with one, which is a privacy rule in the Gamepad API spec rather than a fault. If it still does not appear, check the cable or pairing, and note that Safari has only limited support while Chrome, Edge and Firefox work.
How do I check for stick drift?
Release both sticks completely and watch the axis values. They should read 0.00 or extremely close to it. A stick that idles at 0.15 when untouched is drifting, and that is the reading that explains why your character walks off on its own.
Can it test analogue triggers?
Yes. Triggers report a value rather than just pressed or not, and the tool shows that as a percentage while you squeeze. A trigger that jumps straight to full, or never reaches full, shows up immediately.
Does it work with PlayStation, Xbox and generic pads?
It shows whatever the browser exposes through the Gamepad API, which covers most wired and Bluetooth controllers. Button numbering varies between pads and drivers, so the tool labels buttons by index rather than guessing at names it cannot know.
Is anything installed or uploaded?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser using the Gamepad API, reading the pad only while the page is open. Nothing about your controller is sent anywhere.