Stick drift test

How to test for stick drift

1. Connect the controller and press any button so the browser detects it.
2. Flick each stick to the edge and let it spring back, then put the controller down on a flat surface without touching the sticks.
3. Press Record resting position and wait. Do not touch the controller until the timer ends; pressed buttons or sudden jumps invalidate the run.
4. Repeat two or three times, and after moving the sticks in full circles, to see whether the offset is stable or depends on where the stick last was.

Reading the result

• Average offset: how far the resting position is from the exact centre (0 to 1, where 1 is the edge). A stick that rests consistently off-centre leans in that direction in every game.
• Maximum: the largest distance from centre in any single sample. This is what a game's deadzone must cover to stop unwanted movement.
• Scatter: how much the readings jitter around their average. A worn potentiometer often shows growing scatter, not just an offset.
• Smallest deadzone: a suggestion for software settings (game, Steam Input, or the controller app). If a game's deadzone is already larger than this, drift will not show in that game.

Every stick reads slightly off-centre; that is why games use deadzones. There is no universal pass/fail number. Drift becomes a problem when the offset is larger than the deadzone of the games you play, or when it keeps growing between tests.

What you can do about drift

• Update the controller firmware and try the calibration offered by your platform or the manufacturer's app, if one exists.
• Raise the inner deadzone in games or in Steam Input as a workaround.
• Dust under the stick can cause intermittent drift; follow the manufacturer's cleaning advice rather than opening the controller.
• Persistent drift on a recent controller is often covered by warranty. Keep the numbers from this test as a record.
• Sticks using Hall-effect or TMR sensors are designed to wear less, but they still need correct calibration.

Limits

The browser reports stick values after the operating system and driver have processed them. Some drivers apply their own deadzone, which can hide small drift here; a console may also behave differently. The page does not recalibrate or repair a controller.