# Stick Drift Test

> Free stick drift test: measure joystick drift on Xbox, PS4, PS5 and Switch Pro controllers in your browser. Raw resting offset, worst drift, recommended deadzone and an outer-edge circularity score.

Find out whether your controller has stick drift and how bad it is. Leave the sticks untouched for four seconds and this test measures how far each one sits from centre using raw values with no deadzone, then recommends the in-game deadzone that hides it. Roll each stick around its edge to score circularity too. Works with Xbox, PlayStation DualShock and DualSense, Switch Pro and most USB or Bluetooth gamepads.

- **Live tool:** https://www.toolnova.org/diagnostics-tools/stick-drift-test
- **Category:** Speed Test & Diagnostics (https://www.toolnova.org/diagnostics-tools)
- **Price:** Free
- **Requirements:** Runs in a modern web browser · No signup · No install

## What this tool does

- Raw stick readings with no deadzone applied, so even small drift is visible.
- Four-second hands-off test that measures the average and worst resting offset of both sticks.
- Drift verdict for each stick: no drift, minor offset, mild drift or stick drift.
- Recommended deadzone percentage that hides the measured drift in games.
- Circularity test that maps the outer edge as you roll the stick and reports the average error.
- Live position plot with a motion trail and a shaded zone showing the worst resting drift.
- Works in Chrome, Edge and Firefox over USB or Bluetooth; nothing is installed or uploaded.

## How to use Stick Drift Test

1. **Connect your controller** — Plug it in with a cable or pair it over Bluetooth, then press any button so the browser detects it.
2. **Run the drift test** — Press Start drift test, put the controller down on a flat surface and do not touch the sticks for four seconds.
3. **Read each stick's result** — Check the resting offset, the worst value and the verdict. The suggested deadzone is the smallest setting that hides the drift.
4. **Test circularity** — Roll each stick slowly around its outer edge two or three times. The purple outline and circularity score show how evenly the stick reaches the edge.

## Common use cases

- Checking a controller whose camera or character moves on its own
- Measuring drift before a warranty claim or repair
- Testing a second-hand controller before buying
- Choosing the right in-game deadzone setting
- Confirming a stick replacement or cleaning fixed the drift

## About

### What is stick drift?

Stick drift is when a controller reports movement while the thumbstick is not being touched. Inside each stick are two sensors, one per axis, and as they wear or collect dirt they stop returning exactly to centre. In games this shows up as the camera slowly turning, the character creeping forward or menus scrolling by themselves. Most controllers have a tiny resting offset from new; drift becomes a problem when it is larger than the game's deadzone.

| Resting offset | Verdict | What it means in games |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Below 0.03 | No drift | Nothing noticeable |
| 0.03 to 0.08 | Minor offset | Hidden by default deadzones |
| 0.08 to 0.15 | Mild drift | Creep in games with small deadzones |
| Above 0.15 | Stick drift | Visible movement in most games |

### How to fix stick drift

First raise the deadzone in the game or in Steam Input to the value this test recommends. That hides drift without opening the controller. Cleaning can help when dirt is the cause: with the controller off, push the stick to one side and spray short bursts of compressed air or a little isopropyl alcohol around its base, then rotate it fully several times. If the drift returns, the stick module is worn. Many controllers are covered by warranty for drift, and replacement stick modules, including Hall-effect sticks that do not wear the same way, are available for repair.

### What the circularity score tells you

When you roll a stick around its edge, a perfect stick would trace a circle at full deflection all the way round. Real sticks are slightly uneven, and some controllers deliberately report a squarer shape. An error below about 6 percent is good, 6 to 12 percent is typical, and more than that means the stick reaches full deflection unevenly, which can make aiming feel inconsistent in some directions.

See also: [Gamepad Tester (all buttons and triggers)](https://www.toolnova.org/diagnostics-tools/gamepad-tester), [Reaction Time Test](https://www.toolnova.org/diagnostics-tools/reaction-time-test), [FPS Test](https://www.toolnova.org/diagnostics-tools/fps-test)

## FAQ

### How do I test my controller for stick drift?

Connect the controller, press a button so the browser sees it, then press Start drift test and leave the sticks untouched for four seconds. The test reports how far each stick sits from centre and whether that counts as drift.

### What deadzone should I use?

Use the suggested deadzone shown for each stick. It is the smallest value that hides the worst resting offset measured, plus a small margin. Setting it much higher makes small aiming movements feel sluggish.

### Can stick drift be fixed?

Mild drift can often be hidden with a deadzone or reduced by cleaning around the stick base. Worn sticks need a replacement module or a warranty repair.

### Does this work with PS5 and PS4 controllers?

Yes, DualSense and DualShock 4 controllers work over USB or Bluetooth in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Xbox, Switch Pro and most generic gamepads work too.

### Why does a new controller show a small offset?

Almost every analog stick rests slightly off centre. Values under about 0.03 to 0.05 are normal and are hidden by default in-game deadzones.

### Is my controller data uploaded?

No. The test reads your controller through the browser's Gamepad API and everything stays on your device.

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