How to use the gamepad tester
- Connect your controller by USB cable or Bluetooth.
- Press any button. The tool shows the controller's name, manufacturer and how many buttons and axes it reports.
- Press every button and move both sticks. Pressed buttons light up on the diagram and are ticked off in the button grid. Analog triggers fill gradually from 0 to 100%.
- Test the vibration with the buttons under the tool. You can run each motor on its own, then both together.
- Check for drift. If a stick seems to move by itself, open the stick drift test to measure it.
The diagram and the button numbers
When a controller reports the standard layout, browsers use the same numbering for every brand: button 0 is the bottom face button (A on Xbox, Cross on PlayStation, B on Nintendo), 1 is the right face button, 2 is the left, 3 is the top. Buttons 4 and 5 are the bumpers, 6 and 7 the analog triggers, 8 and 9 the small center buttons, 10 and 11 the stick clicks, 12–15 the d-pad and 16 the home or guide button. The tester adapts the face-button labels to Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo when it recognizes the manufacturer.
Some controllers, especially older or generic models, don't report the standard layout. In that case the diagram is hidden and you see the raw button and axis list instead. Everything is still testable, but the numbers may not match the positions on the diagram.
Triggers
Analog triggers should move smoothly from 0% to 100%. A trigger that never reaches the top, or that rests above 0%, often has dirt under it or a worn sensor. On some controllers, such as the Xbox Elite Series 2 and the DualSense Edge, adjustable trigger stops shorten the travel on purpose. Check those first. Some controllers that connect through a compatibility layer report triggers as axes instead of buttons. They then appear in the axis list rather than as filling bars.
Vibration
Most controllers have two rumble motors: a heavy, low-frequency motor and a lighter, high-frequency one. A healthy controller starts and stops each motor cleanly, without rattling. Vibration support depends on your browser: Chrome and Edge support it for most Xbox and PlayStation controllers, while other browsers may not offer it at all. The haptic actuators in the DualSense and the HD Rumble in Nintendo controllers can only be partly simulated through the browser.
Common issues this test reveals
- Buttons that need extra pressure: watch the grid while pressing lightly. If a button only lights up when pressed hard, the contact under it may be worn or dirty.
- Double inputs: if a button flickers on and off during a single press, it may register double clicks in games.
- Stick clicks (L3/R3) that trigger while just moving the stick.
- Sticks that don't return to the center. Use the drift test for a measurement and read our stick drift guide.
Frequently asked questions
My controller works in games but not here.
Some games use other interfaces, such as Steam Input or a manufacturer's driver, that a browser cannot use. Close Steam and other remapping tools, reconnect the controller and press a button. Our detection guide covers every step.
The DualSense touchpad doesn't show anything.
Browsers expose the touchpad click as a button, but not the finger position on the pad. Motion sensors and the microphone aren't available through the Gamepad API either.
Can I test two controllers at once?
Yes. Connect both, press a button on each and switch between them with the device menu in the tool.
