Stick Drift Test
Put the controller down, hands off, and see how far each stick moves on its own.
The circles are magnified: rings at 5% and 15%, and the edge is 20% of full travel.
Plug in or pair your controller, press any button on it, then press Start.
Position
left stick:
right stick:
Ready.
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How to use this test
The stick drift test watches both analogue sticks while you leave them untouched and reports the largest movement it sees in three seconds, as a raw value and as a percentage. It tells you whether a stick is drifting, how badly, and whether a deadzone would hide it.
Connect the controller, press a button on it, place it on a flat surface and take your hands off. Press Start and wait three seconds. Read the largest drift for each stick. Adjust the deadzone slider to see whether a game's deadzone would absorb the movement.
What the results mean
Up to about 5 percent at rest is normal and hidden by almost every game's deadzone. Between 5 and 15 percent is minor drift: playable in most games, visible in some. Above 15 percent the character or camera will move on its own. Drift that is small today usually grows; if it bothers you, a replacement stick module or controller is the fix.
Common questions
My stick shows a small value but games are fine. Is it broken?
Not yet. Readings under about 5 percent are within the deadzone most games apply, so you won't notice them. Note the value and re-test in a few weeks to see if it's growing.
Can drift be fixed?
Sometimes. Cleaning around the stick base with contact cleaner helps when dust is the cause. Worn sensors need a new stick module; Hall-effect sticks don't wear the same way.
Why do the two sticks read differently?
They are separate sensors and wear at different rates. The right stick often drifts first on controllers used heavily for camera control.