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Free controller diagnostic tool
Check your PS5, Xbox or PC controller for unwanted analog stick movement. Connect your controller, move both sticks once, release them and run the resting test.
Connect your controller, move both analog sticks once, then release them completely. The stick drift test checks whether the controller keeps sending unwanted movement while the sticks are resting.
Stick drift can happen when analog input becomes unstable or the joystick no longer returns accurately to centre. This can affect aiming, movement, menus and camera control in games.
DriftAline helps reduce unwanted analog stick movement using controller calibration, input smoothing and centre correction tools on supported controllers.
Stick drift test results
The free online stick drift test above checks whether your PS5, Xbox, or PC controller sends unwanted analog stick input while both sticks are resting. Your result lands in one of four bands: Stable, Slight Drift, Moderate Drift, or Heavy Drift.
Both analog sticks sat near centre for the full six-second resting test.
Little or no camera or character drift when you are not touching the sticks. If movement still shows up, check deadzone and sensitivity before assuming hardware fault.
No urgent fix. Run the stick drift test again if a specific title feels wrong.
A small off-centre signal on one or both sticks during the resting sample.
Subtle camera creep or aim that wanders during long sessions. Often missed until you need precise fine aim.
Try DriftAline calibration, raise in-game deadzone slightly, then retest your controller online.
Clear resting joystick input measured while your hands were off both sticks.
Camera or character movement without input, menu cursor slip, or inconsistent tracking in shooters and platformers.
Software calibration with DriftAline often helps. Clean around the stick base and retest. Ongoing drift may mean wear inside the analog stick module.
Strong, steady off-centre input through the entire stick drift test window.
Obvious drift in menus and matches. Sticks may never feel fully centred. Hard to ignore in competitive play.
Use DriftAline to reduce the impact where supported. If drift stays severe, plan for stick module repair or replacement.
Methodology
DriftAline uses the browser Gamepad API to read each analog stick's X and Y axis values. You connect your controller, move both sticks once, then release them fully. The test does not trust a single snapshot: it samples resting input for six seconds and discards data captured while the sticks are still moving.
Left and right sticks are analysed separately. DriftAline averages the clean resting signal, tracks peak movement and stability, and estimates unwanted displacement from centre. That feeds the Stable through Heavy Drift label shown in the tester above.
Your browser reading may differ from what a game displays. Controller drivers, browser gamepad handling, and in-game deadzones reshape the signal before gameplay sees it. This test measures raw resting input in the browser, not your in-game sensitivity settings.
Pair or plug in your controller and press any button.
Move both sticks once, then let go completely.
Six seconds of resting X/Y input, sticks analysed separately.
Stable, Slight, Moderate, or Heavy Drift based on centre offset.
Fix controller stick drift
DriftAline smooths unstable analog input and improves centre accuracy on supported controllers. A practical step after a positive stick drift test, before buying new hardware.
Connect your controller by USB or Bluetooth, open this page in Chrome or Edge, press any button to wake the Gamepad API, then run the stick drift test above. Keep both analog sticks still for six seconds.
Most standard gamepads work, including DualSense, DualShock 4, Xbox Series and Xbox One pads, and many third-party controllers. If the tester detects input, you can run the drift check.
Stable means both sticks rested near centre with minimal unwanted input. Slight through Heavy Drift means increasing off-centre signal while the sticks were not touched. Match your popup label to the cards above.
Games apply deadzones and sensitivity curves that hide small drift. This tester reads raw browser input before those filters, so it often surfaces problems earlier than an in-game settings screen.
Often for slight to moderate drift. DriftAline uses calibration and input smoothing to reduce unwanted movement. Severe hardware wear inside the stick module may still need physical repair.
Common causes include worn potentiometers, dirt under the stick gate, a shifted centre point, and failing joystick modules. Software can compensate for signal drift; it cannot replace worn parts.