Why does my controller need a button press to be detected?

Browsers only expose controller data after you press a button, a privacy measure that stops sites silently tracking your input devices. Press any button to start the test.

How do I check my controller for stick drift in the browser?

Let go of both sticks and watch their resting values. Below 0.05 is fine, 0.05 to 0.15 is minor drift, and above 0.15 will cause visible movement in most games.

Does the controller test work with PS5 and Xbox pads?

Yes. The browser Gamepad API supports PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, and most third-party controllers. Chrome and Edge give the most complete results, including vibration.

How to Test a Controller in Your Browser (Free)

Quick answer: To test a controller in your browser, connect it by USB or Bluetooth, open a controller test, and press any button to wake it — browsers only read controller data after a button press. Then check that every button, trigger, and stick responds and the sticks return to center.

Try it now: open the controller test , connect your pad, and press a button to begin.

How to test your controller

1. Connect by USB or Bluetooth

Plug the controller in with a data USB cable, or pair it over Bluetooth. On a desktop, a wired USB connection is the most reliable and gives the best results for features like vibration.

2. Press any button to wake it

Nothing will show until you press a button. This is a deliberate browser privacy rule — the Gamepad API only exposes your controller after you interact with it, so a site cannot silently read your inputs.

3. Test every button

Press each one in turn: the face buttons (A/B/X/Y or the PlayStation shapes), the D-pad, bumpers, triggers, stick clicks, and Start/Select. Each should light up on screen. Any that does not respond is stuck or unmapped.

4. Test the analog sticks

Move both sticks through their full range — up, down, left, right, and the diagonals — and let go. They should track smoothly and snap back to center.

How to spot stick drift

With your hands off the sticks, watch their resting values. Below 0.05 is normal and masked by in-game deadzones; 0.05 to 0.15 is minor drift you may notice in sensitive games; above 0.15 will cause visible movement on its own. If you see drift, our guide on controller stick drift covers the fixes.

Why is my controller not detected in the browser?

First, press a button — that alone wakes most controllers. If nothing happens, refresh the page (F5), switch between USB and Bluetooth, try another cable or port, and close other apps that may be holding the controller. If the browser still cannot see it, the issue is the connection itself; see our guide on a controller not detected on PC .

Which controllers and browsers work?

The test uses the standard Web Gamepad API, which supports PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, and most third-party pads. Chrome and Edge give the most complete results. Vibration support over Bluetooth is weak on Windows, so use a wired connection if you want to test the motors.

Is the controller test private?

Yes. Everything runs locally in your browser — your inputs are read by the page on your own device and nothing is uploaded.

Confirm your controller works

When every button lights up, the triggers move smoothly, and both sticks return to center on the controller test , your controller is good to go.