PS5 controller test: measure DualSense stick drift online
Connect your DualSense with a USB cable and get a verdict with numbers, not a dot on a screen: resting drift, circularity, buttons, touchpad, firmware and battery. Free, in the browser, nothing uploaded.
By Manuel Benitez · Updated 21 September 2026
Connect your DualSense over USB to start the test
Over a USB cable. Gives access to the touchpad, the mute button and the controller's raw values. Chrome, Edge and Opera only.
DualSense Edge is supported too. Xbox or generic controller? Use the Xbox controller test.
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
Left stick
0.000
0.000
Right stick
0.000
0.000
Precise drift measurement
Let go of both sticks and do not touch the controller until it finishes.
Circularity
Traces the outer edge of the stick and measures the radius reached in each of 72 sectors. A healthy stick draws a regular circle; a worn one shows notches and flat spots.
Press Check circularity above, then roll one stick along its outer edge for several full turns, then the other. Both are measured at the same time.
Controller information
This data is only available with direct reading over a USB cable. Go back to the front page and connect the controller by cable.
Stick calibration
With the centre magnified you can see the real resting offset, and below are the controller's raw values: the measured centre and the maximum travel reached on each axis.
Left stick
Right stick
Calibration is only available with direct reading over a USB cable. Connect the controller by cable to calibrate it.
Stick centre
Sets where rest position is. This is what fixes drift when the controller moves on its own.
Stick range
Learns how far each stick reaches. Fixes not hitting the edge, or a flattened circle.
Fine tuning
The twelve internal values, one by one. For when automatic calibration leaves something off.
Calibration wizard
Changes are temporary until you press “Save changes permanently”. If something goes wrong, “Restart the controller” discards anything you haven't saved.
🔒 Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored on any server.
How the PS5 controller test works
- 1Plug in the DualSense
USB cable, not Bluetooth. Over Bluetooth the controller sends a cut-down report and the test loses precision.
- 2Press “Connect PlayStation controller”
Chrome, Edge or Opera will ask which device to use. Pick the Wireless Controller.
- 3Run the drift test
Let go of the sticks for 10 seconds. The tool records the resting position and compares it with the thresholds.
- 4Run the circularity test
Roll each stick around its edge. A worn stick shows notches, flat spots or a shorter reach.
What is measured on a DualSense
The DualSense is one of the easiest controllers to diagnose from a browser, as long as you connect it over a USB cable. That way the controller's own report is read and things a generic gamepad tester never shows become visible:
- The unnormalised stick values (0–255 per axis), which is what makes the real centre offset visible instead of the value the system has already corrected.
- The touchpad, with the real position of up to two fingers.
- The microphone mute button, which the browser does not expose through the standard route.
- The internal information: firmware version, build date, serial number and battery level.
The test gives two figures that decide the state of the controller:
| Measure | Healthy | Watch it | Out of range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resting deviation | up to 2 % | 2 – 3 % | above 3 % |
| Circularity error | up to 5 % | 5 – 10 % | above 10 % |
A resting deviation above 3 % is what you feel in game as the camera turning on its own. The detail of the calculation and the reasoning behind each cut-off is in how we measure drift.
Typical DualSense problems
- Left stick drift. It is the most used and the first to wear. It usually starts as a small deviation that the dead zone in games hides for months.
- Adaptive triggers sticking. Not drift, but it shows up in the same test: the trigger travel does not reach zero or does not reach maximum.
- A circle that is too perfect. If circularity comes out below 5 %, the controller may be compensating internally and hiding the stick's real shape. The tool warns you.
Fix DualSense drift without opening the controller
The DualSense supports writable calibration from the browser over a cable. In the Calibration tab you can recentre the sticks and relearn their range; the change is temporary until you save it to the controller's memory, and “Restart the controller” discards anything unsaved. A small deviation (2–4 %) is usually corrected this way. A sensor that is badly worn will drift again in a few weeks, and then the fix is replacing the stick module.
If the result is out of range
Before buying anything, check whether the controller is still under warranty: in the EU that is up to three years, claimed from the shop, and turning up with the measurement done changes the conversation. If it is out of warranty, the options ordered by cost are in how to tell if your controller has drift.
Other controllers
Frequently asked questions
Does the PS5 controller test work over Bluetooth?
It detects the controller, but the precise test needs a USB cable. Over Bluetooth the DualSense sends a cut-down report with no touchpad, no mute button and no raw stick values.
Do I need a PS5 console to test the controller?
No. Only a computer with Chrome, Edge or Opera and a USB cable. Everything runs in the browser and nothing is installed.
What value counts as stick drift on a DualSense?
A resting deviation up to 2 % of the travel is healthy. Between 2 and 3 % it is worth watching, and above 3 % the stick is out of specification and the drift is noticeable in game.
Can I calibrate my PS5 controller online?
Yes. With the DualSense over USB the Calibration tab recentres the sticks and relearns their range, and you can save it permanently to the controller.
Is it safe? Is anything uploaded?
Nothing is uploaded or stored on any server. The controller is read locally through the browser’s WebHID and Gamepad APIs.