How the drift test works
When you press Start, the page samples both analog sticks at the browser's frame rate for ten seconds and records the maximum and average distance from center while you keep your hands off. The yellow ring on each scope grows to the largest deviation seen. At the end you get a verdict per stick and a deadzone value you can type into a game or Steam Input to hide the drift.
Thresholds are based on what games actually use. Most titles ship with a default deadzone between 10% and 20%, so anything under 2% is invisible, 2 to 8% is noticeable in games with small deadzones such as shooters and fighting games, and above 8% will cause movement in almost everything.
What causes analog stick drift
- Worn potentiometers. Classic sticks measure position with a carbon track and a wiper. After a few hundred hours the track wears and the resting value shifts. This is the usual cause on DualSense, DualShock 4, Xbox and Joy-Con sticks.
- Dust and debris under the stick cap, which keeps the mechanism from returning to true center. Compressed air sometimes helps.
- Spring fatigue. The centering spring loses tension and the stick parks slightly off axis.
- Firmware offset. Some controllers store a center calibration that can be reset with the maker's tool or a community utility.
What to do with the result
Minor drift is best handled with a deadzone: use the recommended percentage in the game's controller settings, or set it once for every game in Steam's controller configuration. For real drift on a controller still under warranty, contact the manufacturer; most replace drifting sticks free of charge. Out of warranty, Hall effect or TMR replacement stick modules remove the problem permanently because they measure position magnetically and do not wear.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3% stick drift bad?
Not really. Three percent sits inside the default deadzone of nearly every game and you will not feel it. It does mean the stick is starting to wear, so re-test every month or two.
The stick is at 0.00 at rest but my character still moves in game.
Then the drift is not in the stick. Check for a second controller or a steering wheel connected at the same time, a Steam Input configuration with a negative deadzone, or a keyboard key stuck down.
Can I test Joy-Con drift here?
Yes, pair the Joy-Con or Pro Controller to your computer over Bluetooth. Each Joy-Con shows up as a separate gamepad with one stick.