Free drPad tool
Online gamepad tester: check drift and buttons
Plug your controller into a computer, or pair it with your phone over Bluetooth, and check stick drift, range, buttons, triggers and vibration in a minute. Runs in the browser, nothing to install: DualSense, DualSense Edge, DualShock 4, Xbox controllers and most USB gamepads.
Check-up · in your browser
Test your controller
Connect your controller to a computer with a USB cable, or pair it with your phone over Bluetooth, and press any button. Rotate each stick a few full circles against the edge, then move both sticks gently for a few seconds, as if aiming. Small movements are exactly where drift shows up.
Five quick check-ups: sticks, buttons, triggers, vibration and drift. Connect your controller to a computer, or to your phone over Bluetooth, and press any button to start.
Drift shows up during small movements: a healthy stick draws a smooth line, while a worn potentiometer adds jitter and sudden reading jumps. More than 1 jump per 10 seconds means it is time for a visit. Circularity error is about range calibration: the target is about 5% (green 3–8%), because a slight overshoot on the diagonals gives full speed when aiming in shooters.
Buttons
Checklist
- Buttons 0/16
- Sticks
- Triggers L2 / R2
- Vibration
- Gyro, touchpad, lights, microphone, speaker tested in the workshop
How to read the result
- Drift: a released stick should stay still. If the dot wanders or jitters on its own, the controller has drift.
- Jumps during small movements: gentle aiming should be smooth. Sudden jumps mean a worn stick, even before drift shows in games.
- Range (circle): an error of about 3–8% is good; around 5% works best for shooters.
- Buttons and triggers: every button should register, and L2/R2 should travel the full 0–100%.
What causes stick drift
Standard sticks measure position with resistive tracks (potentiometers) that wear and collect dirt, so the reading starts to drift. TMR sticks measure position magnetically, without friction, so they do not wear out this way.
FAQ
Does the tester work on a phone?
Yes. Pair the controller with your phone over Bluetooth, open this page (Android: Chrome or Samsung Internet, iPhone: Safari) and press any button. On a computer it works in Chrome and Edge.
Cable or Bluetooth?
Both work. Sticks, buttons and triggers test the same way; DualSense vibration is most reliable on a computer over USB.
Will compressed air fix drift?
Sometimes for a short while, but it cannot repair a worn resistive track. The lasting fix is replacing the sticks, ideally with TMR.
No drift yet. Is it worth replacing the sticks?
Yes, if you want peace of mind. Standard sticks wear with every movement, so drift shows up in every controller sooner or later, however careful you are. TMR is an upgrade: replace once and get sharper aiming right away.
I found drift. What now?
I replace the sticks with TMR modules from £45 including return shipping, with a 12-month warranty and a patient record showing the result before and after the repair.
Controller drifting?
TMR stick replacement from £45 with return shipping, 12-month warranty, before-and-after result stored in the controller.