Hardware Test

Updated

Stick Drift Test

Let go of both sticks to measure drift from center, then rotate them to check range and circularity, all in percent.

Connect Your Controller and Press Any Button

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How to Use It

The circle test checks circularity: how evenly a stick reaches its full range in every direction, not only how far it drifts at rest.

What the Results Mean

Most games ignore stick movement below a default deadzone of 5 to 15%, which is why drift under 5% goes unnoticed.

Drift at RestVerdictWhat You Notice
Under 5%No driftNothing: game deadzones hide it
5–10%Slight driftSlow creep in games with small deadzones
Over 10%DriftMovement or camera creep in most games

Outer range should be close to 100%: lower means the stick can't reach full speed in some directions. A circularity error of a few percent is normal.

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Questions

What is stick drift?

Stick drift is when a thumbstick reports movement while you aren't touching it, so your character or camera creeps on its own. It happens as the sensors inside the stick wear or collect dust.

How do I test for stick drift?

Connect your controller, press Start Drift Test, and let go of both sticks. After a 3-second countdown the test measures for 3 seconds and reports how far each stick strays from center.

How much drift is normal?

Under 5% is normal and hidden by almost every game's default deadzone. From 5 to 10% some games will show it. Over 10% most games will.

Can a deadzone fix drift?

A deadzone makes the game ignore small stick movements, which hides drift at the cost of a little precision near center. The test suggests a deadzone slightly above your measured drift; set it in the game's controller settings.

What is stick circularity?

Stick circularity is how round the stick's outer edge is. The circle test reports Circularity Error as the average distance from a perfect circle, in percent of full range. A few percent is normal; a high value or missed directions can mean a worn stick or a damaged gate.

How do I fix stick drift?

Try compressed air around the base of the stick while rotating it, update the controller's firmware, and recalibrate it in your system settings. If drift stays above 10%, the stick module needs replacing, or the controller does.