Want a simple visual check instead? Use the main gamepad tester.
- Buttons read 0 to 1. Sticks read -1 to 1. Up and left are negative.
- A0/A1 are the left stick, A2/A3 the right stick, B0–B16 the buttons in the standard layout.
- A resting stick value up to about 0.02 is normal noise.
- A ghost input is any change that shows up while nobody touches the controller.
What is a controller input test?
A controller input test lists every input your controller sends to the computer, as plain numbers. Buttons show a value between 0 and 1. Sticks show a value between -1 and 1. Nothing is hidden or smoothed.
The main tester draws a picture of your controller. This page shows the data behind that picture. It's the same data a game receives before it applies its own settings.
How to use the input test
- Connect your controller with a cable or Bluetooth.
- Press any button so the browser can see it.
- Check the controller info at the top. It shows how many buttons and axes it has, and whether the browser uses the "standard" layout.
- Press each button and watch its number. It should jump from 0 to 1 and back to 0.
- Move each stick and pull each trigger. Watch the numbers change smoothly.
- Put the controller down and watch the event log. With no hands on it, the log should stay quiet.
How to read the numbers
| Input | Range | Resting value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal button | 0 or 1 | 0 | 1 means pressed |
| Analog trigger | 0.00 to 1.00 | 0.00 | Shows how far you pulled it |
| Stick X axis (left/right) | -1.00 to 1.00 | about 0.00 | -1 is full left, 1 is full right |
| Stick Y axis (up/down) | -1.00 to 1.00 | about 0.00 | -1 is full up, 1 is full down |
In the standard layout, A0 and A1 are the left stick, and A2 and A3 are the right stick. Buttons run from B0 to B16. The main tester has a full chart showing which number is which button on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch.
What problems does an input test catch?
Ghost inputs
A ghost input is a press the controller sends when you didn't press anything. Press Start ghost watch, put the controller down and watch the event log for 30 seconds. If a button flickers on and off by itself, that button's contact is dirty or damaged. If an axis keeps changing, that's stick drift.
Dead or weak buttons
If a button stays at 0 when you press it, the press isn't reaching the computer. If it only reaches 1 when you press very hard, the contact under the button is worn or dirty. Confirm it with the button test.
Double inputs
Press a button once, slowly. The log should show one press and one release. Two presses from one push is called "double clicking". It's common on worn bumpers and mouse-style switches.
Triggers that don't reach full
Pull a trigger all the way. A healthy trigger reads 1.00. A reading of 0.92 or less means some games won't register a full pull.
Wrong mapping
If the info line says the mapping is not "standard", the browser couldn't match your controller to the usual layout. Buttons may show up in a strange order. That's a software issue, not a fault. Try another browser, or switch the controller to XInput mode if it has one.
Controller not detected?
If no controller appears at all:
- Click on the page, then press a face button (not a stick).
- Try another USB cable. Charge-only cables are a very common cause.
- On Windows, type joy.cpl into the Start menu and press Enter. This opens the Game Controllers window. If your controller isn't listed, the computer can't see it. The problem is the cable, the driver or the Bluetooth pairing.
- Close Steam, DS4Windows and other controller apps, then refresh.
- Try Chrome or Edge.
For more fixes, read controller not detected.
Who uses a controller input test?
- Gamers who want to prove a fault before asking for a warranty repair.
- Repair techs who need exact before-and-after values.
- Game developers checking how the browser maps a controller.
- Emulator users setting up controls and wanting to know which button number is which.
- Buyers of used controllers who want a fast, detailed check before paying.
Controller input test FAQ
What is the difference between this and the gamepad tester?
The gamepad tester shows a picture. The input test shows the raw numbers and a log of every change. Use the picture for a quick check, and the numbers for detail.
Why do my buttons have numbers instead of names?
Browsers number buttons in a fixed order (B0, B1, B2…) so they work the same for every brand. B0 is the bottom face button: A on Xbox, Cross on PlayStation.
Why does my stick show 0.01 when I'm not touching it?
That's normal sensor noise. Values up to about 0.02 are fine. Higher values mean drift. See the stick drift test.
Can I test keyboard or mouse input here?
No. This page reads game controllers only.
Can I see input lag here?
The log shows when each change arrives, but a browser can't measure true input lag precisely. For a rough check of how often your controller reports, use the polling rate test.