Want to check buttons and sticks too? Use the full gamepad tester.
- Most controllers have two motors: a heavy left one (strong, deep rumble) and a light right one (weak, fast buzz).
- Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Elite pads also have a small motor in each trigger.
- Web vibration works in Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave and Safari 16.4+ on Mac. Firefox and iPhone/iPad can't do it.
- A motor that rattles, grinds or stays silent with a full battery needs a repair.
How to test controller vibration
- Open this page in Chrome or Edge. These browsers have the best vibration support. Firefox can't run vibration from a website.
- Connect your controller with a USB cable or Bluetooth.
- Press any button so the page can see the controller.
- Tap "Left only". The left side should give a deep, heavy rumble.
- Tap "Right only". The right side should give a lighter, faster buzz.
- Tap "Both full" and move the strength sliders. The rumble should get stronger as you slide up, with no rattles or clicks.
A healthy controller passes all three in a few seconds.
Why do the two sides feel different?
That's on purpose. Most controllers have two different motors:
- The left motor is the strong one. It has a heavy weight and makes a deep, slow rumble, like an explosion or a car engine.
- The right motor is the weak one. It has a small weight and makes a quick, light buzz, like footsteps or rain.
Games mix the two to create different feelings. So if the left side feels much stronger than the right, your controller is working normally.
How to read the results
| What you feel | What it means |
|---|---|
| Both sides buzz, left is stronger | Perfect. Both motors work. |
| One side is silent | That motor, or its wire, has likely failed. |
| Weak rumble on both sides | Low battery, or vibration is turned down in settings. Charge it and check the settings. |
| Rattling or grinding noise | The motor's weight may be loose or hitting the case. Often needs a repair. |
| Nothing at all | Check your browser first (see below). Then check the controller's vibration setting. |
| Buzz keeps going after you stop | Rare. Unplug and reconnect. If it repeats, update the firmware. |
Which browsers support the vibration test?
Vibration needs browser support, not just a working controller.
| Browser | Vibration test works? |
|---|---|
| Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave (Windows, Mac, Linux) | Yes |
| Safari on Mac (16.4 or newer) | Yes |
| Chrome on Android | Yes, for many controllers |
| Firefox (all platforms) | No |
| Safari on iPhone and iPad | No |
This comes from public browser data on Can I use. If you see "vibration not supported", switch browsers before deciding the controller is broken.
Vibration test by controller
Xbox controller vibration test
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Elite controllers have four motors: two in the grips and one in each trigger. The trigger ones are called impulse triggers. In Chrome and Edge on Windows, you can test the trigger motors in the "Impulse triggers" panel that appears above. Elite controllers also let you turn vibration down in the Xbox Accessories app, so check that first if rumble feels weak. More on the Xbox controller tester.
PS5 controller vibration test
The DualSense doesn't use the old spinning motors. It uses haptic actuators, which work more like small speakers. They can make much finer feelings. On a PC browser, the DualSense usually plays a simple rumble, close to how a PS4 pad feels. That's enough to check that both sides work. The adaptive triggers can't be tested through a normal browser connection. More on the PS5 controller tester.
PS4 controller vibration test
The DualShock 4 has the classic two-motor setup: heavy on the left, light on the right. It's one of the easiest controllers to test this way. More on the PS4 controller tester.
Switch Pro and Joy-Con
Nintendo controllers use "HD Rumble". Browser support for it is limited, so the test may do nothing even when the controller is fine. Test rumble on the Switch itself if you need to be sure.
Generic PC controllers
Many cheap USB pads have no motors at all. Check the box or the maker's page. If yours has motors but doesn't buzz, try switching it to XInput mode (often a button combo or a switch on the back).
Vibration not working? Fixes to try
- Switch to Chrome or Edge. This fixes most cases.
- Charge the controller. Rumble uses a lot of power, and some controllers turn it down when the battery is low.
- Check vibration settings. Look in the Xbox Accessories app, Steam's controller settings, or your controller's own app.
- Close other apps. Steam, DS4Windows and similar tools can take control of rumble. Close them and refresh the page.
- Try a cable. Some controllers vibrate over USB but not over Bluetooth on certain computers.
- Test on a console or in a game. If it rumbles there but not here, it's a browser limit, not a broken motor.
Controller vibration test FAQ
Can a vibration test damage my controller?
No. Each test runs the motors for a second or two, the same as rumble in any game.
Why does my controller vibrate in games but not here?
Games talk to the controller directly. A website has to go through the browser, and some browsers don't support vibration. Use Chrome or Edge.
Can I test the DualSense adaptive triggers?
Not in a normal browser test. Adaptive triggers need special software. The best check is a PS5 game that uses them, like the free Astro's Playroom.
How do I know if a vibration motor is broken?
If one side stays silent in Chrome or Edge, with a full battery and vibration turned on, that motor or its wire has failed.
Can I test vibration on my phone?
On Android, yes, in Chrome, for many controllers. On iPhone and iPad, no. Safari on iOS doesn't support controller vibration from websites.