This Xbox controller tester checks Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Elite controllers in your browser, on a Windows PC, a Mac, Linux, ChromeOS or Android. Press any button and the Xbox drawing lights up A, B, X, Y, the bumpers, the d-pad and the stick clicks as you press them, the scopes follow both sticks, and the LT and RT bars show how far each trigger travels. The Vibration tab runs each of the controller's four motors on its own: the two in the grips and, in Chrome and Edge on Windows and Mac, the two impulse trigger motors.
How to test an Xbox One or Series controller
- Connect the controller. Use a USB cable, the Xbox Wireless Adapter, or Bluetooth: hold the small Pair button on top for 3 seconds until the Xbox button flashes quickly, then add it in your Bluetooth settings.
- Press any button. The page shows the Xbox drawing and the name your system reports.
- Press every button, then both sticks down. Each part turns green once it works.
- Squeeze LT and RT slowly and watch both bars reach 100 percent.
- Open Stick drift, put the controller down and press Start.
- Open Vibration and press Start motor check. Say what you felt after each motor.
- Press Copy results for a report you can attach to a repair or return request.
What the results mean
| Readout | Normal result | Look into it when |
|---|---|---|
| Buttons tested | A, B, X, Y, LB, RB, View, Menu, stick clicks and d-pad | A button never turns green |
| Stick distance at rest | 0.00 to 0.05 | Above 0.10 with your hands off |
| LT and RT | 0% at rest, smooth to 100% | They stop short, jump or rest above 0% |
| Strong and weak motor | Both felt in the motor check | One is silent or rattles |
| Trigger motors | A buzz under each finger | Nothing on one trigger |
| Updates per second | Steady while the sticks move | Drops to 0 or stutters on Bluetooth |
On Windows the Xbox button often stays dark, because Windows keeps it to open the Game Bar. The Share button on Series controllers may not reach the browser either. Neither is a fault.
Testing the impulse trigger motors
Xbox One and Series controllers have a small motor behind each trigger as well as the two in the grips. Rest your fingers lightly on LT and RT and press Left trigger, Right trigger or Both triggers in the Vibration tab. The buttons appear only when your browser can drive the trigger motors, which today means Chrome or Edge on Windows or a Mac, or on Linux and ChromeOS with the controller paired by Bluetooth. A trigger motor that buzzes faintly or not at all may have a loose connector, for example after a drop. Games still play normally without it, but racing games lose their brake and wheel spin feedback.
The controller keeps disconnecting
- Fresh batteries. Low AA batteries or a worn rechargeable pack can cause dropouts even before the battery level reads low.
- Update the firmware. Install the Xbox Accessories app, connect the controller with a cable and update it. Firmware updates have fixed many Bluetooth problems.
- Move the receiver. Bluetooth adapters at the back of a PC, behind metal, lose the signal. Use a USB extension to bring the adapter or the Xbox Wireless Adapter in front of you.
- Pair it with one device. A controller paired with both a console and a PC can wake the wrong one. Pair it again on the device you want.
Watch the light on the controller key above the drawing while you play: if it stops flashing during input, the link dropped. The controller not connecting to pc guide covers drivers and pairing in detail.
Xbox controller drift
Xbox controllers use potentiometer sticks that wear with use. Run the drift test with the controller on a table. Under 0.05 is normal, and from 0.10 the stick will move in games with small deadzones. Microsoft's own recommended deadzone for XInput games is about 24 percent of travel for the left stick and 27 percent for the right, which is why mild drift goes unnoticed in games that follow it but shows up in games with smaller deadzones. The xbox controller drift test explains the number, and the xbox controller drift fix guide covers cleaning, warranty and replacement.
A bumper or button stops clicking
LB and RB are a common failure point on Xbox controllers. If a bumper turns green only when you press its outer end, the small switch under it is worn or the plastic hinge is cracked. Sticky buttons after a spill clean up with 99 percent isopropyl on a swab while the controller is off. A button that turns orange with ×2 is bouncing and sends double presses.
Using the Elite Series 2
The Elite works like any Xbox controller here. The paddles are not sent to browsers on their own, so map them to standard buttons in the Xbox Accessories app before testing. Trigger stops shorten LT and RT travel on purpose: switch them off before you judge a trigger that stops at 60 percent. If an Elite stick feels loose, check the tension setting with the included tool before you suspect drift.
What this Xbox controller test cannot check
- The 3.5 mm headset jack and chat audio. Plug a headset into the controller and use a headset mic test to check it.
- The battery level. Xbox controllers do not report it to browsers. The Xbox Accessories app and the Windows Bluetooth settings show it.
- Input lag in games. The update rate tab shows how often new readings arrive. The controller latency test explains what that does and does not tell you, and the controller tester pc page covers Windows driver and game settings.
Xbox controller tester questions
How do I test my Xbox controller on PC?
Connect it with a USB cable, by Bluetooth or with the Xbox Wireless Adapter, open this page and press any button. Press every button, move both sticks in circles, then run the Stick drift and Vibration tabs. Nothing needs installing.
How do I test an Xbox One controller?
The same way as a newer one. The original 2013 Xbox One controller has no Bluetooth, so connect it with a micro-USB cable or the Xbox Wireless Adapter. Controllers from 2016 on, where the plastic around the Xbox button is part of the face rather than the top edge, also pair by Bluetooth.
Why does my Xbox controller show as Xbox 360 Controller?
Chrome and Edge on Windows call every controller that uses Microsoft's XInput standard by that name, whatever its real model. It does not mean anything is wrong. On Mac, Linux and Android the real model name usually appears.
How do I update my Xbox controller?
On Windows, install the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store, connect the controller with a USB cable, open it in the app and check for an update. On an Xbox console, open Settings, then Devices & connections, then Accessories. Updates fix many Bluetooth disconnects.
Does this test the paddles on an Xbox Elite controller?
Only if they are mapped to other buttons. The Elite's paddles are not sent to browsers on their own. Map each paddle to a standard button in the Xbox Accessories app, then press it here and check that the matching button lights.