How to Test Your Xbox Controller for Faults on PC

November 28, 2025

How to Test Your Xbox Controller for Faults on PC

Is It the Game or the Controller?

Your aim feels off. Your character is moving sluggishly. Is it lag, a game bug, or is your controller dying? The best way to know for sure is to run a diagnostic test on your PC.

Here are the best free tools to test every button, stick, and trigger on your Xbox controller.

Tool 1: Gamepad Tester (Browser-Based)

The fastest way to test without installing software.

  • Step 1: Connect your controller to PC via USB or Bluetooth.
  • Step 2: Go to gamepad-tester.com.
  • Step 3: Press any button to wake it up.
  • Step 4: Check the "Axis" values. Ideally, sticks should rest at 0.00000. If they flicker or sit at 0.05 or higher without touching them, you have drift.
  • Step 5: Test buttons. Ensure they light up instantly and turn off instantly.

Tool 2: Xbox Accessories App (Official)

Best for checking firmware and official inputs.

  • Step 1: Download "Xbox Accessories" from the Microsoft Store.
  • Step 2: Open the app and click the beaker icon (Test Mode).
  • Step 3: Press every button. The app will show exactly what the controller is sending to the console.
  • Note: This tool doesn't show "drift percentages" like Gamepad Tester, but it confirms if buttons are working at all.

Tool 3: Steam Controller Settings

Steam has a powerful built-in calibration tool.

  • Step 1: Open Steam > Settings > Controller.
  • Step 2: Click "Begin Test" or "Calibration".
  • Step 3: You can see the raw input data and even adjust deadzones to mask minor drift issues.

Interpreting the Results

  • Jittery Sticks: If the dot on the graph shakes violently while you hold the stick still, your potentiometers are dirty or worn.
  • Slow Turn Rate: If you push the stick fully but the value only reaches 0.8 or 0.9 instead of 1.0, your character will move slowly (slow turn).
  • Double Inputs: If pressing 'A' once registers as two clicks, the tactile switch is failing.

What Next?

If your tests confirm hardware failure, you have three options:

  1. Clean it: Try isopropyl alcohol (see our Cleaning Guide).
  2. Repair it: Send it to us for a professional fix (Stick replacement, button repair).
  3. Replace it: Buy a new controller.

Knowing exactly what's wrong saves you from guessing—and helps you decide if it's worth saving!