Device checks / Controllers
Joy-Con Tester for Nintendo Users: Left, Right and Stick Drift
Test Joy-Con L and R separately or paired, check button input and measure idle stick drift over five seconds.
Joy-Con Tester for Nintendo Users: Left, Right and Stick Drift: A left Joy-Con has a stick above its four directional buttons, while the right Joy-Con has Nintendo face buttons above its stick. The upright views preserve that arrangement. In a paired layout, B is below, A right, Y left and X above. A computer may expose the two halves as separate gamepads rather than combining them, so choose each connected slot and record it independently. The single view changes the diagram; it does not combine two devices or remap a driver. When held sideways, the physical names and operating-system mapping can differ from the paired standard order. SL and SR rail buttons are not assigned fixed standard indices: identify them using the numbered inputs and log. A controller that lacks a complete axis pair cannot produce a stick result. Use an idle recording after the stick has returned to centre, then repeat for the other half. This test does not inspect battery condition, charging rails or console-specific motion and rumble features. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Everyday tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs entirely in your browser
Test left and right Joy-Con separately or as a pair. Choose a connected slot and an upright L, R or paired view. Each browser may expose the rail buttons differently. Release the stick for five seconds to measure the idle movement that can make a character walk by itself.
Extra buttons after index 16 vary by browser. Touchpad click, mute, Share and Capture labels are suggestions for those slots; confirm each by pressing it. A missing slot means it is not exposed, rather than a failed button.
A pair may appear as one controller or two slots. Select each slot to test it separately. Single Joy-Con views are upright; sideways use and SL/SR rail buttons can have a non-standard order, so use numbered inputs to identify them. The first exposed axis pair is shown for a single Joy-Con.
Five-second drift test
Place the controller on a level surface, release both sticks, and keep this tab visible for five seconds. Move each stick in a circle and release it before repeating the test. The test records raw idle offset, regardless of the display dead zone.
Maximum and mean are the length of the x/y offset vector as a percentage of a unit stick radius. Diagonal readings can exceed 100%. The 5%, 10% and 15% comparisons are examples, not manufacturer pass/fail limits. Browser sampling is not a hardware calibration.
Vibration is not exposed here. Support depends on browser, connection and controller.
Standard mapping: index to model button
| Index | Button name |
|---|---|
| 0 | B |
| 1 | A |
| 2 | Y |
| 3 | X |
| 4 | L |
| 5 | R |
| 6 | ZL |
| 7 | ZR |
| 8 | − |
| 9 | + |
| 10 | Left stick click |
| 11 | Right stick click |
| 12 | D-pad up |
| 13 | D-pad down |
| 14 | D-pad left |
| 15 | D-pad right |
| 16 | Home |
| 17 | Capture · browser-dependent extra |
Test log
Latest 80 button transitions. Analogue levels remain visible on the live buttons and trigger bars.
- Press and release a controller button to begin the log.
Connect your controller
Detach the Joy-Con and hold the small SYNC button on its rail until its lights cycle. Pair L and R individually in Bluetooth settings. A USB cable to a charging grip should not be assumed to provide a browser gamepad connection; use a host-supported controller connection. On Windows, open Settings, Bluetooth & devices and add a Bluetooth device. On macOS, open System Settings, Bluetooth and connect the listed controller. On Android, use Settings, Connected devices or Bluetooth and pair a new device. On iPhone, use Settings, Bluetooth and select the controller if the phone supports it. USB on phones requires a compatible data adapter and operating-system support. After connecting, open this tab and press a controller button. If it remains absent, try a data cable, another browser or a supported host; OS pairing alone does not guarantee web access.
Official controller support (https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22343/~/how-to-pair-joy-con-controllers) describes pairing. Follow the vendor instructions for your hardware.
Browser input and vibration
The W3C Gamepad specification (https://www.w3.org/TR/gamepad/) defines standard button positions and axis readings. MDN (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Gamepad_API/Using_the_Gamepad_API) explains activation and browser access. Open the page in a secure context and press a button after it loads. Desktop Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari can expose gamepads, but device mapping, phone support and haptics differ. Test availability on this host instead of assuming console features carry over.
MDN vibration documentation (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/GamepadHapticActuator) describes dual-rumble and trigger-rumble support. A disabled effect means this browser/controller combination does not expose it.
Interpreting idle stick movement
The five-second measurement uses raw x/y offsets before the display dead zone. Mean drift is the average vector length, not the length of an average vector. Five, ten and fifteen per cent are illustrative radial dead zones rather than official service limits. Disconnect before cleaning the exterior; use the manufacturer cleaning guidance. Persistent unwanted movement after reconnecting and safe cleaning can require service or stick replacement.
How to use it
- Connect the controller to your computer or phone and press a button with this page open.
- Check the live buttons, trigger levels and stick positions in the device layout.
- Release the sticks, record five seconds of idle input and compare maximum and mean drift.
Privacy & limitations
Controller readings and test results stay in this browser. Nothing is uploaded.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I test only the left or right Joy-Con?
Yes. Choose its connected slot, then select the upright single L or single R view. The first available axis pair represents that device’s stick. The other half is not required for a drift recording.
Why do L and R appear as two controllers?
The operating system can expose each Joy-Con separately. This page reads what the browser provides and does not install a virtual pairing driver. Test both slots separately, or choose the combined slot if your host already provides one.
When should I clean or replace a drifting Joy-Con stick?
First repeat the idle test after reconnecting and check whether games move without a touch. Disconnect the controller and clean only the exterior according to the vendor guidance. If repeated offset still exceeds the dead zone you can comfortably use, seek service or consider stick replacement; do not pour liquid into the stick.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required