Device checks / Controllers
PS4 Controller Tester for DualShock 4 Users: Buttons, Triggers and Drift
Check a DualShock 4 controller with its Share and Options buttons, L2/R2 travel, both sticks and a five-second drift recording.
PS4 Controller Tester for DualShock 4 Users: Buttons, Triggers and Drift: DualShock 4 has Share rather than the Create button found on the newer controller. Cross is below, circle right, square left and triangle above. L1 and R1 are digital shoulder buttons, while L2 and R2 report analogue travel when the browser recognises the standard layout. Try a slow press followed by a complete release; a trigger that remains above zero may need another connection or a physical inspection. L3 and R3 mean clicking the sticks, not moving them. The central touchpad can sometimes supply a click as an extra button. Finger position, swipes, the light bar and motion sensing are not measured here. Test after leaving a console pairing session, since a controller connected to another host will not send input to this browser. 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 a DualShock 4 after pairing it with a computer or phone. The Share button has its own label, L2 and R2 show analogue travel, and the stick plots help distinguish a held input from movement that continues after you let go.
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.
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.
The standard Gamepad API cannot read adaptive-trigger resistance, gyro motion or touchpad finger positions. It can show the touchpad click when the browser exposes an extra button.
Standard mapping: index to model button
| Index | Button name |
|---|---|
| 0 | × |
| 1 | ○ |
| 2 | □ |
| 3 | △ |
| 4 | L1 |
| 5 | R1 |
| 6 | L2 |
| 7 | R2 |
| 8 | Share |
| 9 | Options |
| 10 | L3 |
| 11 | R3 |
| 12 | D-pad up |
| 13 | D-pad down |
| 14 | D-pad left |
| 15 | D-pad right |
| 16 | PS |
| 17 | Touchpad click · 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
With the controller off, hold Share and PS until the light bar flashes, then select the wireless controller in Bluetooth settings. Use a USB data cable for a wired check. 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://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps4-pair-dualshock-4-wireless-with-pc-or-mac/) 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.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Why is Share different from Create?
This layout follows DualShock 4 labels: Share is the left centre input and Options the right centre input. A connected DualSense still works here, but its matching tester uses its own names.
Does a missing touchpad response mean a fault?
No. Browsers often provide only the standard buttons. A touchpad click may appear as an extra numbered slot, while touch position and swipes are not part of this test. Confirm the feature on a supported console or application.
Why does a stick move after I release it?
That is an idle offset. It can come from wear, debris or an imperfect return to centre. Record five seconds after releasing the stick, then repeat over USB. A game may hide a small offset with its dead zone, while a persistent large offset can require repair.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required