PadTestLab

Controller Button Test

This controller button test checks every button and trigger: whether it registers, registers only once, reaches full travel and lets go again. It labels Xbox, PlayStation and Switch Pro controllers properly.

Face · shoulders · triggers · D-pad · sticks · system buttons

Waiting for a controller

Controller diagram showing the left and right rumble motors

  1. Connect via USB or Bluetooth

    Use a USB data cable or pair it. Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro and most other controllers work.

  2. Press any button

    Browsers only show a controller after a button press. The test opens as soon as one appears.

Nothing happening? Try another cable (charge-only cables don’t carry data) or another browser. The button test also works in Firefox and Safari.

A controller button test shows each button the moment your controller reports it, counts every press and measures how far the triggers travel. A good button lights once per press and lets go cleanly; a bad one stays dark, double-counts or sticks.

How to test controller buttons

  1. ConnectPlug in or pair the controller, then press any button.
  2. Press everythingEach tile lights while held and gets a tick once it works.
  3. Squeeze the triggersPull both all the way; the bar shows how far they travel.
  4. Check the countsOne press should add one. More means the button double-registers.

Reading the results

Browsers follow the W3C Gamepad standard layout of 17 buttons (indexes 0 to 16, shown next to each label), so the same index means the same button on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch controllers. A tick means the button worked at least once. The count shows how many presses the controller reported, which is the quickest way to catch a button that double-registers: press it slowly ten times and the count should go up by exactly ten.

The trigger bars show analog travel from 0 to 100%. A trigger that never reaches 100% may have a trigger stop engaged or need recalibrating. A tile outlined in amber is a button that was down when the test started or has been held for five seconds, both signs of a button that sticks.

Fixing buttons

Sticky or unresponsive buttons

  1. Turn the controller off and work a little isopropyl alcohol around the button’s edge with a cotton swab, pressing it repeatedly. Let it dry before testing.
  2. If it’s still dead or stays down, the rubber contact pad underneath is worn and needs replacing.

Double presses

  1. A count that jumps by two for one press means the contact is bouncing. Cleaning sometimes helps; otherwise the switch or contact pad needs replacing.

Triggers that stop short

  1. On an Xbox Elite or DualSense Edge, check the trigger stop switches on the back.
  2. Recalibrate the triggers in the controller’s app if it offers it, then test again.

FAQ

How do I test my controller buttons online?

Connect the controller with USB or Bluetooth, open this page and press any button. Then press every button once: each tile lights up while held and gets a tick once it has worked.

Why does one press count twice?

The contact under the button is bouncing: it opens and closes more than once per press. In games that shows up as double jumps or skipped menu items. Cleaning can help; a worn contact pad needs replacing.

Why doesn’t my trigger reach 100%?

Check for trigger stops first: the Xbox Elite and DualSense Edge have switches that shorten trigger travel. Otherwise the trigger may need recalibrating in the controller’s app, or its sensor is worn.

Does the button test work with PS5 and Switch controllers?

Yes. DualSense, DualShock 4 and Switch Pro controllers are shown with their own labels, such as ✕○□△ or B A Y X. Unknown controllers are shown by button number.

A button does nothing on this page. Is it broken?

Not necessarily. Some buttons, like the Xbox Share button or the PS button on some systems, are reserved by the operating system or another app and never reach the browser. Test it in a game or another app before assuming a fault.