Controller
Controller stick drift: causes and fixes
Stick drift is when a joystick reports movement while you aren't touching it. Measure it above: under 0.05 at rest is normal, over 0.10 is drift games will notice.
Last reviewed October 23, 2026
Start with a quick test
Connect a controller by cable or Bluetooth, then press any button on it. Browsers only reveal a controller after a button press.
Steps
- 1
Measure it
Put the controller down and press Measure drift in the test above. Note which stick and how much.
- 2
Raise the in-game deadzone
Many games have a stick deadzone setting. Set it just above your measured drift.
- 3
Update the controller firmware
Xbox controllers update through the Xbox Accessories app; DualSense controllers update on a PS5 or with Sony's firmware updater for PC.
- 4
Calibrate if your system supports it
Some controllers can be calibrated in Steam (Settings › Controller) or on Windows with Set up USB game controllers (search joy.cpl). Not every controller supports this.
- 5
Clean around the stick
With the controller off, blow compressed air around the base of the stick while rotating it.
- 6
Repair or replace
Drift that keeps growing means the stick module is worn. Check the warranty; repair services can replace the module, sometimes with magnetic (Hall effect) sticks that don't wear the same way.
Still not working?
- Drift that appears only on one system points to software or calibration rather than hardware.
Questions
What causes stick drift?
Most sticks measure position with resistive tracks that wear and collect dust, so the centre reading creeps away from zero.
Is a little drift normal?
Yes. Every analog stick reports a tiny offset at rest. Games hide it with a deadzone, usually around 0.1 to 0.2.