JoyCheck FAQ

JoyCheck is a free browser-based gamepad tester. Open the page, plug in or pair your controller, press any button, and the live widget shows every input the controller exposes, buttons, analog sticks, triggers, touchpad, gyroscope, vibration motors. Built on the W3C Gamepad API [1]; runs entirely in your browser; zero data sent.

Yes. No signup, no ad-walled paywall, no premium tier blocking basic features. We plan a future Pro tier ($5/month) for saved controller profiles + advanced DualSense haptic metrics. Pro is strictly opt-in and doesn't gate the core tester, basic diagnostics stay free forever.

Taimoor Bamazai and Elites Algorithm Limited, registered in Dublin, Ireland. Full backstory on the about page.

The existing gamepad testers either install desktop software, run analytics against your controller usage, or haven't been updated to compete in AI-engine search. JoyCheck is the answer to "I just want to test my controller without giving anything up."

The widget source will be published on GitHub so the no-data claim is auditable line-by-line. Status at the about page. The audit path through DevTools already works today.

No. The Gamepad API runs entirely in your browser. JoyCheck has no analytics on the widget itself. Verifiable in DevTools → Network tab (steps below). Full privacy statement on /privacy.

No first-party tracking cookies. The site runs on WordPress, which may set session or caching cookies, those don't carry tracking identifiers and aren't shared with third parties. If we ever add privacy-respecting analytics on marketing pages (Plausible, Fathom, or self-hosted Matomo), we'll disclose it on /privacy.

Yes. Open DevTools (F12 in most browsers), click the Network tab, clear the log, then exercise the widget for 30 seconds, press buttons, move sticks, fire vibration. The Network tab stays empty for controller-state requests. Anyone with a browser can do this in under a minute.

PS5 DualSense and DualSense Edge, PS4 DualShock 4, Xbox Series X/S Wireless Controller, Xbox One Controller, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, Joy-Con (paired pair), 8BitDo Pro 2, GuliKit KingKong 3, generic XInput controllers, and generic DirectInput controllers. USB and Bluetooth both work.

Yes. Safari 14.1 or newer supports the W3C Gamepad API. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox on macOS also work. Bluetooth pairing is handled by macOS, once the controller is paired in System Settings → Bluetooth, JoyCheck reads it through whichever browser you opened.

Yes. ChromeOS has full Gamepad API support. Plug a controller in via USB or pair it via Bluetooth, press a button, and JoyCheck reads it.

Mobile Chrome and Mobile Safari both support the Gamepad API. Bluetooth controllers paired to a phone show up correctly. The UI is functional on mobile but tight, the visualizations are designed for desktop screens. For serious diagnostic work, desktop or laptop is recommended.

Chrome (any version since 21, released 2012), Edge (since 12, 2015), Firefox (since 29, 2014), Safari (14.1 or newer, 2021) [2], Opera. Internet Explorer is not supported, it never shipped the Gamepad API.

Three steps:

1. Press any button to wake the Gamepad API. Controllers don't appear until the user makes a gesture, that's a browser-level privacy feature.
2. Check your browser. Use Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. Safari needs version 14.1 or newer. Internet Explorer is not supported.
3. For Bluetooth controllers, confirm OS-level pairing first. The controller must appear in your operating system's Bluetooth menu before JoyCheck can read it.

Most often a gesture-requirement issue: the Gamepad API needs a button press after the page loads, not before. Refresh the page first, then press a button on the already-paired controller. The controller appears within a frame of the button press.

Some controllers expose analog triggers only over USB, not Bluetooth, try a wired connection. Some Xbox driver versions degrade triggers to binary; updating the Xbox Accessories app (Windows) typically restores analog reporting.

The vibrationActuator interface is browser-dependent. Chrome and Edge have the best vibration support. Firefox has partial support. Safari has limited support. If vibration doesn't fire in your current browser, try Chrome, that's the most reliable baseline.

Calibrate the IMU first: on PS5, Settings → Accessories → Controllers → Reset; on PC, the DualSense will recalibrate after being unplugged for several seconds and reconnected. Browser readings depend on what the controller firmware reports, if the firmware-level calibration is off, JoyCheck will faithfully show the off reading.

Set the controller flat on a table, hands off the sticks. Watch the analog stick X/Y in JoyCheck. If the dot moves while you're not touching the stick, it drifts. Full guide with controller-by-controller breakdown: stick drift in 30 seconds.

Most games use 0.05-0.10 as their software deadzone [3]. A controller reading above 0.10 at rest is meaningfully drifting. Healthy potentiometer-stick controllers read 0.00-0.03 at rest. Hall-effect-stick controllers (GuliKit KingKong, 8BitDo Ultimate 2024) typically read 0.01-0.03 at rest, the magnetic field sensors have no physical contact to wear.

Cost-driven decision:

• DualSense Edge: swap modules are designed for end-user replacement at $25 each. Always repair.
• Standard DualSense, DualShock 4, Xbox controllers: Hall-effect aftermarket modules cost $20-40 plus soldering skill. Solder-free kits exist but the warranty is voided. Replacement controllers cost $60-200.
• Joy-Con: Nintendo's free repair program covers Joy-Con drift in many regions [4]. Check Nintendo support for your region.
• Practical heuristic: if repair cost approaches replacement cost and you don't have soldering practice, buy a new controller. Prefer factory Hall-effect models (GuliKit KingKong 3, 8BitDo Ultimate Controller 2024) to avoid the same wear problem.

Planned for late 2026:

• Saved controller profiles (Pro): store deadzone preferences, custom calibration values per controller, local-first with opt-in sync
• Latency benchmarking: measure input-to-display latency per browser + controller combo
• Multi-controller diff view: plug two of the same model in, see which one is more worn
• Advanced DualSense metrics (Pro): adaptive trigger profile capture, haptic curve visualization

Core tester (everything you can do today) stays free forever.

Have a question that's not here? Email support@joycheck.io, we'll answer within two business days and update this FAQ if it's a question worth adding.