How to run the controller vibration test
- Connect the controller with a USB cable or Bluetooth, and close Steam or any game that might take it over.
- Press any button. Browsers only show a controller after a button press. Its name appears above and the numbered dots light up while you hold buttons, so you know it's the right one.
- Press “Both motors”. The controller should rumble for the length you set. Then try “Strong (left) only” and “Weak (right) only” and hold the grips: you should feel each side on its own.
- Use “Pulse ×5” to spot a weak or rattling motor, and “Sweep” to feel the rumble move from the left grip to the right.
This controller rumble test is a controller vibration test online, so you can test controller vibration on a PC or Mac without a console. It works in Chrome and Edge on Windows, macOS, Android and ChromeOS. It runs entirely in the browser, so there's nothing to install, and a single vibration lasts at most 5 seconds because browsers cap it there.
Strong and weak motor: what you should feel
Most controllers have two rumble motors with a spinning off-center weight. The strong one is heavier and turns slowly, the weak one is light and fast. A gamepad vibration test that drives them separately is the easiest way to tell which side has a problem.
| Test | Normal result | Points to a problem |
|---|---|---|
| Strong (left) only | Deep, heavy rumble mainly in the left grip | Nothing on the left, or a buzz instead of a rumble |
| Weak (right) only | Fine, high buzz mainly in the right grip | Nothing on the right, or it only starts after a tap |
| Pulse ×5 | Five equal, clean bursts | Some bursts missing, or a rattle or clicking sound |
| Strength 20% | A gentle but clear vibration | Nothing until 60–100%: a worn or sticky motor |
PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers use haptic actuators instead of spinning motors. The browser drives them through the same strong and weak channels, so the test still tells you whether each side vibrates, but the adaptive triggers can't be tested from a web page. On Xbox One and Xbox Series controllers in Chrome or Edge on Windows, the trigger rumble buttons appear when the browser supports them, and test the small motors behind each trigger.
PS5, PS4 and Xbox controller vibration test notes
- PS5 controller vibration test: works on a PC or Mac over USB or Bluetooth. If the DualSense doesn't vibrate on the console itself but does here, check Settings › Accessories › Controllers › Vibration Intensity on the PS5.
- PS4 controller vibration test: the DualShock 4 has a classic strong and weak motor, so the left-only and right-only buttons map directly to the left and right grips.
- Xbox controller vibration test on PC: Xbox One and Series controllers work in Chrome and Edge over USB, Bluetooth or the Xbox Wireless Adapter. On the console, vibration can be turned off per controller in Settings › Accessibility › Controller.
Controller vibration not working? Check these
- Vibration turned off: in the console settings, in a game's options, or in Steam's controller settings, which can block other apps from using the rumble.
- Steam or another app has the controller: close it and press a button again on this page.
- Browser: if the page shows the controller but says vibration isn't supported, open it in Chrome or Edge.
- Battery: charge it or use a cable; a nearly empty wireless controller may weaken or skip vibration to save power.
- Rattle or no rumble on one side only: usually a loose weight or a worn motor. If it fails here in a supported browser and in games, the hardware needs repair or replacement.
Want to check other inputs too? Try the keyboard test or the mouse test.
How we tested this tool
We don't have a physical controller connected to our test computer, so we tested the page with a simulated controller in place of the Gamepad API, in a desktop browser and at a 375 px phone width. We checked that the controller is detected after a button press and its buttons light up, that each button sends the right vibration command (both motors, strong only, weak only, 5 pulses, an 11-step sweep, trigger rumble only when supported), that the length is capped at 5 seconds, that Stop resets the vibration, and that a browser without vibration support gets a clear message. We have not yet confirmed the feel on real PS5, PS4 and Xbox controllers; if something doesn't work with yours, tell us.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't the page see my controller?
For privacy, browsers only reveal a controller after you press a button on it while the page is open. Connect it, press any button, and it appears. If it still doesn't, close Steam or other apps that take over the controller and try a USB cable.
Which browsers can make a controller vibrate?
Chrome and Edge support controller vibration through the Gamepad API on Windows, macOS, Android and ChromeOS. Other browsers may detect the controller without being able to vibrate it; the page tells you when that happens.
Can I test PS5 controller vibration on a PC?
Yes. Connect the DualSense by USB or Bluetooth, open this page in Chrome or Edge and press a button. The page drives its rumble the same way as an older controller, with a strong and a weak channel, but it can't control the DualSense's adaptive triggers.
What is the difference between the strong and weak motor?
Classic controllers have two rumble motors: a heavier, low-frequency one (strong, usually in the left grip) and a lighter, high-frequency one (weak, usually in the right grip). Test them separately to find out which side has a problem.
Why does each vibration stop after about 5 seconds?
Browsers limit a single vibration effect to about 5 seconds so a page can't leave a controller rumbling. Press the button again for another round.
Is anything installed or sent anywhere?
No. The test runs in your browser and only reads the controller's buttons and sends vibration commands to it. Nothing is installed or uploaded.