Is your $70 DualSense controller making your character walk on its own or your aim drift to the side? Use our free tool to check if your PS5 controller has stick drift—and learn how to fix it.
Connect your PS5 DualSense controller to your computer via USB-C cable or Bluetooth. Once connected, press the PS button or any face button to begin testing.
The PlayStation 5's DualSense controller is a marvel of gaming technology—featuring haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone. However, despite its $70+ price tag, it's not immune to the dreaded stick drift problem that has plagued gamers for years.
Within months of the PS5's launch in November 2020, reports of DualSense drift began flooding forums and social media. The pattern was painfully familiar: controllers that worked perfectly out of the box began registering phantom inputs after just a few months of regular use.
Like most modern controllers, the DualSense uses ALPS Alpine potentiometer sensors inside each analog stick. These sensors work by having a metal wiper slide across a resistive track to detect position. The problem is that these components have a rated lifespan of approximately 2 million cycles.
For context, a single hour of playing a competitive shooter like Warzone or Fortnite can easily involve 10,000+ micro-movements of the analog stick. At that rate, heavy gamers can exhaust the sensor's lifespan in as little as 400 hours of gameplay—that's just 4-7 months of daily gaming sessions.
At $70 per controller, PS5 gamers have spent thousands of dollars dealing with drift. A class-action lawsuit filed in 2021 alleges that Sony knew about the drift issue before launching the PS5 but released the DualSense anyway.
Sony provides a 1-year limited warranty on all DualSense controllers purchased new. This warranty covers manufacturing defects, including stick drift that occurs under normal use.
Stick drift, button failures, haptic feedback issues, and other hardware defects that occur under normal use within 12 months of purchase.
Physical damage from drops, liquid damage, modifications, or controllers purchased second-hand without transfer of warranty.
Warranty terms vary by region. In the EU, consumer protection laws may extend coverage beyond 1 year. In the US, some states have additional protections. Check your local consumer rights.
Before buying a replacement, try these fixes. They work in about 40-50% of drift cases, potentially saving you $70.
On the back of your DualSense, there's a small reset button in a tiny hole near the L2 trigger. Use a paperclip or pin to press and hold this button for 5 seconds. Then reconnect your controller to the PS5 and test again. This clears any software glitches that might cause phantom inputs.
Get a cotton swab and 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol. Gently rotate the affected analog stick to one side and swab the base where the stick meets the housing. Rotate the stick in all directions while applying alcohol to help it seep into the mechanism. Let dry for 10 minutes before using. Shop cleaning supplies on Amazon →
With the stick pushed to one side, spray short bursts of compressed air into the gap at the base. Rotate the stick and repeat for all angles. This dislodges dust and debris that may be interfering with the potentiometer. Don't use long sprays as the propellant can damage internal components.
Connect your DualSense to the PS5 via USB and check for firmware updates in Settings → Accessories → Controllers. While rare, some drift-like symptoms have been caused by firmware bugs that updates can resolve.
Many games allow you to adjust the inner deadzone for analog sticks. Increasing this setting tells the game to ignore small inputs near the center. In Warzone, for example, go to Settings → Controller → Deadzone and increase the value from 0.05 to 0.10 or higher until drift is masked.
If software fixes don't help, the potentiometer is likely physically worn. You can either pay for professional repair ($40-60), attempt a DIY stick replacement ($15-25 for parts), or purchase a new controller. Shop replacement DualSense controllers →
Sony's pro-level DualSense Edge controller ($200) addresses drift in a unique way: it features replaceable stick modules. Instead of replacing the entire controller when drift occurs, you simply swap out the $20 stick module.
For competitive gamers who go through controllers regularly, the Edge makes financial sense long-term. For casual players, a standard DualSense (or waiting for third-party Hall Effect alternatives) may be more cost-effective.
Yes! Our drift test works with both the standard DualSense and the DualSense Edge. Connect via USB-C or Bluetooth and press any button to begin. The test reads raw input data that works identically for both controllers.
Different games have different default deadzone settings. Competitive shooters often have very small deadzones for maximum responsiveness, making even minor drift noticeable. Try increasing the deadzone in that specific game's settings.
Generally no. Unlike Nintendo (which offers free Joy-Con repairs due to a lawsuit), Sony does not have an extended repair program for DualSense drift. Out-of-warranty repairs typically cost $40-60 through third-party services.
Some third-party controllers use Hall Effect sensors that are theoretically drift-proof. However, these controllers often lack DualSense features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Research specific models before purchasing.
Drift won't damage your games or console—it's purely a controller hardware issue. However, it can ruin your gaming experience and competitiveness in multiplayer games. It's worth fixing or replacing the controller for enjoyable gameplay.