Vibration Test
Check rumble motor functionality and haptic feedback patterns
How to use the vibration tester
The vibration tester sends a direct signal to your controller's rumble motors and tells you whether they fire correctly. Unlike buttons or sticks, you cannot see vibration in a graph โ you feel it. But the tester confirms the motor received the signal and lets you isolate each motor individually so you know exactly which one is or is not responding.
Vibration requires Chrome over USB โ Bluetooth and Firefox do not support the rumble API
Choose light, medium or heavy โ start at medium to clearly feel both motors
Hold the controller naturally โ feel if both sides vibrate, or only one
Vibration only works in Chrome over USB. The Web Vibration API and Gamepad Haptics API are only supported in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers like Edge. Firefox does not support controller vibration through the browser. Safari and iOS do not support it at all. If the test button does nothing, switch to Chrome and connect via USB cable first.
Left motor vs right motor โ what is the difference?
Every standard controller has two separate rumble motors inside โ one on the left side and one on the right. They are intentionally different sizes because they serve different purposes. Understanding which motor does what helps you identify exactly which one has failed if your vibration feels uneven.
The left motor is the larger of the two. It produces a deep, low-frequency vibration โ the kind you feel through your whole hand. Games use it for big, impactful feedback: explosions, crashes, hard landings, getting hit by a heavy weapon. If only one motor seems to be working, hold each grip separately to feel which side is vibrating and which is silent.
The right motor is smaller and produces a higher-frequency, finer vibration. Games use it for subtle feedback: footsteps on different surfaces, engine texture in racing games, the feeling of grass vs concrete underfoot. It is much easier to miss when it fails because the left motor covers it up with heavier sensation. Testing them separately is the only reliable way to catch a failing right motor.
Test each motor individually. The tester lets you fire the left and right motors separately. Do not just test both together โ a dead right motor is completely hidden when the left motor is running. Fire each one alone, hold the controller lightly, and feel whether that specific side of the controller responds.
What your vibration results mean
Unlike other tests that show you numbers, vibration feedback is something you feel directly. Here is how to interpret what you experience during the test.
You feel clear vibration from both sides of the controller at each intensity level. Both motors are alive and working correctly. Nothing to fix.
One motor has failed. The controller still works for everything else โ buttons, sticks, triggers โ but you are only getting half the haptic feedback. Noticeable in games once you know to look for it.
Both motors are silent. First check you are using Chrome over USB โ if you are and still nothing, both motors may have failed or the vibration driver inside the controller has an issue. Check the fixes section below.
Vibration not working โ common causes and fixes
Before assuming your motor is dead, work through these causes in order. Most vibration issues are software or connection related โ not hardware failure.
Switch to Chrome and connect via USB cable. This single change fixes the majority of vibration test failures. The Web Haptics API simply does not work in other browsers or over Bluetooth.
Check your controller's settings app. On Xbox, open Xbox Accessories and confirm vibration is not disabled. On PS5, check DualSense settings in the console menu. Some games turn off vibration system-wide and this can persist between sessions.
Rumble motors draw significant power. On low battery, controllers reduce vibration intensity to conserve charge โ sometimes to the point where it is barely perceptible. Charge the controller fully and run the test again before concluding a motor has failed.
If Chrome USB, full battery and correct settings all check out and one side still does not vibrate โ the motor itself has likely failed or its connector has come loose internally. Replacement motors are inexpensive and available for all major controller models on iFixit and Amazon.
How vibration differs between controller brands
Rumble motors are not equal across brands. The type of haptic system, the intensity range and what the browser can actually control varies significantly. Here is what to expect when testing each major controller.
| Controller | Haptic Type | Browser Vibration Support | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 DualSense | Adaptive haptics (advanced) | Basic rumble only via browser | The DualSense has sophisticated haptic actuators but browsers can only access basic rumble โ not the adaptive resistance or high-definition haptics. You will feel vibration but not the full PS5 haptic experience. |
| PS4 DualShock 4 | Dual eccentric motors | Full support in Chrome | Standard left and right rumble motors. Both fire cleanly in Chrome over USB. One of the best controllers to test vibration with โ straightforward dual motor setup with no complications. |
| Xbox Series X/S | Dual + trigger rumble | Dual motors via browser | Xbox Series controllers also have small motors inside the triggers for impulse triggers. Browsers can only test the main two motors โ trigger vibration is console-only. Still useful for confirming the main motors work. |
| Xbox One | Dual eccentric motors | Full support in Chrome | Standard dual motor setup โ both motors fully accessible via the browser. Clean and reliable test results. |
| Nintendo Switch Pro | HD Rumble (linear actuators) | Limited or no support | Switch Pro uses Nintendo's HD Rumble system โ linear resonant actuators rather than spinning motors. Browsers have very limited access to this system. You may feel minimal or no vibration even on a fully working Pro Controller. |
| Generic USB | Dual eccentric motors | Varies by controller | Most generic controllers with vibration support work fine in Chrome over USB. Budget controllers may have only one motor or non-standard rumble implementations that the browser cannot always reach. |
Why vibration testing is more useful than it sounds
Rumble feels like a luxury feature but it carries more information than most players realise. Game developers spend a significant amount of time programming haptic feedback to communicate things the screen cannot โ the texture of a surface underfoot, the weight of a weapon, the difference between a glancing blow and a direct hit. When a motor fails, you lose an entire layer of game feedback without always knowing it.
The right motor fails more often than the left because it is smaller, lighter and used more frequently for subtle feedback. It also goes unnoticed more easily โ because the left motor still works, the controller does not feel completely dead. Players often assume the game just has weak vibration in places where the right motor used to fire. Testing each motor separately reveals this immediately.
Testing vibration before buying a used controller is one of the most overlooked checks people skip. A seller will never mention a dead motor โ the controller still works fine for everything visible. Five seconds on this test confirms both motors are alive before you hand over any money. And for your existing controllers, running a quick vibration test after a drop or impact is the fastest way to confirm nothing came loose inside.