Vibration Test
Fire the strong (low frequency) and weak (high frequency) rumble motors independently. Confirm both haptic motors are alive.
Vibration Test
Fire the strong (low-freq) and weak (high-freq) rumble motors independently to confirm both are alive. Requires Chrome or Edge and a gamepad that exposes vibrationActuator.
What the Vibration Test does
Most gamepads have two rumble motors: a heavy strong motor for low-frequency thumps, and a light weak motor for high-frequency buzz. This tester drives each motor independently so you can verify both are alive, not just the combined output that most in-game options offer.
How to run the test
- Connect the controller and press any button to wake the API.
- Adjust the strong and weak sliders to full.
- Click Test both, then Strong only, then Weak only.
- You should feel distinct weight and pitch from each motor.
- If one motor is silent, the wiring or motor itself has failed and needs service.
Why two motors, not one
Rumble in games is not a single buzz. It is a mix of a heavy thump (the low-frequency motor) and a light shimmer (the high-frequency motor). Racing games use the strong motor for engine rumble and the weak motor for tire slip. Shooters use the strong motor for explosions and the weak motor for gunfire recoil. When one motor dies, half of every rumble effect goes missing and the pad feels flat even though it is still vibrating.
How to tell which motor is dead
Run the Strong only test. You should feel a deep, heavy thud that shakes the whole controller. Run the Weak only test. You should feel a fast, high-pitched buzz concentrated in the grips. If Strong feels light and buzzy, the strong motor is dead and you are only feeling weak. If Weak feels heavy and slow, the weak motor is dead and you are only feeling strong. That inversion is the giveaway.
What can kill a rumble motor
Drops are the most common cause. The motors are mounted with tiny solder joints that crack on impact. Water damage kills the motor coils directly. Age can wear the eccentric weight loose from the motor shaft. If you have had the controller for over 3 years and rumble is fading, that is normal wear and a motor replacement is a 20 minute repair.
PS5 haptics vs traditional rumble
The DualSense uses voice-coil actuators instead of eccentric-weight motors. The browser sees them through the same vibrationActuator API and this tester drives them the same way, but the physical feel is very different: sharper, more localized, capable of finer detail. If a DualSense feels dead here but you still get the light click when powering it on, the haptic controller has failed rather than a specific motor.
When Bluetooth blocks rumble
The Xbox Wireless Controller under Bluetooth on Windows and macOS often reports as supporting rumble but delivers nothing. This is a driver quirk, not a broken pad. Switch to the official Xbox Wireless dongle or plug in via USB-C and re-test before assuming the motors are dead. PlayStation controllers usually rumble fine over Bluetooth. Switch Pro rumbles fine over Bluetooth in Chrome and Edge.
Common problems and quick fixes
Common questions
Firefox rumble?+
Bluetooth Xbox pad silent?+
PS5 adaptive triggers?+
Slide both to full and click Test both. If one side is silent, you have found the problem.
Every diagnostic here runs locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
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