Leave the controller untouched, reset the sample, and watch both sticks for idle movement in real time.
Stick drift happens when a resting analog stick still reports movement. That can move a character, cursor, or camera even when you are not touching the controller.
The current value shows the stick's live idle offset right now. The peak value shows the highest offset captured since the last reset, which is useful when the drift is intermittent.
Many healthy controllers idle below about 0.05. If your stick regularly sits above that while untouched, a slightly larger deadzone may help in games, but large values can hide a hardware problem.
Resetting clears the stored peak values so you can take a fresh reading after changing cable mode, moving to a flat surface, or letting the stick settle naturally.
Common questions when a controller feels off but you are not sure whether it is true stick drift.
No. Tiny fluctuations can be normal sensor noise. What matters is whether the stick repeatedly rests outside your usable deadzone and affects gameplay.
USB usually gives the most stable browser readings. Bluetooth can still work well, but adapters and battery-saving behavior sometimes add more variability.
The left stick often wears faster because movement is more frequent, but either stick can drift depending on usage, dust, spring wear, or potentiometer condition.
That usually means the stick is not settling cleanly at center. Try resetting the sample on a flat surface. If the peak still rises while untouched, the controller may need cleaning or repair.