How to Test and Calibrate Your Game Controller on Windows

If you're a dedicated PC gamer who spends a lot of time playing games, it might be a good idea to allocate some time to testing and calibrating your game controller.Doing so will help you achieve precise control, minimize input lag, and resolve any performance-related issues.

Here, we'll walk you through the necessary steps to test and calibrate your game controller on Windows.

How to Test Your Game Controller on Windows

Both Windows 10 and 11 include a tool that lets you test your game controller in a few easy steps.Here's how you can use it to determine if your game controller needs calibration.

1. Press Win + S to enter the search menu.

2. Type control panel in the search box and press Enter.

3. Using the drop-down menu in the upper right corner, change the View Type to Large Icons.

4. Select the "Devices and Printers" applet.

5. Right-click on the controller under Devices and select Game Controller Settings from the context menu.

6. Click the "Properties" button.

7. Switch to the "Tests" tab.

8. Move the joystick in all directions and watch the movement on the screen.The indicator in the window should correspond to the direction you are moving the joystick.

9. Press the buttons and triggers on your controller to check that they are functioning properly.

How to Calibrate Your Game Controller Using the Control Panel

By calibrating your game controller, you can fine-tune its sensitivity and responsiveness for better accuracy in games.You can calibrate the controller in the same menu you originally tested it.Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Open Game Controller Settings on Windows.

2. Select your controller from the list and click the Properties button.

3. Under the "Settings" tab, click the "Calibration" button.

4. Click Next to start the calibration process.

5. Perform the specific actions provided by the calibration wizard, such as moving an analog stick or pressing a button, to complete the process.

6. Click Finish.

Once you've calibrated your controller, you should experience improved accuracy and responsiveness during gameplay.

How to Calibrate Your Game Controller via Steam

Using the control panel isn't the only way to calibrate your game controller on Windows.If you have Steam installed on your computer, you can also use Steam's Controller Configurator to calibrate your controller.It supports a wide range of controllers, including popular game controllers and universal input devices.

To calibrate your game controller via Steam's Controller Configurator, use the following steps:

1. Open the Steam client on your computer.

2. Click the Steam menu in the upper left corner and select Settings.

3. Using the left pane, switch to the Controllers tab.

4. Click the "General Controller Settings" button.

5. Select your controller under Detected controllers.

6. Click the "Calibrate" button.

7. Click the "Start Full Auto-Calibration" button.

8. Follow the on-screen instructions to move the analog stick in different directions to complete the calibration process.

How to Reset Controller Calibration to Default Settings on Windows

If the sensitivity of your game controller doesn't feel right, it may be caused by a calibration setting.In this case, you might consider resetting the controller calibration and starting over.This should help with any minor sensitivity and calibration issues that might be causing the issue.

To reset the controller calibration to default, use these steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.

2. Type joy.cpl in the box and press Enter to open the game controller settings.

3. Select your controller and click the Properties button.

4. Under the "Settings" tab, tap the "Reset to Default" button.

5. Click OK.

Calibrate your game controller for optimal performance

While PC game controllers generally offer a plug-and-play experience, you may still need to calibrate them occasionally to improve accuracy or to fix minor issues.Also, testing and calibrating your controller on Windows can be done quickly and doesn't take a lot of time.