Controller X

It is remarkably simple to set up an Xbox One controller, but ensuring it’s functioning correctly is another matter. Fortunately, there are third-party apps out there that can help you test your device if you believe that it is faulty in some way.

Controller X is one of them, a relatively simple application specifically designed to benchmark Xbox One gamepads. It can help you test every button, the thumb sticks and triggers, as well as the vibration motors, and it allows you to switch between multiple devices.

Everything about this application was designed to be as intuitive as possible, so you should have no problem figuring out how to use it. As long as your gamepad is recognized, any button press, stick or trigger movement should be shown in the main window, where a replica of the controller is displayed.

Controller X enables you to test the movement range and sensitivity of the thumb sticks and triggers, thus showing you whether or not the device needs to be recalibrated.

The Xbox One controller is equipped with a total of four vibration motors: two housed in the grips and one in each of the triggers. With this app, you can test each of them separately or all at once.

In order to run a benchmark, you need to set the vibration speed for each motor and click the Start button. The motors will be activated for a few seconds, a duration that is not customizable.

Just remember that the primary vibration motors (the ones in the grips) are different by design, so it’s normal for one to be more powerful than the other.

To sum up, if you have an Xbox One gamepad and want to make sure it’s working well, Controller X is certainly a good choice. It doesn’t support any other device, but it is remarkably easy to use and features a clean, streamlined GUI.