Deadzones explained
A deadzone is the small area around the stick's center where the game ignores movement. It stops drift, but too much makes the stick feel slow to respond.
Inner and outer deadzone
| Setting | What it does | Too low | Too high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner deadzone | Ignores movement near the center | Drift gets through | Small aim adjustments get swallowed |
| Outer deadzone | Treats near-full tilt as full tilt | You can't reach full speed | The top of the range feels like an on/off switch |
Find your number
- Open the tester and let go of the sticks.
- Note the biggest value each stick shows at rest over a few seconds. Flick it and let it return a few times too.
- Add a small margin, about 0.02–0.03. That's your inner deadzone. For example, a stick that rests at up to 0.06 needs roughly 0.08–0.09.
- Use the deadzone slider in the tester to preview it, then enter the same value in your game or Steam Input.
Games show this in different ways. 0.08 might appear as 8%, or as 8 on a 0–100 slider.
Radial vs axial
A radial deadzone is a circle around the center, which feels natural for aiming. An axial deadzone works on each axis separately, which can make diagonal movement snap toward straight lines. Pick radial if your game offers the choice.
If you need a deadzone above about 0.15 to stop drift, the stick is probably worn. See the stick drift guide.