Switch Pro Controller
Press any button on your controller to beginAnalog Sticks
Position & distance from centreTriggers
Analog pressure 0 – 1Raw Data
Gamepad API outputVibration Test
Dual rumble motorsPress a preset to feel each motor.
Testing a Switch Pro Controller
Nintendo layout: B is the bottom button and A is on the right.
Nintendo Layout
Labels follow the B/A/Y/X positions printed on the controller.
USB or Bluetooth
Enable “Pro Controller Wired Communication” on the Switch for USB use, or pair over Bluetooth.
Stick Health
See resting values and distance from centre for both sticks.
How to Test a Switch Pro Controller
- 1
Pair over Bluetooth by holding the small sync button on top until the lights run, or use a USB-C data cable.
- 2
Press any button so the browser exposes the pad.
- 3
Press B, A, Y, X, the D-pad, L/R, ZL/ZR, minus, plus, Home and Capture.
- 4
Rotate both sticks and click them in, then release them and check the error figures.
- 5
Try the rumble presets. HD Rumble support in browsers is limited, so results vary.
Nintendo Layout vs Xbox Layout
Nintendo places A on the right and B at the bottom, the opposite of Xbox. Browsers map by position, so the bottom button is index 0 either way.
ZL and ZR are digital on the Pro Controller. They jump straight from 0 to 1, which is normal and not a fault.
Pro Controller on PC
Steam has built-in Pro Controller support, including gyro. Without Steam, Windows may treat it as a generic pad with unusual mapping.
Many 8BitDo and third-party pads have a Switch mode. Switch them to X-input mode for the most standard layout in browsers.
Testing Third-Party Switch Pads
Many budget Switch-style pads use their own chips. They may report raw mapping, so use the button mapping test to confirm indices.
Pads with a mode switch usually offer Switch, X-input and D-input modes. X-input mode gives the most predictable results in a browser.
Standard Button Index Map
This is the order browsers use when a pad reports "standard" mapping.
| Index | Role | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Bottom face button | ✕ | A | B |
| 1 | Right face button | ○ | B | A |
| 2 | Left face button | □ | X | Y |
| 3 | Top face button | △ | Y | X |
| 4 / 5 | Bumpers | L1 / R1 | LB / RB | L / R |
| 6 / 7 | Triggers | L2 / R2 | LT / RT | ZL / ZR |
| 8 / 9 | Select / Start | Create / Options | View / Menu | − / + |
| 10 / 11 | Stick clicks | L3 / R3 | LS / RS | LS / RS |
| 12–15 | D-pad up, down, left, right | D-pad | D-pad | D-pad |
| 16 | Home button | PS | Xbox | Home |
| 17 | Extra button | Touchpad click | Share (some browsers) | Capture |
Common Pro Controller Problems and Fixes
Pro Controllers are sturdy, but these issues still come up.
Stick drift
The Pro Controller can drift like Joy-Con. Confirm it with the drift test.
Wrong button order
Raw mapping in some browsers mixes up the indices. Try Chrome, or use the mapping test to see the real numbers.
Will not pair
Remove it from Bluetooth settings, press sync again and keep it close to the computer.
No rumble
HD Rumble uses Nintendo's own protocol, which browsers mostly cannot drive. Test rumble on the Switch instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are ZL and ZR only 0 or 1?
They are digital buttons on the Pro Controller — there is no analog travel to measure.
Do 8BitDo pads work?
Yes. In Switch mode they appear with this layout; in X-input mode use the Gamepad Tester.
The Home button does nothing
Some drivers reserve it. Steam may also capture it — close Steam and try again.
Does gyro work?
Motion data is not exposed for the Pro Controller in browsers.
Why do ZL and ZR show only 0 or 1?
They are digital buttons on the Pro Controller, unlike the analog triggers on Xbox and PlayStation pads.
Can I test the gyro?
Not through the standard Gamepad API. Steam Input can show Pro Controller gyro on PC.
Does the Pro Controller have analog triggers?
No. ZL and ZR are digital, so they only report 0 or 1.
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