Controller not detected?
Work through these checks from the top – most controllers show up after the first two or three.
Press a button with the page open
Browsers hide controllers from a page until you press a button on the controller while that page is open. Pressing a face button (A / ✕) is enough. Moving a stick alone doesn’t always count.
Use a current browser
Chrome and Edge have the most reliable controller support on Windows, Mac and Linux; Firefox works too. On Android use Chrome. Safari supports the controllers that macOS, iOS and iPadOS recognise, such as many Xbox and PlayStation controllers. Update the browser if it is old.
Check the cable
Many USB cables only charge and carry no data. If the controller lights up but isn’t detected, try another cable – ideally the one that came with a phone or the controller – and another USB port.
Pair Bluetooth in the system first
A Bluetooth controller has to be paired in your computer’s or phone’s Bluetooth settings before a browser can see it. PlayStation controllers enter pairing mode when you hold Share / Create and the PS button, Xbox controllers with the small pair button on top, and the Switch Pro Controller with the sync button next to the USB port. The controller pages list the steps per model.
Close apps that take over the controller
Steam (with Steam Input), DS4Windows, reWASD and similar tools can hide the controller or present it as a different device. Close them completely – including from the system tray – and reload the page.
Check that the system sees it
On Windows, press Win + R, type
joy.cpland press Enter: the controller should appear in the Game Controllers list. On recent macOS versions it appears under System Settings → Game Controllers. If the system doesn’t list it, the problem is the connection, not the browser.On Android, use USB OTG or Bluetooth
Phones need a USB-C OTG adapter or cable for wired controllers, or a Bluetooth pairing. Open the page in Chrome and press a button.
Reconnect and reload
Unplug or switch off the controller, reload the page, then reconnect and press a button. If several controllers are connected, choose the right one in the menu above the sticks.
FAQ
Why do I have to press a button first?
Browsers only reveal a controller to a web page after a button is pressed while the page is open. It is a privacy measure so sites can’t silently list your devices.
Can I test a controller on the PS5, Xbox or Switch itself?
No. Console browsers don’t give web pages access to controllers. Connect the controller to a computer or an Android phone instead.
The controller is detected but the sticks look wrong – why?
The browser may not recognise the standard layout, so axes arrive in a different order. Switch the controller to X-input mode if it has one, or try another browser; the tester shows a note when the layout isn’t standard.