Mouse Drift Test
Check if your mouse cursor moves by itself without you touching it.
What is Mouse Drift?
Mouse Drift (or cursor drift) happens when your mouse cursor moves on the screen without you physically moving the mouse. This can be incredibly frustrating during gaming or precision work.
Common Causes of Drift
- Dirty Sensor: A hair or dust particle stuck in the sensor lens is the #1 cause of random cursor movement.
- Surface Issues: Using a mouse on a glass table, reflective surface, or a multi-colored mousepad that confuses the sensor.
- Wireless Interference: 2.4GHz interference from routers or USB 3.0 ports can cause signal jitter in wireless mice.
How to Test
- Choose a duration in seconds (or leave it at 0 for an infinite test limitation).
- Click "Start Test". You'll have 3 seconds to take your hand off the mouse.
- Do absolutely nothing. Watch the screen.
- If the mouse cursor moves, a "Drift Detected" alert will flash along with movement stats in pixels. If you reach the time limit with no movement, you've passed!
Pro Tips
- Clean Your Sensor: Use a Q-tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol to gently clean the sensor lens.
- Check Polling Rate: Unstable polling rates (checked via our Polling Rate Tool) can sometimes manifest as cursor stutter or drift.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I test for sensor drift?
Use the tool above. Select a duration (or leave as 0 for infinite) and hit "Start Test". Take your hand off the mouse completely. If your screen registers movement and fails the test, you have cursor drift. A steady cursor that does not fail the test means your sensor is fine.
Can software fix mouse drift?
Usually no. Drift is typically a hardware or surface issue. However, updating your mouse firmware can sometimes resolve tracking bugs.
Is my mouse broken?
Not necessarily. Try cleaning the sensor with a Q-tip and isopropyl alcohol, and test it on a clean, solid-colored mousepad/sheet of paper before replacing it.