Stillness test
Click, then do not touch the mouse
Time left 10.0 s
Click to start, then do not touch the mouse for 10 seconds
Run the test for a verdict.
Mouse Sensor Jitter Test
This mouse sensor jitter test counts every report your mouse sends while idle. Click to start, then take your hand off the mouse for ten seconds. A healthy sensor sends nothing. Every stray report is counted and drawn on the plot so you can see drift as it happens.
Sensor readings
- Stray events
- 0
- Total counts
- 0
- Max drift from start
- 0 px
Run a clean jitter test
1. Place the mouse on your normal surface
Use the pad you play on. Glass, glossy desks and patterned surfaces are the usual causes of jitter.
2. Click and let go
Start the test, then lift your hand completely. Even a resting finger can move a light mouse.
3. Read the plot
Dots near the centre are tiny jitters. A trail wandering away from the centre is drift.
What this test reveals
Stray report count
The exact number of movement reports sent while the mouse was untouched.
Drift plot
A magnified map of where the cursor would have gone.
Surface comparison
Run it on two surfaces and compare counts; the lower one is the better pad.
Lens health check
Jitter that persists on a good pad points to dust or damage on the sensor lens.
Jitter and drift terms
- Jitter
- Small random movement reports while the mouse is still, caused by the sensor misreading surface texture.
- Drift
- Slow continuous movement in one direction, usually a firmware or sensor fault.
- Surface calibration
- A feature on some mice that tunes the sensor to a specific pad and reduces jitter.
- Lift-off noise
- Spurious movement when the mouse is lifted; not measured here because the mouse stays down.
Jitter test questions
I got two stray events. Is that bad?
No. One or two over ten seconds is noise. Dozens is a problem.
Does a higher DPI cause more jitter?
Yes, a little. Sensors are noisier at very high DPI. Test at the DPI you actually use.
Can a wireless mouse jitter from interference?
Interference causes dropped reports, not extra ones. Jitter is almost always optical.
Fix jitter
Jitter on a glossy desk
Use a cloth pad. Most sensors cannot read uniform shiny surfaces.
Jitter on every surface
Clean the lens with a dry cotton bud. If it persists, the sensor is failing.
Drift in one direction
Update the firmware; if the drift remains, the sensor or its cable is faulty.