Is My Accelerometer Working?
Start the test and tilt your device to see real-time acceleration values (X, Y, Z) in m/s squared. A ball inside a circle responds to gravity, showing how your device senses motion.
This test reads 3-axis acceleration data (X, Y, Z) from the DeviceMotionEvent API, measuring g-force in m/s² with a visual ball-in-circle indicator.
At rest on a flat surface, the Z-axis reads approximately 9.8 m/s² (Earth's gravity); the sensor range is typically ±16g.
Sensor access is required to run this test.
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What Do Your Results Mean?
| Result | Range | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Good | Z ≈ 9.8 m/s² at rest, all axes respond to tilt | Your accelerometer is working correctly. The ball tracks device tilt smoothly and values change in real time. |
| Warning | Values are noisy or drift when stationary | Some sensor noise is normal. Excessive drift may indicate a calibration issue — restart your device to recalibrate. |
| Bad | All values stay at zero or no data received | The sensor may be unsupported, disabled, or permission was denied. On iOS 13+, tap Start to trigger the permission prompt. |
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
All acceleration values are zero
On iOS 13+, the page must call DeviceMotionEvent.requestPermission() after a user tap. Tap the Start button and grant sensor permission when prompted.
Test works on phone but not on desktop
Most desktop computers lack an accelerometer. This test is designed for phones and tablets with built-in motion sensors.