Editorial Policy

01What we set out to do

Gamepad Viewer started because finding a clear answer about a faulty controller was harder than it should have been. That same frustration shapes everything we write. The goal of a guide here is never to be long for its own sake. It is to get you from a confusing problem to a confident next step as quickly as possible.

If a question can be answered in three sentences, we answer it in three. If a fix genuinely needs ten steps, we give you ten clear ones. The length follows the problem, not a word count.

02How we research and test

We try not to write about anything we have not actually checked. When a guide describes a symptom like stick drift or a dead bumper, that is usually because we have reproduced it on real hardware using the same tool you are using.

• We test diagnostic steps on actual controllers across the brands we support, including Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, and common third-party pads.
• We cross-check technical claims, such as how the browser Gamepad API behaves, against official documentation rather than guesswork.
• Where a repair or setting depends on a manufacturer's own process, we point you to their guidance instead of pretending to speak for them.

When something is our opinion or a judgment call rather than a hard fact, we say so plainly, so you can weigh it for yourself.

03Accuracy and corrections

Hardware changes, browsers update, and a method that worked last year can stop working. We revisit guides as things move, and we would rather quietly improve an old article than leave outdated advice sitting there.

We also get things wrong sometimes. When we do, we fix the page and, if the change is significant, we note what changed so you are not left wondering. If you spot an error, telling us is the fastest way to get it corrected, and we genuinely appreciate it.

04Independence and honesty

We are not paid by any controller maker to say nice things about their hardware, and no brand gets a free pass in our guides. If a popular controller has a known weakness, we will name it. Our loyalty is to the person trying to fix their gear, not to a company.

Edit to match reality: if you ever accept sponsored content, free review units, or paid placements, disclose that here and explain how it does or does not affect coverage. If you never do, you can say that outright.

05Affiliate links and how money fits in

Keeping the tool free and ad-free still costs something to run. Some articles may include affiliate links to products like replacement parts or controllers, which means we could earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.

This never changes what we recommend. We do not suggest a product because it pays better, and a link is only ever included when the product genuinely fits the guide. You will find the full detail on our affiliate disclosure page.

Edit if needed: link this to your real Affiliate Disclosure page, and remove this section entirely if you do not use affiliate links anywhere.

06Who writes this

Content here is created and reviewed by the small team behind Gamepad Viewer, people who actually use these controllers and built the diagnostic tool the guides reference. We write from hands-on experience rather than rephrasing someone else's article.

Edit to suit: if you want named author bios or a credited editor, add them here. It builds trust and helps with how search engines assess expertise.

07Sources and credit

When we lean on outside information, such as a manufacturer's specification or official browser documentation, we point to it so you can read the original. We do not copy other people's work and pass it off as our own. Where an image or resource belongs to someone else, it stays theirs, and we credit or link to it where appropriate.

08Reader feedback shapes the site

A lot of what gets written here comes straight from questions people send in. If a controller is not covered, if a step did not work for you, or if you think a guide could be clearer, tell us. That feedback decides what we write next more than anything else does.