Guide · Sensor Test
How to test your phone sensors
Updated · 6 min read
Auto-rotate, step counting, compass navigation, augmented reality and motion games all depend on small sensors inside your phone. When one misbehaves, the symptoms look like app bugs. A live sensor test shows the raw numbers, so you can tell whether the hardware responds. This guide explains what each sensor does and how to test it.
Try the sensor test nowFree, runs in your browser, nothing uploaded.Run the sensor test
The sensor test streams your motion and orientation data live in the browser.
- Open the test on your phone or tablet.
- Press Start sensors and, on iPhone, allow motion access when the prompt appears.
- Tilt and rotate the device. The tilt model and the numbers should follow smoothly.
- Shake the phone gently to see the acceleration chart spike.
What each sensor does
The accelerometer measures acceleration along three axes, including gravity, which is how the phone knows which way is down. The gyroscope measures rotation speed and makes games and camera stabilisation feel smooth. The magnetometer senses the magnetic field and drives the compass. Orientation values combine these readings into alpha, beta and gamma angles: rotation around the vertical axis and tilt in two directions.
What a healthy result looks like
Lying flat and still, the acceleration should show about 9.8 m/s² on the vertical axis, which is gravity, and close to zero on the others. The rotation rate should sit near zero until you move. The numbers should change smoothly and immediately when you tilt. Values that stay frozen, jump randomly or do not change at all suggest a sensor fault or a permission problem.
Fix auto-rotate and compass problems
Most sensor faults are calibration or permission issues.
- Make sure the browser has permission for motion and orientation, and that rotation lock is off.
- Calibrate the compass by drawing a figure of eight with the phone, away from magnets and metal objects.
- Remove magnetic cases or mounts, which disturb the magnetometer.
- Restart the phone and update the system software.
- If the test shows no motion data on a phone you know has sensors, try another browser.
Why desktop browsers show no data
Most laptops and desktops have no motion sensors, so the test has nothing to read. Some tablets and two-in-one laptops include them. If the page reports that sensors are unavailable on a computer, that is normal.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I test my phone gyroscope?
Open the sensor test, start the sensors and rotate your phone. The rotation values and the tilt model should respond at once.
Why do I need to allow motion access on iPhone?
iOS asks for permission before a web page can read motion and orientation data, to protect your privacy.
Why does my compass point the wrong way?
The magnetometer needs calibration and may be disturbed by magnets or metal. Calibrate with a figure-of-eight movement away from interference.