Live Viewer & diagnostics
The Live Viewer renders your connected controller as a true-to-life 3D model that lights up every button, stick, and trigger as you press it. It is your first stop for confirming a controller is seen correctly, testing inputs, and reading battery and connection state.
Overview
The Live Viewer is a free controller viewer and diagnostics surface. Connect any supported pad over USB or Bluetooth and it appears as an accurate 3D model that mirrors your hardware in real time. Every input you make on the physical controller animates on the model, so you can see exactly what OmniControl reads from the device.
Alongside the model, the viewer reports battery level, connection type, and device information, and it includes a built-in controller test, a motion visualiser, and a diagnostics readout. Nothing here requires an account or a purchase. The Live Viewer, its diagnostics, and calibration checks are all free.
Every supported pad shows as a live 3D model, from the DualSense family to the Xbox controllers, the Switch Pro Controller, and generic HID gamepads.
How it works
OmniControl reads the raw input report from your controller and maps it onto a 3D model that matches your specific device. When you press a face button, pull a trigger, or move a stick, the viewer highlights that control and shows its live value. Trigger pulls and stick positions display as analog readings, not just on or off, so you can watch the full travel of every axis.
The viewer surfaces the device metadata your controller reports: the connection method (USB or Bluetooth), the battery percentage or charging state where the hardware exposes it, and identifying details for the pad. The motion visualiser reads the gyroscope and accelerometer on controllers that have them and shows orientation in real time.
Diagnostics run continuously in the background. The controller test lets you walk through each input methodically to confirm it registers, which is the fastest way to catch a dead button, a drifting stick, or a trigger that no longer reaches full travel.
DualSense over Bluetooth
DualSense extras such as gyro/motion and the touchpad come over USB only. Connect a DualSense with a USB cable to see the full motion visualiser and every control. Standard input still shows over Bluetooth.
Getting started
Connect your controller
Plug in over USB or pair over Bluetooth. OmniControl detects the pad and loads the matching 3D model.
Open the Live Viewer
Select your controller in the manager. The 3D model appears with battery, connection, and device info beside it.
Press every input
Work through the buttons, triggers, sticks, and any paddles. Watch each control light up on the model and confirm the value matches what you expect.
Run the controller test
Use the built-in test to step through inputs in order. Anything that fails to register points to a hardware fault or a calibration issue.
Check motion
On a controller with a gyroscope, move the pad and confirm the motion visualiser tracks it. Use USB for a DualSense to see motion.
Common use cases
Use the Live Viewer to verify a new controller is fully recognized before you build a profile around it. If a game feels off, open the viewer to confirm the pad reads correctly at the hardware level before you touch any remaps or tuning.
The controller test is the standard way to check a used or second-hand pad. Step through every input and you will quickly see stick drift, a sticky trigger, or a button that no longer responds. When you suspect drift, the viewer tells you whether the problem is in the hardware or in your settings.
Streamers and creators use the viewer to confirm inputs are firing before they mirror the pad into the stream overlay. If the model shows the input, the overlay will too.
Best practices
Start here whenever you set up a controller. The controller setup guide walks through connection and first steps, and the Live Viewer confirms each one worked.
If the viewer shows stick drift or a trigger that does not reach full travel, run calibration next. Calibration measures the drift and stores a snapshot that corrects the hardware underneath your tuning. The Live Viewer diagnoses the problem; calibration fixes it.
Test motion in the viewer before you rely on it in a game. Confirm the motion controls read cleanly here first, since the viewer isolates hardware behavior from any in-game aiming settings.
Tips
Diagnose before you tune
If a control behaves strangely in a game, check the Live Viewer first. If the model reads the input correctly, the issue is in your mapping or tuning, not the hardware. If the model reads it wrong, the fix is calibration or the controller itself. This one check saves a lot of guesswork.
For the cleanest diagnostics reading, connect over USB where you can. USB gives a stable connection and, on a DualSense, unlocks the motion visualiser and the extras that Bluetooth does not carry.
Fair play and anti-cheat
OmniControl is built for single-player and controller-friendly games. It is not a tool for defeating anti-cheat, and kernel-level anti-cheat competitive shooters are out of scope by design. The Live Viewer only reads and displays what your controller reports. Features that reach a game through Emulation, along with Keyboard & Mouse, respect each title's rules and fail closed against known competitive titles. Never use OmniControl to evade anti-cheat.
Troubleshooting
If your controller does not appear, reconnect it and check the cable or Bluetooth pairing. A generic HID gamepad shows on a generic model rather than a device-specific one, which is expected.
If battery or motion data is missing on a DualSense, switch from Bluetooth to USB. Those extras are USB only.
If a button or stick reads wrong in the viewer, run the controller test to confirm the fault, then open calibration to measure and correct drift. If a control never registers at all, the hardware itself is likely at fault.
FAQ
Is the Live Viewer free?
Yes. The controller viewer, its diagnostics, and calibration checks are all free with no account required.
Which controllers show a 3D model?
DualSense, DualSense Edge, DualShock 4, DualShock 3, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Xbox Elite Series 2, the Switch Pro Controller, and generic HID gamepads. Each supported pad shows as a live 3D model.
Why is motion or battery missing on my DualSense?
Those extras come over USB only. Connect the DualSense with a USB cable to see the motion visualiser and battery details.
Does the viewer test for stick drift?
Yes. The built-in controller test and live model let you see drift directly. To measure and correct it, use calibration.
The viewer reads my input correctly but the game does not. Why?
The Live Viewer confirms the hardware and OmniControl are reading the pad correctly. If a game does not respond, the issue is downstream in your remapping or in Emulation. A physical controller reaches most games directly; controller-to-controller remaps and tuning reach a game through Emulation.