Accelerometer Test
Chart your device’s acceleration on the X, Y and Z axes using its built-in motion sensor.
This feature isn’t available here
No accelerometer API is available here.
Why: Neither the Accelerometer sensor nor DeviceMotion is exposed.
Commonly supported by: Mobile Chrome/Safari over HTTPS.
What you can do: Open this page on a phone or tablet over HTTPS.
01How this test works
Mobile and sensor tests read what your device makes available to the browser. Motion and direction come from your device’s built-in motion and orientation sensors, which report readings many times per second.
On phones that require it — notably iPhones — we ask your permission with a tap before starting a motion or orientation sensor. Readings are smoothed for a clean chart, and they pause when the page is hidden.
We never make up values. When a sensor — such as an ambient-light sensor — is not available, the test says so plainly rather than showing a made-up number.
02How to use it
- Open the test on a phone or tablet over HTTPS.
- Tap the enable button and allow motion/orientation access if prompted.
- Move, tilt or rotate your device and watch the live values or chart respond.
- For orientation lock or wake lock, use the provided buttons — they fail cleanly if not permitted.
- Stop the test to release the sensor when you are done.
03What this test covers
What it detects
- Acceleration and angular velocity on the X, Y and Z axes
- Device orientation (alpha/beta/gamma) and an approximate compass heading
- Screen orientation type and angle, and change events
- Which mobile capabilities (vibration, battery, wake lock, sensors) are supported
What it can’t detect
- Sensors your device or browser doesn’t expose (support varies widely, especially on iOS)
- Calibrated, laboratory-grade sensor values
- Ambient light in lux where no sensor is available — we never fabricate it
04Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sensor says unsupported | Not every device or browser exposes every sensor; iOS in particular restricts some APIs. |
| Permission denied | Enable motion & orientation access in your browser’s site settings, then retry from a tap. |
| Compass seems wrong | Move away from magnets and metal and calibrate by moving the device in a figure-eight; browser headings are approximate. |
| Orientation won’t lock | Most browsers only allow orientation lock in full screen or an installed PWA. |
05FAQ
Why does a sensor say unsupported?
Not every device or browser exposes every sensor. iOS in particular restricts some APIs.
Do you track my location or motion?
No. Sensor data is used only to drive the live display and never leaves your device.
Why ask permission?
Some platforms require explicit permission for motion and orientation sensors, which we request only on a tap.
Why is the compass approximate?
Only iOS exposes a true heading; elsewhere it’s derived from orientation and affected by magnetic interference.
Do these work on a laptop?
Some do, but most phones and tablets expose more sensors than laptops or desktops.
Does the sensor keep running in the background?
No. Readings pause when the page is hidden and stop when you leave or press Stop.
Related tests
Chart the rotation speed on the X, Y and Z axes as you turn your device, using its built-in motion sensor.
Read alpha/beta/gamma orientation with a visual cube, requesting permission only where the platform requires it.
A consolidated dashboard of your device's screen, touch, orientation, sensors, battery and PWA support.