Mouse Scroll Test
A free online scroll test. Scroll your mouse wheel up and down to check that it registers smoothly in both directions and to catch a skipping or stuck wheel. Part of our mouse toolkit alongside the mouse test and polling rate test.
Best session: —
Top scores
Scroll Test
- 1🇺🇸wheelie412 steps
- 2🇯🇵spin2win388 steps
- 3🇩🇪scrolly350 steps
- 4🇬🇧notch295 steps
- 5🇨🇦Mid240 steps
- 6🇸🇪clicky198 steps
- 7🇫🇷slow142 steps
- 8🇧🇷gentle96 steps
- 9🇮🇹tiny54 steps
- 10🇮🇳onetap22 steps
What the scroll test checks
Scrolling up and down over the pad increments separate counters and lights the matching arrow, so you can confirm both directions work. The bar on the side tracks your net position — smooth scrolling moves it smoothly, while a jumpy wheel makes it lurch. If one direction never counts, that half of the encoder has likely failed.
Take a slow, deliberate pass in each direction, then a fast one. A healthy wheel counts one step per notch every time; a failing wheel skips, doubles, or drops inputs. The table below maps what you see to the likely cause.
Diagnosing a faulty scroll wheel
Most wheel problems trace to one of a handful of causes. Match what the counters show against this table before deciding whether it's a setting, a clean, or a replacement.
| Symptom | What you'll see | Likely cause |
|---|---|---|
| One direction won't count | Up or Down stays at 0 | That half of the scroll encoder has failed — usually needs replacing. |
| One notch jumps several steps | Counter leaps by 2–5 | Dust or wear in the encoder; try compressed air first. |
| Scrolls the wrong way | Up counts as Down | Inverted scroll setting in your OS, not a hardware fault. |
| Nothing registers at all | Both stay at 0 | Driver, USB port, or (wireless) dead batteries — test another port first. |
| Smooth, very fast steps | Rapid even counts | Normal for a trackpad or a free-spin wheel — not a fault. |
Skipping is usually dust, not death
The most common complaint — one notch scrolling several lines, or the page jumping the wrong way — is almost always grime in the scroll encoder. A blast of compressed air around the wheel fixes it more often than not. Only if it survives a clean is the encoder genuinely worn.
When it's not the hardware
A wheel that fails here but the cursor still moves points away from the mouse: try a different USB port, a different browser, or fresh batteries on a wireless mouse. Inverted scrolling is an OS setting, not a defect. Rule those out before blaming the wheel.
Check the rest of the mouse too
A worn scroll wheel often comes with worn buttons. If the wheel is misbehaving, run the mouse test to check your left, right, middle, and side buttons for double-clicks, and the polling rate test to confirm the sensor still reports cleanly.
Wheel checks out? Put the rest of your mouse through the mouse test, then see how fast you can click on the CPS test.
More free tools
Built for gamers — every one is free, instant, and works in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the scroll test work?
Scroll your mouse wheel over the test pad. Each notch up or down increments a counter and flashes the matching arrow, while the side bar tracks your net position. If scrolling one way doesn't register, or a single notch jumps several steps, your wheel likely has a fault.
Why does my scroll wheel skip or jump?
A skipping wheel usually means the scroll encoder inside the mouse is dirty or worn — one physical notch registers as several steps, or none at all. Cleaning the wheel with compressed air can help; if it persists, the encoder needs replacing.
Can I test a laptop touchpad's scroll?
Yes — two-finger scrolling on a trackpad registers here too, though it produces smoother, more frequent steps than a notched wheel. The counters still confirm that scroll input is being detected by your system.
Does scrolling here move the page?
No. While your cursor is over the test pad, we capture the wheel events so the page stays put and you can test freely. Move your cursor off the pad and normal page scrolling resumes.
My wheel works here but not in games — why?
In-app scroll can be remapped or bound to macros, so a wheel that registers cleanly here but fails in a game usually points to that game's settings or a conflicting driver, not the hardware. Check your mouse's other buttons too, since side-button macros sometimes hijack the wheel.