How to check phone motion sensors after a drop

You dropped your phone, and now you are worried that its motion sensors might be damaged. A problem may show up as a screen that does not rotate, a compass that jumps around, or movement controls that no longer respond.

The Sensors Test checks whether the phone responds to movement, rotation and other sensor inputs in your browser. It can help you separate a sensor problem from a browser permission or settings issue.

Test the motion sensors

1. Open the Sensors Test on the phone you dropped. Use the browser where you noticed the problem, if possible.
2. Allow the browser to access motion or orientation data if it asks. If you do not get a prompt, check the browser's site permissions and try again.
3. Hold the phone still for a moment, then tilt it slowly forward, backward and from side to side. Watch for changes in the motion readings.
4. Rotate the phone slowly in each direction. The gyroscope should respond to rotation. Keep your movements smooth, and repeat them once to see whether the response is consistent.
5. If you are checking the compass too, turn the phone around slowly in a clear area, away from magnets, speakers and metal furniture.

Take the case off for the compass check if it has a magnetic flap or accessory. Do not shake or drop the phone again to test it. Slow, controlled movement is enough.

What the result means

The readings respond smoothly as you move

The sensors the browser can access are responding during this test. If auto-rotate or a particular app still fails, the issue may be in that app or in a system setting rather than a broken motion sensor. Check the app's settings and restart the phone.

One type of movement gets no response

If tilting produces a response but rotating does not, or the other way around, one sensor may not be reporting data correctly. First repeat the test after checking browser permissions and restarting the phone. A single failed browser test does not prove the part is broken, because browsers and phone models do not expose every sensor in the same way.

The compass jumps or points the wrong way

A compass can be thrown off by magnets, magnetic cases and nearby metal. Move away from those objects, remove the case and test again. A compass problem by itself does not show that the accelerometer or gyroscope is damaged.

No motion data appears

The browser may not have permission, or it may not support access to the sensor on your phone. Check the site's permissions, reload the page and try a different browser. If the test still shows nothing, that result is not enough on its own to diagnose hardware damage.

How to fix or narrow it down

1. Restart the phone. This can clear a temporary sensor or browser problem. After it restarts, open the test again and repeat the same slow movements.
2. Allow motion access in the browser. Check the permissions for the site in your browser and allow motion or orientation access if that option is available. On Android, you can also look under Settings › Apps › your browser › Permissions for a relevant permission, if one is listed. On iPhone, check Settings › Apps › Safari › Motion & Orientation Access; on older iOS versions, look under Settings › Safari. The exact options depend on the browser and iOS version.
3. Check the setting that shows the symptom. If the screen will not rotate, make sure auto-rotate is enabled and that the app supports rotation. On iPhone, check that Portrait Orientation Lock is off in Control Center. On Android, look for Auto-rotate in Quick Settings or Settings › Display.
4. Remove magnetic accessories. Take off a magnetic case or wallet and move away from speakers or other magnetic objects before testing the compass. This can correct a compass reading, but it will not fix a damaged accelerometer or gyroscope.
5. Install available updates. Update the phone's operating system and browser, then test again. An update can fix a software issue, though it cannot repair a sensor that was physically damaged.
6. Compare the same movement in another browser. If the test works in one browser but not another, check the browser permissions or settings. If the same motion is missing everywhere and phone features that rely on it also fail, a hardware problem becomes more likely.

When the sensor may be damaged

Suspect hardware damage when the same sensor repeatedly fails after a restart, with permissions allowed, and the problem also appears in more than one app or feature. For example, if the phone consistently fails to respond to rotation in the test and its screen will not rotate in apps that support rotation, the gyroscope or related system may need inspection.

Back up your phone before arranging service. If it is still under warranty or covered by accidental-damage protection, contact the manufacturer or your coverage provider before opening it. Otherwise, ask a qualified repair shop to check it. A cracked screen alone does not prove the sensors are damaged, but a hard impact can affect internal parts even when the case looks intact.

If the phone becomes unusually hot, its battery looks swollen, or the case is separating after the fall, stop charging and using it and arrange professional service promptly.

What a browser test cannot check

A phone's accelerometer detects changes in movement and tilt. A gyroscope detects rotation. The Sensors Test checks sensor responses that the browser makes available, but it cannot inspect the physical parts or test every feature in the phone. It does not tell you whether a proximity sensor, camera or screen was damaged.

Some phones or browsers require permission before sharing motion data, and some restrict access altogether. A missing reading can therefore mean limited browser access, not a broken sensor. Use the test alongside the phone's own behavior, and repeat it under the same conditions before deciding what to do next.