How To Use Your Xbox Series X Controller On Pc Via Bluetooth
Using a Bluetooth connection for your controller eliminates any worries of being tangled or tethered with a cord. You’ll have to keep an eye on the battery life, though.
- Turn on your Xbox controller by holding down the Xbox button.
- Press the Pairing button to begin the Bluetooth pairing process.
- Press the Start button on your PC.
- Then select Settings, then Devices, then Bluetooth & other devices.
- Turn on Bluetooth.
- Select Add Bluetooth or other device.
- Select Xbox Wireless Controller.
If your PC doesn’t support Bluetooth, you can add support with a Bluetooth dongle like the Techkey that’ll connect via USB.
Make Sure You Have The Right Controller First
This may seem obvious, but you need an Xbox controller that’s actually compatible with iOS if you want to use it for mobile games. Apple’s support website lists the four Xbox controllers that fit the bill, but unfortunately, this actually isn’t quite as simple as it should be. If you’ve got one of these, you’re golden:
You might be wondering about the “Model 1708” designation on the first option. That distinction exists because the controllers that shipped with the Xbox One console at its launch in 2013 didn’t have Bluetooth functionality. Microsoft didn’t build that into Xbox One controllers until the Xbox One S revision came out in 2016, so if you have an older Xbox One controller, it won’t work with your iPhone.
As demonstrated by the photo above, you can tell which is which by looking at the plastic that surrounds the Xbox logo button at the top of the controller. If it’s the same plastic texture as the part with the face buttons and the analog sticks, it has Bluetooth. If it shares a texture with the plastic surrounding the shoulder buttons and triggers, it does not.
Put simply, if you got an Xbox controller after 2016 or so, you’re fine. If not, it’s time to upgrade. The good news is that this is, by far, the most confusing thing about connecting an Xbox controller to an iPhone.
How To Use Your Xbox Series X Controller On Steam
In most cases, your Xbox controller should automatically work with a PC game if it’s connected. As Xbox controllers are among the most popular controller choices for PC gamers to use, everything generally works automatically without any special settings.
If you want to absolutely guarantee that everything functions as intended, however, you can enable something called Big Picture Mode. Here’s how.
- Open Steam.
- Make sure your controller is connected via USB-C or Bluetooth.
- Select Steam settings.
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Connect Your Xbox Controller To Pc With A Usb Adapter
If you have an older Xbox One controller, or you just want to use your newer one with Microsoft’s proprietary wireless connection instead of Bluetooth , you need to get the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10. It’s a USB dongle designed to connect directly to your Xbox gamepad without any Bluetooth setup or pairing. All you need to do is plug in the dongle and pair it to your controller just as if you were pairing your Xbox, pressing the Pairing button on each device.
Use A Third Party Dongle With Xbox One

There are a couple of good third-party dongles that let you connect and use a mouse and keyboard to an Xbox One. They include the XIM Apex and IOGEAR KeyMander. Both of these dongles translate mouse and keyboard input into the Xbox for use in games. This is the only viable way I know of right now to use an Xbox One without a controller to play games.
They arent cheap though. Both adapters are $99.99 and dont include the mouse or keyboard.
These dongles connect to your Xbox via USB and the mouse and keyboard connect to the dongle. The dongle translates input from the mouse and keyboard into native Xbox language so it can be used for all of the control schemes you would typically use in a game. You can also create specific profiles so you can use your favorite shortcut keys or mouse buttons for specific commands within a game.
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How To Use A Micro Usb Cable With The Xbox One Controller
Any decent cable will do the trick, even the one that you used to use to charge your phone.
However, it’s not just desktop PCs that you can use an Xbox One controller with. It’s entirely possible to use it with a tablet or laptop, and in those cases, you may only have USB-C connectors available.
The easiest thing to do is get a USB-C to USB-A dongle, allowing you to use a regular micro USB cable through the USB-C connector on your laptop or tablet.
How To Sync An Xbox One Controller To A Pc
The Xbox One controller is also a great way to play games on a PC. If you want to connect an Xbox One controller to your computer, the process will depend on how old the controller is.
Older Xbox One controllers require a special USB dongle. You can buy the dongle separately, and it also comes packaged with some Xbox One controllers.
To connect one of these controllers:
Newer Xbox One controllers can connect to a PC using the dongle or Bluetooth. To connect an Xbox One controller to your PC using Bluetooth:
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Turn On Your Xbox One Controller
Turn on your Xbox One controller by pressing on the Xboxbutton, which is located on the front of the controller, in the center, near the top. The button will illuminate when the controller is on.
If the button doesn’t illuminate, make sure that you have batteries in the controller. If you don’t have batteries, then proceed to step six for information about connecting an Xbox One controller via USB.
How To Connect An Xbox Wireless Controller To A Pc
Pranay Parab has been a technology journalist for over 10 years, during which time he’s written well over 500 tutorials, and covered everything from social media apps to enterprise software. Beyond How-To Geek, he’s also written for Lifehacker and spearheaded the tutorials section at Gadgets 360, India’s most popular technology blog. Read more…
The Xbox Wireless Controller, which ships with Xbox Series X|S consoles, can also be used with Windows 10 PCs for gaming. Heres how to connect the Xbox Wireless Controller to your PC.
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Which Xbox Controllers Can You Use With Android Devices
You can use two different Xbox controllers with your Android devices: Xbox Wireless Controllers and Xbox 360 controllers. The former are controllers made for Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X consoles.
Newer Xbox Wireless Controllers, particularly the Bluetooth ones, will be the easiest to use with your Android device. With Bluetooth controllers, you have to pair your device to the controller, and youre ready to go. Google added Xbox One controller support with Android 9 Pie, so Bluetooth controllers work the best in a pinch, non-Bluetooth controllers will work as well.
If you have an Xbox One controller without Bluetooth connectivity or an Xbox 360 controller, you can still use both with your Android devices the process is just a little bit more complicated.
Connect Xbox Controller To Ps4 Via Magic S Pro
The Magic S Pro controller adapter supports wired and wireless connections for most gaming controllers and modern gaming consoles. Its pairing with PS4 is phenomenal and requires simple steps to set up.
To connect the Xbox controller wirelessly:
To connect the Xbox controller through the wire:
The Magic S Pro works brilliantly with Xbox controllers and PS4 you can be free from wire connections and enjoy thrilling games with your preferred controller.
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How To Remap Your Xbox One Controller
You can remap your Xbox One controller using the Xbox Accessories app. To do this, click Configure > New Profile. Input a name, then click Save.
Use the top dropdown to select a button, then the dropdown beneath to remap it. For example, you could remap the A button to the B button.
You can also use the boxes below to enable settings such as Swap sticks, Swap triggers, and Turn on vibration.
If you have an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller or Xbox Adaptive Controller, you will also see additional options like the ability to change the thumbstick sensitivity curves and the brightness of the Xbox logo.
What Are The Buttons And Ports On The Xbox Series X

The new Xbox controller features several buttons and plug-in options to allow you to enjoy games on the Xbox Series X and S, PC, Android devices, and on the Xbox One.
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How To Calibrate Your Xbox One Controller
Your controller will come calibrated out of the box, but you can use the Windows calibration tool to adjust it or to just check how responsive your controller is being. Note that this is a legacy tool, which hasn’t changed in Windows 10 or been specifically designed for the Xbox One controller.
Open the Start menu, search for for joy.cpl, and select the Control panel item result. The Game Controllers window will open. Select your controller from the list and click Properties.
The Test tab will be open by default. Here you can determine where on the axis your thumbstick is resting, the pressure response of the triggers, plus whether the button presses are being registered. If you’re not satisfied, switch to the Settings tab and click Calibrate. Follow the wizard through to calibrate your controller.
You can always set these back to how the controller was originally by clicking Reset to default on the Settings tab.
Xbox Controller Connected Via Bluetooth
If you want to connect an Xbox controller to your PC without using a USB cable, then youll have to sync it to your computer using Bluetooth. First off, you need to check if your PC is Bluetooth-compatible, as not all PCs have Bluetooth as standard.If you do have a Bluetooth-ready PC, all you have to do is hit the Windows button on your computer, type in Bluetooth, then click Add Bluetooth or other device and then Bluetooth in the pop-up that appears.Now pick up your Xbox controller, hold down the Xbox button to turn it on and then hold down the circular button on the top of the peripheral, which is near the USB port. This will put the Xbox controller into pairing mode, denoted by the flashing Xbox button. Once youve done this, check the devices list on your PC and you should see the Xbox Wireless Controller appear. Click on it to pair the device and you will be able to use your Xbox controller with your PC.
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Determine That Your Xbox One Controller Is Connected And Within Range
Due to pairing troubles, you may notice that your Xbox One controller is flickering or flashing. It could be coupled with another console, out of range, or attempting to link with a system that already has eight other paired controllers.
Wireless controllers have a range of 19 to 28 feet, according to Xbox, but if your gaming setup is surrounded by walls, facing away from you, in a cabinet, or might be hampered by interference from other adjacent wireless devices, consider reducing your range.
Its possible that the controller is connected to another Bluetooth device or console and isnt responding to your console at all. Double-press the coupling button to reconnect your controller to your Xbox system if it was the last device you linked it with.
How To Connect Your Xbox One Controller To A Pc Via Usb
1. Grab your Xbox One wireless controller and connect a micro-USB charging cable into the top of the device.
2. Take the other end of the USB charging cable and plug it into your Windows 10 PC or laptop.
Your PC should configure the controller automatically.
You can connect up to eight Xbox Wireless Controllers simultaneously with USB charging cables. If you have Xbox Chat Headsets attached, you can only connect up to four controllers at a time. You can only connect two controllers at a time if the controllers use Stereo Headsets.
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Update Your Xbox One Controller Or Restart Your Xbox Console
If pairing your controller and testing the batteries dont work, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to restart your Xbox One system. Restart the computer and try again.
Its also a good idea to update the firmware on your controller. While wireless updates are available for controllers manufactured after June 2015, all Xbox One controllers can be updated using the USB cable that came with your console.
Well, things sometimes de-track and dont work as smoothly as they should. However, there are fixes and solutions to every problem. The same is the case with the Xbox one controller. If it starts flashing, flickering, or blinking , follow the above-mentioned steps and get the issue fixed right away!
Can I Connect My Xbox 360 Controller To The Xbox One
No. Unfortunately based on our most recent tests even the wired Xbox 360 controller has no functionality when plugged into an Xbox One. However, rumors are currently circulating that the Xbox One S will have full compatibility with older controllers.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eAlthough that doesnt help you today, there is hope that we may one day reach the point where we can finally use those old accessories again.
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How To Connect Your Xbox One Controller To A Pc Via Xbox Wireless Adapter
The Xbox Wireless Adapter is a small device that can help your Xbox controller connect to a PC.
1. Boot up your Windows 10 PC and plug the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows into your computer.
2. In the same “Bluetooth & other devices” menu we used in the previous method, look for the Adapter to appear under “Other devices.” Once it appears, this means it’s finished installing itself.
3. When the adapter is ready, turn on your Xbox controller by holding down the Xbox button. Once it’s on, angle it toward the Adapter and press and hold the Bind button.
4. Press and hold the Bind button on the Xbox Wireless Adapter. A small light will flash for several seconds.
5. Both your controller and Adapter should flash rapidly. Once they stop, it means they’ve found each other and are connected.
Switching Xbox One Controller Profiles

Xbox Series X controllers can use different profiles with remapped controls or inverted analog stick inputs. This is useful if you have motor difficulties or a specific preference for button use, and you can apply the same feature to Xbox One pads.
Remapping your pad is just one of many accessibility options that makes Xbox Series X easier to use for everybody.
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