PC games can be operated using touchpads or specific keyboard keys; still, gaming adventure can become more fun if operated by particular controllers.
You might require a controller for playing PC games anytime, but that doesn’t mean each time you would have to buy a new one to ensure its compatibility aspect with your computer system, especially if the PlayStation 3 controller is already available at your place.
Being a PlayStation controller is not a condition, though; any controller can be considered in this respect, but here we will forge ahead, particularly with Xbox one controller, as this is the matter in hand at the moment.
Xbox one controllers
It is a fact that Xbox one, the latest generation of Xbox consoles, comes with advanced controllers than its predecessors that rarely confront any compatibility issue.
Actually, Xbox one console was developed by Microsoft company a few years back; this fact makes its controller’s compatibility with PCs beyond any doubt because, in most cases, PCs come with a Windows operating system, which is also a Microsoft product.
So, if you have an Xbox one controller, you can easily connect it with your computer system via Bluetooth, micro USB, or wireless adapter to play your favorite video games.
Can’t connect Xbox one controller to PC?
In most cases, you may need to perform specific configuring steps beforehand on your PC if you are going to connect particular controllers; basically, such measures are vital to make the controllers compatible with the other systems. But note that this is not a condition for all the controllers as in few cases, you may need to connect an adapter too.
However, ensuring the compatibility between devices is not a straightforward deal because various users have reported an issue in connecting Xbox one controller to PC due to certain limitations involved in it. Xbox One controller not working on PC is a common erroring situation, don’t get desperate because you are not alone in the boat.
Best fixes to “Xbox one controller not connecting to PC” problem
Though we have cited few ways to connect your controllers to PC, certain conditions must be satisfied for each method. For instance, if your system is running any Windows version other than Windows 10 and you are attempting to establish the connection via Bluetooth, then Xbox one controller won’t connect to PC.
Likewise, you can’t opt for the USB connection option if the PC runs any operating system other than Windows; otherwise, the Xbox controller won’t connect to PC. Therefore, to deal out such kinds of uncertain compatibility states, you can practice the below-stated fixes that will surely assist you in connecting Xbox one controller to PCs.
Re-plug the Xbox one controller
The controller can be either wired or wireless. If you have a wired controller that is not working on your PC, try to fix the issue by an instant re-plug in the first place. This tactic is pretty simple and won’t consume much time. Simply you need to unplug the controller cable first, then re-plug it after few seconds.
Replace the damaged cable of the controller
In few rare cases, the controller wire may be broken or physically damaged too, and consequently, the Xbox One controller won’t connect to the PC even after many attempts of re-plugging.
So firstly, make sure the cable is not defective in any way if you are using a wired controller; if you notice any impairment in the wire, then you need to replace it with a new one.
Update the Xbox one controller driver
Apart from the above-stated scenarios, the problem mainly occurs on the system side. On account of certain technical limitations, your PC may not be able to recognize the controller, and subsequently, you can’t connect Xbox one controller to the PC.
This sort of situation mostly happens on the system running Windows 10 OS. Windows 10 comes with an advancement of the “Plug and Play” feature. Users don’t often require to install any particular driver while connecting any peripheral device to a computer system.
However, in few cases, this may not be considered valid for Xbox one controller, and you might need to undertake specific actions to make the controller recognizable by your PC. You may need to ensure that the required drivers for a particular controller are installed on the system.
Basically, driver installation or update is not a manually performed task; generally, the computer system automatically recognizes the device you attach to your PC and instantly starts downloading its required drivers.
By following ways, you can confirm whether the controller drivers are installed on your system or not because users often tend to uninstall some unknown files or programs, unknowingly, located on the system that they may need later on.
- Open the Run app by the shortcut key Windows + R.
- To access the Device manager, type devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box.
- Press Enter.
- In Device Manager, locate the “Microsoft Xbox one controller” and expand it.
- Right-click on the “Microsoft Xbox one controller” and select the option “Update driver software.”
- The system will automatically retrieve the Update information and will download the updated driver version, if available.
Update the Xbox One controller
Although you have updated the controller’s driver on your computer and wondering why the problem still persists there, it is to be noted that both controller and its driver requires to be updated equally. So, this time you can go for the controller’s update because if your controller is not in an updated version, the computer will not recognize it.
Hence, to update your controller to the latest firmware version, you need to plug in the controller to the Xbox One gaming console as you can upgrade the controller via Xbox one. After the successful controller’s update, re-plug it to the PC. Hopefully, this problem will have been resolved.
Choose the compatible USB cable
If, after ensuring the updated versions of the controller and its driver, you still can’t connect Xbox one controller to PC, then you need to heed a very logical aspect that indicates a cable-related issue.
In the case of a wired controller, the selection of an apt USB cable also holds significance because not all cables work in the case of an Xbox one controller. This kind of issue is quite common as you might have come across a similar cable issue while connecting any other device to a PC also.
Actually, few USB cables are destined to transfer the power only, while the variants can also transfer the data. Therefore, Xbox one controller only works with a micro USB cable that performs both power & data transfers.
You must make sure that the USB cable you are using is a micro USB cable of type B that can sync data too. After obtaining the suitable cable, turn on your controller and then plug in the USB cable in the accurate port.
Install Xbox Accessories app
Still, Xbox one controller not connecting to PC? You still have a choice to make your controller work in your defined way, and all this is possible via the Xbox Accessories application that lets the users customize the controller usage quite easily.
If your PC is running Windows 10 operating system, then you can instantly download & install the Xbox Accessories app from the official Microsoft store. Note that the Xbox Accessories app doesn’t support the controller’s connection to the PC via Bluetooth. After configuring your controller via Xbox Accessories, restart your PC and turn on the controller again.
Run the Hardware troubleshooter program
No need to get frustrated if even if you have tried out all the fixes cited earlier. Because sometimes, there might be any corrupted system file that can consistently resist the connection between controller & PC. So, keep your chin up; this kind of technical internal bug can be detected & eradicated by running the Hardware troubleshooter.
The PCs generally come with a built-in hardware troubleshooting program that can readily diagnose, identify, and eliminate all of the computer system’s logical, technical, and other computing bugs.
Suppose you can’t connect Xbox one controller to PC and are unsure regarding the situation. In that case, this troubleshooting program can resolve your issue by instantly fixing it after a profound diagnosis of all the related aspects.
To initiate the troubleshooting process with a Hardware troubleshooter, you need to follow the below stated steps.
- Click on the Windows icon and type troubleshoot in the search bar to access the Troubleshooter program.
- Select the Troubleshoot settings from the displayed results.
- In troubleshoot settings, navigate to the Power option located in the left panel.
- Then, click on the option “Run the troubleshooter.”
- Accomplish the troubleshooting process by following all the instructions displayed during the whole troubleshooting procedure.
What Should You Do If A Xbox One Controller Still Doesn’t Sync?
If the controller doesn’t function after you’ve tried every conceivable option, there could be a physical issue with either the console or the controller.
You can narrow this down even further by attempting to sync the controller to another Xbox One. If everything works perfectly, the issue is with your Xbox One console, not the controller. If it continues not to connect, you have a faulty controller and should consider replacing it.
In any instance, you might be able to operate the controller by linking it to the Xbox using a USB cable. This is more inconvenient than wirelessly using the controller, but it is less expensive than purchasing a new controller.
Conclusion
The controllers that come with the Xbox One gaming console can also be used to play any other PC game more conveniently. Either it is a wired or wireless controller, for both, you may need to take specific measures to make them work productively.
Some users find connecting Xbox one controller to PC problematic due to variant technical or hardware-oriented causes.
In this comprehensive piece of the discussion, we have finely demonstrated the few most effective ways to eliminate the error chances while connecting the controller to the PC. Mainly you need to ensure the usage of defect-free & most compatible USB cables for the controller and also update the controller & driver software to the latest versions.
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Sarah Durrani 
