How To Use A Xbox One Controller On Steam

Xbox One S Controller — (Epitome credit: Microsoft)

If you want to utilise a controller on PC, you lot merely tin't trounce the convenience of the Xbox gamepad. If you want a dead simple plug-and-play experience, the Xbox controller is the obvious pick, and it'south definitely among the best PC controllers, anyway—Microsoft revised its controller after the launch of the Xbox One, making its bumpers feel amend and adding Bluetooth connectivity.

Thanks to the built-in Windows driver, you won't need whatever special software for your PC (and virtually games) to immediately recognize your pad. And so what's the betoken of a guide at all?

Well, at that place are a couple ways to hook up the Xbox 1 controller wirelessly, and a few things yous should know almost the different iterations of the controller and what how exactly they'll work with your PC.

Setup

What you need

Hardware

Xbox One controller
Xbox Wireless adapter for Windows (optional, for wireless)
Bluetooth adapter (optional, for wireless)
Micro-USB cable (optional, for wired)
AA batteries

Software

Xbox Accessories app (optional, for software updates)

Wired

Using your Xbox One controller

Using a wired Xbox One controller on PC is as simple as information technology gets, if you don't heed a tether. Plug your micro-USB cable into the controller and into a USB port on your PC. Windows should install the necessary commuter, the Xbox Guide push button in the center will low-cal up, and you're in concern!

Windows version note: On Windows 10, you lot can connect up to eight Xbox One controllers, while on Windows 7 and Windows 8, y'all can connect upward to 4. On Windows ten, you can only take four controllers connected if you also connect an Xbox chat headset to the controller or two with the stereo headset. Sound throughput isn't supported on Windows seven and 8.

Troubleshooting note: the vast bulk of micro-USB cables carry data no problem, but some manufacturers cheap out and produce cables that can merely accuse. If yous're using a random USB cable from a drawer and having problem, try a different i.

Wireless adapter

How to connect with the Xbox Wireless adapter for Windows

This procedure is nearly as simple as connecting with a USB cablevision, and is basically identical to connecting the controller to an Xbox panel.

1. Plug the Xbox Wireless adapter into a USB port.

two. Plough on your Xbox One controller by property the Guide push button in the center. Now printing the the small sync button on the elevation of the controller until the Guide push button begins flashing.

3. Press the small sync button located on the side of the Xbox Wireless adapter for a couple seconds. Lookout man the flashing Guide button on the controller. When it goes solid, you lot're connected!

Bluetooth

How to connect the Xbox One controller via Bluetooth

Hither's where things get a little complicated. Sure models of the Xbox 1 controller tin can connect to whatsoever erstwhile PC Bluetooth adapter. Others can't. Here's how to tell if your Xbox One controller has built-in Bluetooth:

The shape of the plastic molding at the peak of the controller is your clue. The get-go iteration of the Xbox Ane controller does non support Bluetooth and has a few other annoyances. Its bumpers take a narrower click range, making them less comfortable depending on where you position your fingers.

The redesigned controller launched with the Xbox One S console has a smaller plastic molding forth the elevation. It also adds a 3.5mm headphone jack to the bottom of the controller, some other piece of cake giveaway. On pinnacle of that headphone jack, it also has built-in Bluetooth!

one. Press the Windows key and type "Bluetooth" until search brings up the Bluetooth & other devices settings option. Click information technology to open that settings page. Here you should encounter your Bluetooth is set to "On" and is discoverable.

Windows version note: Using the Xbox One controller via Bluetooth but works on Windows 10 with the Anniversary update applied.

two. Plow on the Xbox One controller past holding the Guide button. Press the sync push button on elevation of the controller until the Guide low-cal begins to wink chop-chop.

iii. In the Bluetooth settings bill of fare, click "Add Bluetooth or other device" and then select Bluetooth from the carte du jour options. After a few seconds of searching, your Xbox controller should show upwardly. Click information technology to pair. And you're wirelessly connected!

Headset notation: Only one Xbox Ane controller can exist paired via Bluetooth. Headsets not supported.

Updating

How to update and configure the Xbox 1 controller

It'southward not simply games that accept updates these days. So do controllers! While it's non necessary to update your Xbox controller, if you desire to, the process is pretty unproblematic.

1. Open up the Windows Store and search for Xbox Accessories. Install the app and open it.

Windows version annotation: The app only works with Windows x with the Ceremony update applied.

2. Plug your Xbox One controller in with a micro-USB cablevision.

3. Click the "More than options" button to check if at that place'southward a firmware update for your controller.

Instead of configuring controller options on a game-by-game basis, you tin likewise use the Accessories app to change button mapping, swap and invert sticks and triggers, and enable or disable rumble.

If you have an Xbox One Aristocracy controller, you tin can also use the Accessories app to configure options like trigger and analog stick sensitivity. Yous can salvage dissimilar configurations to the two profiles the controller supports.

Not a controller person? Here'due south a round-upwardly of the best gaming keyboards , and best gaming mouse .