A controller not connecting to PC is nearly always one of four things: a cable that charges but carries no data, a Bluetooth pairing that went stale, a game that only reads Xbox style controllers, or software such as Steam Input or a remapping tool getting in the way. The quickest first step is to plug the controller in with a cable you know carries data, open the gamepad tester and press a button. If the tester shows it, Windows and the controller are fine and the problem sits in the game or its settings. If the tester shows nothing, work through the connection steps below.
Quick checks
- Press a button. Browsers and many games only notice a controller after it sends a button press.
- Swap the cable. Many USB cables sold with phones and power banks charge only. Use the cable that came with the controller, or one you have used for file transfer.
- Use a port on the PC itself. Plug into a rear USB port on a desktop, not a hub, keyboard or monitor port.
- Charge it. A flat controller lights up on the cable but may not pair.
- Switch the console off. A PlayStation or Xbox nearby can grab the controller as soon as you press the home button.
- Restart the PC. It clears a stuck Bluetooth stack or a driver that failed to load.
Controller not connecting to PC: find where it fails
| Check | If it works there |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth settings or Device Manager list the controller | The connection works |
| The Game Controllers window shows it and reacts to buttons | Windows reads the controller |
| The gamepad tester lights up its buttons | The controller is fine, so look at the game |
| The game still ignores it | The game does not support that controller type, or software is hiding it |
To open the Game Controllers window, press Windows + R, type joy.cpl and press Enter. Select the controller and choose Properties to see its buttons and axes move.
Connect with a cable
A cable takes Bluetooth out of the picture, which makes it the best first test.
- Xbox Series X|S and Elite Series 2: USB-C. Xbox One controllers: micro USB. Windows installs them as soon as you plug them in.
- DualSense (PS5): USB-C. DualShock 4 (PS4): micro USB.
- Switch Pro Controller: USB-C. Windows sees it, but most games use it only through Steam.
- Joy-Con: no cable connection to a PC. Pair them by Bluetooth.
If Windows makes no sound and Device Manager shows nothing new when you plug in, try another cable and another port. If it shows an unknown device or an error, see usb device not recognized.
Pair it by Bluetooth
First open Bluetooth on the PC:
- Windows 11: Settings > Bluetooth & devices, turn Bluetooth on, then Add device > Bluetooth.
- Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth.
Then put the controller in pairing mode and select it when it appears:
| Controller | Pairing mode | Sign it is ready |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Wireless Controller, Elite Series 2 | Turn it on, then hold the small pair button on top for 3 seconds | The Xbox button flashes quickly |
| DualSense, DualSense Edge | With it switched off, hold Create and the PS button | The light bar blinks |
| DualShock 4 | With it switched off, hold Share and the PS button | The light bar flashes |
| Switch Pro Controller | Hold the SYNC button on top, next to the USB-C port | The player lights run |
| Joy-Con | Hold the SYNC button on the rail between SL and SR | The green lights run back and forth |
Unplug any cable first: Sony's Bluetooth pairing steps for the DualSense start by disconnecting it. Each Joy-Con pairs as its own controller.
Xbox One controllers made before 2016 have no Bluetooth. They connect by cable or through the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows: plug the adapter in, press its pair button until its light flashes fast, then hold the controller's pair button for 3 seconds.
Remove the old pairing and start again
A controller that paired once and now refuses usually has a stale pairing on one side.
- In Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. In Windows 10, go to Bluetooth & other devices.
- Find the controller, open its menu and choose Remove device.
- Restart the PC.
- Put the controller back into pairing mode and add it again.
If you also use the controller with a console, you may need to pair it again there afterwards. A PlayStation controller pairs back to a PS5 or PS4 when you connect it with a USB cable and press the PS button. An Xbox Series X|S controller remembers one Xbox console or wireless adapter and one Bluetooth device: double tap the pair button to go back to the Xbox, or hold it for about 3 seconds to go back to the Bluetooth device. The Elite Series 2 and older Xbox One pads may need pairing again each time you switch.
The game does not see it
When the controller tester reads every button but a game ignores the controller, the problem is the type of controller the game expects:
- Xbox controllers use XInput, which almost every PC game supports.
- PlayStation and Switch controllers appear to Windows as different devices. Games with native support, such as many recent PlayStation releases on PC, read them directly. Others ignore them.
- Steam Input fixes this for games you launch through Steam. In Steam, open Settings > Controller and turn on Steam Input for your controller type. For one game, right-click it, choose Properties > Controller and pick the override you need.
The opposite also happens: Steam Input can make a game see two controllers, or no controller, when the game already supports yours. Set the game's override to Disable Steam Input and test again.
Software that hides or doubles controllers
Remapping tools such as DS4Windows, reWASD and DSX create a virtual Xbox controller, and some hide the real one so games do not see both. If you uninstalled one of them, or two run at the same time, the controller can vanish from games or press every button twice. Close all of them, then test with one at a time. If you removed one, make sure its controller hiding feature was turned off first, then restart.
Drivers, USB power and Bluetooth settings
- Press Windows + X and open Device Manager.
- With the controller plugged in, look under Xbox Peripherals, Human Interface Devices or Bluetooth for it. Right-click it, choose Uninstall device, unplug the controller, restart and plug it in again.
- Under Universal Serial Bus controllers, open each USB Root Hub, then Power Management, and untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Do the same for the Bluetooth adapter under Bluetooth.
- Install the newest Bluetooth and chipset drivers from your PC or motherboard maker's support site.
Bluetooth controllers also drop out when the signal is crowded. Keep the controller within a few meters with a clear line to the PC, move USB 3 drives and hubs away from the Bluetooth adapter, and put your Wi-Fi on 5 GHz if your router allows it. If Bluetooth itself will not turn on or find anything, see bluetooth not working on pc.
Update the controller
Old firmware can stop a controller pairing with a PC or keep it dropping out.
- Xbox: install the free Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store, connect the controller with a USB cable and accept the update.
- DualSense and DualSense Edge: Sony's PlayStation Accessories app for Windows 10 and 11 installs controller firmware.
- Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Con: update them on the Switch under System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers.
On a Mac
macOS pairs Xbox, PlayStation and Switch controllers in System Settings > Bluetooth, with the same pairing buttons as above. The DualSense needs macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later. On recent macOS versions, System Settings > Game Controllers lists the controllers the Mac recognizes. Haptics, the DualSense speaker and its microphone do not work on a Mac.
When it is a hardware fault
Try the controller on a second device, such as a console, another PC or a phone. If it fails everywhere with a known good cable, the controller has a fault: a worn USB port, a dead battery or a failed radio. Check the cable port for lint and bent pins first. Inside the warranty, claim it through PlayStation Fix & Replace, Xbox device support or Nintendo support. If the controller connects but a stick moves by itself, that is a different fault, covered in how to fix stick drift. For a PlayStation pad, the ps5 controller tester shows the battery level and every input in one place.
Controller connection questions
Why is my controller connected but not working in games?
Most PC games only read Xbox style controllers. Windows sees a PlayStation or Switch controller, but a game without support for it ignores it. Launch the game through Steam, which translates other controllers into the Xbox layout, or check whether the game supports your controller natively. Also turn off remapping tools you are not using, since two of them running at once can hide the controller.
Why won't my PS5 controller connect to my PC?
Usually because it is still trying to reach the PS5, or the cable carries power only. Turn the controller off by holding the PS button, unplug any cable, then hold Create and the PS button until the light bar blinks, and select it in Bluetooth settings. Sony supports Windows 10 64 bit, Windows 11 and macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later.
Why does my Xbox controller keep disconnecting from my PC?
Weak AA batteries, distance, interference from USB 3 devices and Wi-Fi on 2.4 GHz, and Windows switching off the Bluetooth adapter to save power are the usual causes. Fit fresh batteries, move closer, update the controller in the Xbox Accessories app, and untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power for the Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager.
How do I connect a Switch Pro Controller to a PC?
Plug it in with a USB-C data cable, or hold the small SYNC button on top of the controller until the lights run and pick it in Bluetooth settings. Windows sees it, but most games only use it through Steam, so turn on Steam Input for Switch controllers in Steam's controller settings.
Can I use an old Xbox One controller on PC without a cable?
Only with the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows. The first Xbox One controllers have no Bluetooth. Bluetooth models arrived in 2016, and you can spot them because the plastic around the Xbox button is part of the front face rather than the top bumper piece.