Despite including “Xbox” in the name, the Xbox Wireless Gamepad is compatible with more than only Microsoft’s gaming platform. The controller can be used wirelessly with any PC game that supports Bluetooth and Windows 10 or Windows 11. In order to use your Xbox controller on your computer, please follow these steps.
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Identify Your Xbox Controller
There’s no need to read this if you just bought a brand new Xbox gamepad and are using the most recent version. If you’ve gotten one during the past five years, you’re probably fine there, too.
Xbox wireless communication and Bluetooth are both supported by the latest iteration of the gamepad, which is identical to the one bundled with Xbox Series S/X. In the years following the release of the first Xbox One consoles, the majority of the wireless gamepads for that generation were updated to integrate Bluetooth. There is no longer any need for a wired or Bluetooth connection.
There is no Bluetooth support in the original Xbox One controllers, so you’ll have to use Xbox’s own wireless protocol. For Xbox, this works perfectly, however on a computer, it won’t. You can use it with a computer, but you’ll need a wireless dongle to accomplish it.
Check the plastic that encloses the Guide button if you’re using an older Xbox One controller. A Bluetooth gamepad will have the same plastic as the front of the controller and no visible seams. It is not a Bluetooth controller if the Guide button is the same plastic as the bumper buttons and there is a seam between the button and the controller’s face.
A modern Xbox Series controller can be identified by the presence of Bluetooth and a USB-C port on top rather than a micro USB port, as well as a small, rectangular Capture button located between the Menu and View buttons.
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The Wire-Based Connection Between Xbox Controller and Personal Computer
The process is straightforward, however a cable must be used to link the controller to the computer. So, if you want to know how to accomplish it, read on.
- Connect the USB end of your USB-to-micro USB or USB-to-USB-C cable to the controller (the latter requires a different cable for different controller models).
- Connect the resulting end to your computer.
Yes, that’s the final word. Under Windows 10 and 11, it will set up by itself and be compatible with almost all games.
Simply Pair Your Xbox Controller With Your Computer Via Bluetooth.
The procedure for connecting the Xbox controller to a computer through Bluetooth is quite similar to that of connecting it to an Xbox One or Xbox Series console. To turn on the controller, press and hold the Guide button for three seconds, after which you’ll see the Guide button flash.
It’s now in the “pairing mode” indicated by this behaviour. To pair a controller with a console, you must press and hold the system’s own Pairing button. Connecting the controller to a computer running Windows 10 requires going through a series of setup screens.
If your computer doesn’t have Bluetooth built in, you’ll also need a Bluetooth USB dongle. Detailed instructions are as follows:
- A controller’s power can be activated by holding the Guide button.
- Just press and hold the Pairing button for three seconds, until the Guide button begins blinking.
- Select Bluetooth from the system tray and right-click on it.
- To connect a Bluetooth device, select “Add a Bluetooth Device.”
- Select Bluetooth from the drop-down menu of “Add Bluetooth or other Device.”
- Choose “Wireless Controller” for Xbox. Just hold off until the Guide button turns solid white and the controller appears in the Bluetooth menu.
The Xbox Wireless Gamepad may now be used with a PC to play the great majority of recent games that provide controller compatibility. The gamepad, like Sony’s DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers, lacks a headset jack.
Though a wired headset can be used with the gamepad and its corresponding console, the jack is not used to transmit sound when the controller is linked to a computer using Bluetooth.
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Use a USB to Xbox Controller Adapter to Play Xbox Games on Your Computer.
An Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10 is required if you wish to utilise a non-Bluetooth Xbox One controller or a later Xbox One controller with Microsoft’s proprietary wireless connection and headset connectivity.
There is no pairing or setup required for this USB dongle, as it will connect wirelessly to your Xbox controller. Plug in the dongle, then press the Pairing button on both the controller and the dongle to establish a connection.
This adapter is no longer available. It is still possible to purchase it online, however doing so will set you back anywhere from $40 to $75 instead of the initial $25.
While Microsoft suggests using only one controller at a time with Bluetooth, the adaptor allows for up to eight. Additionally, the adaptor enables the headset jack, which can be configured using the Xbox app.