How To Connect Xbox 360 Controller With Pc

The selection of games on PC is ameliorate than always. With the rise of the indie scene and a multitude of digital storefronts selling games at discounts, at that place's nothing stopping you from enjoying whatever game y'all want. Well, almost nothing. While a mouse and a keyboard combo is a fourth dimension-tested setup, sooner or after, you'll probably need a controller.

If you do some digging, y'all'll detect out that the Xbox 360 controller is the all-time choice for a bulk of games. So you may be wondering how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to a PC. Is it complicated? Do you even accept to practice it?

No thing how much you love playing games the traditional way, with a keyboard and a mouse, you'll notice a game that but feels off. Perhaps information technology has a baroque keyboard setup that you lot tin can't change, or information technology'southward just designed to exist played with a controller. If you check the forums, you'll run across that most gamers recommend getting an Xbox 360 controller since it's the best-supported option for Windows-based PCs. No disagreement here, Xbox controllers are high-quality devices that provide bully functionality with a bulk of games. And if you're playing a PC port of a console game, having an Xbox 360 controller is almost mandatory. Then getting one is a no-brainer, but what about installing it?

Nosotros'll cover how to connect a wired Xbox 360 controller to a PC and its wireless pc controller counterpart. At present, there's a quick and expensive way and a inexpensive and complicated way. Fortunately for you, this guide volition make it all simple and stress-free.

Wires Brand It Easy

If y'all want a simple plug-and-play method, just get a wired Xbox 360 controller for a PC. While couch gaming with a wireless controller may sound tempting, installing a wired version is more straightforward and cheaper.

Of course, before yous can play games with an Xbox 360 wired controller, you lot'll demand to install the Xbox 360 controller commuter.

Start by plugging in the Xbox 360 usb controller for PC in one of the USB ports on your computer. All Xbox 360 controllers support USB ports ii.0 or college, and every computer should accept those.

As soon every bit you plug in the controller, Windows 10 volition immediately search for and install appropriate drivers for the wired Xbox controller for a PC. A pop-up window will notify you that the driver is installed, and you're proficient to go. Well-nigh games have calibration options to test if the buttons, trigger, or stick react correctly. Alternatively, yous tin can also use the Game Controller app for scale.

If Windows detects and installs the Xbox 360 driver correctly, your troubles end here. Simply if Windows does not encounter your Xbox 360 wired controller, there'due south a simple workaround.

If you lot have an installation disc that yous've got with a controller, insert it, and the Microsoft Accessories Setup will open up. Follow the installation instructions, and when information technology'due south washed, you'll have your wired controller set up to get.

In that location'due south a decent run a risk that your rig doesn't have a disc drive as they've been going out of fashion. They've been replaced with loftier-capacity USB sticks and deject backups. If you don't accept an installation disc or a CD bulldoze, download the Xbox 360 controller driver for Windows 10 from Microsoft's website. In the Software & Drivers menu, select the Windows 7 version, either 32-chip or 64-flake, depending on your OS. Don't worry, both will work on Windows viii and Windows ten computers. Download the plan, actuate it, and go through the installation process.

One time you've dealt with the drivers, it's time to cheque if it's working as it should. Click on the Start push and enter Run. Once the app is open, type in "joy.cpl" and press Enter. It volition open upwards the Game Controllers app; select the controller then click on Properties. Here, yous volition be able to examination controller buttons, triggers, sticks, and touchpads.

Wireless Trouble

By now, you should know how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your PC without whatever trouble. However, wireless controllers have been known to exist tricky to set upwardly for a while. They might exhibit connectivity bug, or the calculator might not recognize them. No affair the issue, the cause was probably in the controller packaging.

Microsoft officially sells wireless Xbox controllers for PC in a packet with the receiver adapter. Getting this bundle is the priciest solution, but yous'll become everything you need with full software support and no hassle. Retail sites often sell knock-off receivers for $10–$twenty.

Anyone wondering how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to a PC without a receiver will exist disappointed. The just way to do it is with a USB cable, which defeats the purpose of having a wireless controller. Microsoft wireless controllers operate on a 2.4Ghz communication protocol, and yous'll need a receiver that supports that. If you don't have ane, your controller can't communicate with your PC.

If you become an official Microsoft bundle, yous'll go an official receiver, and the installation volition go without hiccups. If you get a 3rd political party receiver, yous might run into some trouble. A rule of thumb is: The cheaper y'all become, the college your chances of encountering problems during setup or gaming.

Later on we've settled any hardware dispute regarding the wireless controller, we tin can move on and explicate how to connect a wireless Xbox 360 controller to a PC.

Insert the receiver into a USB slot. If you are using a third party receiver, here is a tip that will save you a lot of hassle: plug these receivers in a back USB slot or a powered USB hub. Choose a spot where you won't touch it. Because every time you pull out a tertiary political party receiver and plug it back in, in that location's a practiced risk you'll have to go through the installation process once more.

One time you lot put the receiver in, Windows should automatically install the necessary drivers. If that doesn't happen, check if yous take an installation disc and follow the steps outlined above. Make sure yous're using a proper RF adapter receiver; a Bluetooth dongle won't do. If you want to utilise Bluetooth and were trying to find out how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to a PC that fashion, we'll have to disappoint yous again. You'll demand the proper equipment.

At the time of writing this article, Microsoft retired a large number of Xbox 360 accessories, including the Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows. Fortunately, the latest Windows updates take driver back up for all official and most unofficial receivers. Still, in that location'due south a hazard Windows doesn't recognize your 3rd party receiver. If that's the case, here's a workaround.

Press the Windows and X or right-click the Start push to open upward the outset menu. From the bill of fare, select the Device Manager. Under Other Devices, you will see the Unknown Device item.

device manager

Right-click on it and select "Update Driver" to become the Xbox 360 driver for the receiver. From a new window, select the selection "Scan my computer for drivers," then select "Allow me pick from the list of bachelor drivers on my estimator."

Update Driver Software

In the list with devices, become to the lesser of the list, where you'll see the "Xbox 360 peripherals."

XBOX 360 peripherals

The "Select the device driver y'all want to install" window will open with a list of available drivers. Select the Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows. Click Next, select Yes, and Windows volition install the missing driver. Alternatively, apps similar Driver Booster will take care of the entire process, and you lot won't have to worry if you got the correct Xbox 360 drivers.

XBOX 360 Device Driver

Finally, we demand to sync the Xbox controller with the receiver. Outset, brand sure the controller is powered up by pressing the Guide button. On the wireless controller, press and hold the button in the center until a greenish light activates. And so press the Connect push on your controller – information technology's located on the front side, just to a higher place the battery. Afterward a green ring rotates on the Xbox Guide push button, information technology will indicate which controller it is past lighting upward the appropriate quadrant. This is useful as you tin connect upwards to iv wireless controllers to a receiver.

XBOX 360 Instructions

While you don't have to become the official Xbox 360 controller drivers for the wireless version to function, it does enable a suite of useful features, like checking the battery status. Right now, these drivers are not available for download from Microsoft's website. If Windows doesn't observe the drivers automatically, yous might take to do some digging online.

Ready to Rumble

With the controller installed and configured, you are ready to step into gaming waters like a champ. While the official Xbox 360 commuter support (including controllers) might be slowly coming to an stop, about every PC game supports these devices. Thanks to Microsoft's continued presence on the market place and its plans for the futurity of PC gaming, we tin expect that Xbox 360 controllers will continue to work just fine.