How To Connect A Xbox 360 Controller To A Pc

The option of games on PC is better than ever. With the ascent of the indie scene and a multitude of digital storefronts selling games at discounts, in that location's null stopping yous from enjoying any game you want. Well, almost nothing. While a mouse and a keyboard philharmonic is a time-tested setup, sooner or later, you lot'll probably need a controller.

If you practice some excavation, you'll discover out that the Xbox 360 controller is the all-time option for a bulk of games. So yous may be wondering how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to a PC. Is it complicated? Do you even have to do information technology?

No thing how much you love playing games the traditional manner, with a keyboard and a mouse, you'll detect a game that merely feels off. Perhaps it has a bizarre keyboard setup that yous tin can't change, or it'due south merely designed to exist played with a controller. If you lot check the forums, yous'll see 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 great functionality with a bulk of games. And if you're playing a PC port of a panel game, having an Xbox 360 controller is virtually mandatory. And then getting one is a no-brainer, but what about installing it?

We'll encompass how to connect a wired Xbox 360 controller to a PC and its wireless pc controller counterpart. Now, at that place's a quick and expensive way and a cheap and complicated way. Fortunately for you, this guide will make information technology all simple and stress-gratuitous.

Wires Brand Information technology Easy

If you want a elementary plug-and-play method, but 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 than straightforward and cheaper.

Of form, before you can play games with an Xbox 360 wired controller, you'll need to install the Xbox 360 controller driver.

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 2.0 or higher, and every computer should have those.

Equally soon as you plug in the controller, Windows 10 will immediately search for and install advisable drivers for the wired Xbox controller for a PC. A pop-upwardly window will notify you that the commuter is installed, and you're expert to become. Most games accept calibration options to test if the buttons, trigger, or stick react correctly. Alternatively, you tin can as well use the Game Controller app for calibration.

If Windows detects and installs the Xbox 360 commuter correctly, your troubles end here. But if Windows does not see your Xbox 360 wired controller, there's a simple workaround.

If you have an installation disc that yous've got with a controller, insert information technology, and the Microsoft Accessories Setup volition open up upward. Follow the installation instructions, and when information technology's done, you'll accept your wired controller ready to go.

There's a decent chance that your rig doesn't have a disc bulldoze as they've been going out of fashion. They've been replaced with loftier-capacity USB sticks and cloud backups. If you don't accept an installation disc or a CD drive, download the Xbox 360 controller driver for Windows 10 from Microsoft'southward website. In the Software & Drivers menu, select the Windows vii version, either 32-bit or 64-flake, depending on your Os. Don't worry, both volition work on Windows eight and Windows 10 computers. Download the programme, activate information technology, and go through the installation process.

Once you've dealt with the drivers, it's fourth dimension to check if information technology's working as it should. Click on the Start push and enter Run. Once the app is open up, type in "joy.cpl" and press Enter. It will open upwards the Game Controllers app; select the controller and then click on Backdrop. Here, you will be able to exam controller buttons, triggers, sticks, and touchpads.

Wireless Problem

Past now, you should know how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your PC without any trouble. All the same, wireless controllers accept been known to exist catchy to set for a while. They might exhibit connectivity issues, or the computer might non recognize them. No thing the outcome, the cause was probably in the controller packaging.

Microsoft officially sells wireless Xbox controllers for PC in a bundle with the receiver adapter. Getting this bundle is the priciest solution, just you'll go everything you need with full software back up and no hassle. Retail sites ofttimes 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 but 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 you'll need a receiver that supports that. If you lot don't have one, your controller can't communicate with your PC.

If you become an official Microsoft bundle, y'all'll get an official receiver, and the installation will go without hiccups. If yous get a tertiary party receiver, yous might run into some problem. A dominion of thumb is: The cheaper y'all go, the higher your chances of encountering problems during setup or gaming.

Later we've settled any hardware dispute regarding the wireless controller, we 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 3rd party receiver, here is a tip that will salve you lot a lot of hassle: plug these receivers in a back USB slot or a powered USB hub. Choose a spot where you lot won't touch it. Because every time you lot pull out a third party receiver and plug it back in, there'due south a proficient take a chance y'all'll accept to go through the installation process again.

One time you put the receiver in, Windows should automatically install the necessary drivers. If that doesn't happen, check if you have an installation disc and follow the steps outlined above. Make sure you're using a proper RF adapter receiver; a Bluetooth dongle won't do. If you lot want to utilize Bluetooth and were trying to discover out how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to a PC that way, we'll have to disappoint you again. You lot'll need 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 have commuter support for all official and most unofficial receivers. Still, there's a take chances Windows doesn't recognize your 3rd party receiver. If that's the case, here'south a workaround.

Press the Windows and Ten or right-click the Start button to open up upward the start menu. From the menu, select the Device Director. Under Other Devices, yous will see the Unknown Device detail.

device manager

Right-click on it and select "Update Commuter" to go the Xbox 360 driver for the receiver. From a new window, select the option "Browse my figurer for drivers," then select "Permit me pick from the list of available drivers on my computer."

Update Driver Software

In the listing with devices, become to the bottom of the list, where you'll meet the "Xbox 360 peripherals."

XBOX 360 peripherals

The "Select the device driver you want to install" window will open with a listing of bachelor drivers. Select the Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows. Click Next, select Yep, and Windows will install the missing driver. Alternatively, apps like Driver Booster will have care of the entire procedure, and you lot won't have to worry if you got the right Xbox 360 drivers.

XBOX 360 Device Driver

Finally, we need to sync the Xbox controller with the receiver. First, make sure the controller is powered up by pressing the Guide push button. On the wireless controller, press and hold the button in the centre until a green light activates. Then press the Connect push button on your controller – it's located on the front side, just above the battery. Subsequently a green ring rotates on the Xbox Guide push button, it will indicate which controller it is by lighting upwards the appropriate quadrant. This is useful as yous can connect up to 4 wireless controllers to a receiver.

XBOX 360 Instructions

While yous don't have to go the official Xbox 360 controller drivers for the wireless version to part, information technology does enable a suite of useful features, similar checking the battery status. Right at present, these drivers are not available for download from Microsoft's website. If Windows doesn't detect the drivers automatically, you might have to practise some excavation 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 driver back up (including controllers) might exist slowly coming to an cease, virtually every PC game supports these devices. Thanks to Microsoft's continued presence on the market and its plans for the time to come of PC gaming, nosotros can expect that Xbox 360 controllers volition keep to work just fine.