After months of promises, Microsoft finally released Windows drivers for its Xbox One controller, allowing it to pull double duty as wired controller for PC gaming.
- Xbox Controller For Pc Download
- Xbox Controller Driver Software For Pc Computer
- Xbox Controller Driver Software For Pc Download
How to connect Xbox One liquid metal controller to PC. By Kevin Arrows June 27, 2018. Select the Xbox One controller driver which you just installed. Click Ok and your computer will detect the controllers. How to connect Xbox One liquid metal controller to PC. Method 3: Update the Xbox One Controller Driver. If the Xbox One Controller driver is missing or corrupted, the controller cannot work properly on your PC. So you can try to update the controller driver. There are two methods to update the driver. This method is update the driver manually via Device Manager. Xbox 360 wireless adapter drivers for pc and xbox one controller drivers for pc windows 10. Click update driver / browse computer for driver software. Select let me pick a list of available drivers. Find Xbox 360 wireless reciver for windows (newest version). Feb 3, 2019 - Even though the PC Master Race community has a lot to say about PC superiority over the consoles, we can agree that some games are just.
Unlike the Xbox 360 wireless controller, which required a separate dongle for PC use, all you need to use the Xbox One controller on PC is a standard Micro-USB cable. The wired connection provides the power, so you don’t even need batteries. Unfortunately, you can’t use the Xbox One controller wirelessly on a PC at this time.
Xbox One Controller PC Drivers I have read many posts about major nelson releasing some sort of exclusive access to the XB1 controller driver before the new Windows update hits. This is the link. How to install Xbox controller driver on Windows 8, 10 and 7? You can easily download/update this driver for Windows 8 and 10 using Xbox app.
Driver installation
To set up the controller, head to Major Nelson’s blog and download the drivers for either a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) machine. (If you’re unsure which file to grab, open Control Panel, type About in the search bar and click System. Then, look under ‘System Type.’)
Open the file you just downloaded. Amusingly enough, Windows will show an “unknown publisher” warning, even though the drivers are coming from Microsoft. Click Run in the box that pops up. You don’t have to plug in the controller to install the drivers.
A setup wizard should appear. Read and accept the license agreement, wait for the installation to finish, then click Finish.
Now, plug in your Xbox One controller. It may vibrate briefly, and you should see a “driver software installed successfully” message on the System Tray.
At this point, you should be ready to play. Games that support Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controller should automatically recognize the Xbox One controller without any additional setup (with some exceptions described below).
Potential issues
The biggest problem is that several of the games I tested would not recognize the controller, including Dark Souls II, Transistor and Eldritch. The controller did recognize several other games, including Dishonored, Super Meat Boy and Trials Evolution. Uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers did not help, so hopefully this is just a temporary issue that Microsoft and game developers can resolve through updates.
Also, the first time I installed the driver, Windows 7 showed a “Runtime Error” after plugging in the controller, followed by an “XboxStat.exe has stopped working” error. The controller still worked, but the message was a nuisance. These messages went away after reinstalling the driver.
Finally, keep in mind that plugging the controller into a PC will break its wireless connection to the Xbox One. You’ll have to plug the controller back into the console via USB to pair them again.
Once upon a time, Microsoft didn't support its own controllers on its own PC platform. You needed hacked drivers and workarounds to use the excellent Xbox One controller with PC games. That's no longer the case, with official drivers built right into Windows 10. So, while it's easy to do, there's more to it than just plugging it in. Here's a complete guide.
Products used in this guide
- The controller: Xbox One controller ($47)
- The cable: Anker micro USB cable ($11)
- Going wireless: Xbox Wireless Adapter ($23)
- For USB-C PCs: AmazonBasics USB-C adapter ($9)
- The app: Xbox Accessories for Windows 10 (Free)
How to use a micro USB cable with the Xbox One controller
By far the simplest way to use an Xbox One controller is to use a micro USB cable. Attach to the connector on your controller and any free USB port on your PC, and it'll automatically recognize it's there and you're good to go.
Any decent cable will do the trick, even the one that you use to charge your phone.
However, it's not just desktop PCs that you can use an Xbox One controller with. It's perfectly possible to use it with a tablet or laptop, and in those cases, you may only have USB-C connectors available.
The easiest thing to do is get a USB-C to USB-A dongle, allowing you to use a regular micro USB cable through the USB-C connector on your laptop or tablet.
The Xbox Wireless Adapter
Microsoft also has an official wireless dongle for Windows PCs that allows you to go wire free. The first-generation controller and the Xbox Elite controller don't support Bluetooth, so to go wireless on your PC you'll need the dongle.
It isn't expensive, and the redesigned model is much smaller than the original. Simply plug it in to your PC and connect your controller to is as you would the Xbox One, by holding down the pairing button on the top.
The Bluetooth controller
The current generation Xbox One controller from Microsoft supports Bluetooth. Any currently on sale, or that came with the Xbox One S or Xbox One X have Bluetooth capabilites. That means you can connect it to any Windows PC, laptop, or tablet that has Bluetooth built in.
- Open settings on your PC.
- Go to devices.
- Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
- Turn on the controller by pressing the large round X button.
- Click on the controller in your discovered devices to pair.
This is particularly handy if you're taking a controller on the road with you and your laptop. One less cable to pack!
Taking advantage of the Xbox Accessories app
This is particularly handy if you're using an Xbox Elite Controller, as the Xbox Accessories app allows you to customize the buttons and paddles to a layout of your choice.
It's in the Windows Store to download to your PC, all you need to do is connect the controller to the PC to get started. There's a bunch of things you can do to customize your controller for your favorite games, and you can save two profiles to the Elite Controller at any one time.
All the gear you need
Exactly which piece of equipment you need will depend on which controller you want to use with which type of Windows PC. The list below covers off everything you might need to get your hands on.
Xbox One Controller($47 at Amazon)
The Xbox One Controller is officially supported by Windows 10, and it's also the best around!
Xbox Controller For Pc Download
Anker micro USB cable($11 at Amazon)
This braided cable from Anker is reliable, braided for durability and plenty long enough to reach your gaming PC.
Xbox Wireless Adapter($23 at Amazon)
The official wireless adapter from Microsoft, this is what you need if you're using an Elite or first-gen controller to go wire-free.
AmazonBasics USB-C adapter($9 at Amazon)
For laptops and tablets without regular USB ports, pop this into the USB-C connector and use a regular micro USB cable with your controller.
Xbox Accessories app(Free at Microsoft)
Particularly useful for Elite Controller owners, this app allows you to customize button layouts, paddles and save your favorite profiles for easy use.
This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for more details.
Xbox Controller Driver Software For Pc Computer
Richard Devine
Xbox Controller Driver Software For Pc Download
Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.