Is your Xbox One controller not working? This is an annoying issue faced by many Xbox owners. While today's wireless controllers are more convenient than the wired controllers of previous systems, they come with their own set of problems.
In this troubleshooting guide, we'll show you some solutions you can try when your Xbox One controller won't connect, sync, or even turn on properly. By the end, you should be playing the game once again, fingers crossed!
If you can't even get your Xbox One controller to connect to your console, there are some common issues to check.
Do you have eight controllers already connected to your console? While you probably won't use this very often, the maximum number of controllers Xbox One supports is eight. In this case, you cannot connect more controllers. Hold the Xbox Button on a controller and choose Turn off controller in the resulting menu to do so.
Also, remember that you can only pair one controller with an Xbox One system at a time . If you go to a friend's house and pair your controller with their Xbox, you'll need to pair it with yours again. This also applies if you connect your Xbox One controller to a PC How to set up your Xbox One controller with Windows 10 How to set up your Xbox One controller with Windows 10 Microsoft has made it easy to use an Xbox controller on Windows 10. Here's how to connect via via USB or wirelessly. Read more . (See the “Xbox One controller is flashing” section below for more on this.)
What if your controller pairs normally but then goes offline? This can ruin a great multiplayer game and is extremely frustrating to deal with.
Remember that It's a normal battery saving feature of the Xbox One controller to power off if you don't use it for 15 minutes. . This isn't an issue when you're gaming, but it can get in the way if you primarily use your Xbox One as a media center PS4 vs. Xbox One:Which is the best media player? PS4 vs. Xbox One:What is the best media player? Are you thinking of buying a game console for its multimedia capabilities? Let's find out if the PS4 or Xbox One is the best choice for your entertainment setup. Read more . You'll have to flick a thumbstick or press a button every so often if you don't want to reconnect later by pressing Xbox Button .
However, if you're having trouble logging out, it's likely to happen much more frequently than every 15 minutes. If that's the case, you can try some troubleshooting steps.
It is important to confirm that your batteries are charged when you experience this problem. Tap the Xbox Button , then look for the battery icon in the bottom right corner. If they are low, replace or charge as needed.
Frequent disconnections can also be rooted in interference. The Xbox One controller has a range of about 19-28 feet, depending on Xbox support. Try to get closer to your console . You should also remove any obstructions between the controller and the console, such as laptops, metal shelves, and the like. If your Xbox is inside an entertainment center, try moving it outside to get a better connection.
If you press the Xbox button on your controller and it just flickers or blinks, this usually indicates that your controller is not paired to a console . As mentioned above, this happens when the controller is paired with another system. But it can also happen due to failures.
Follow our guide to link an Xbox One controller to your console How to Sync an Xbox One Controller How to Sync an Xbox One Controller Need to sync your Xbox One controller to your console? Here's how to easily sync an Xbox One controller and some troubleshooting tips if it doesn't work. Read More
If your controller doesn't pair with the buttons, try using a micro-USB cable to pair it. If this still doesn't work, you need to restart the console. Press and hold the power button on the front of your system for 10 seconds to turn it off completely. Then press it again to turn it back on.
This is another common problem, with solutions similar to the ones above.
If your Xbox One controller won't turn on, Make sure the batteries aren't dead . If the batteries are low, the controller will not turn on at all. Remove the back cover and replace the two AA batteries, then try again. You can also purchase the Xbox One Play &Charge Kit to get rechargeable batteries.
If changing batteries doesn't work, try this:
We've covered the specific cases mentioned above, but you should know of some other solutions if they didn't fix your problem.
Your Xbox One controller actually has firmware that gets updates sometimes. You don't get them often, but corrupted or outdated firmware could cause disconnection issues.
If your controller is functional, you can update it by tapping Xbox Button to open the guide. Go to System> Settings> Kinect and devices> Devices and accessories . Select your controller, then choose Ellipsis Menu> Firmware Version to check for updates.
Sometimes Xbox One accessories, connected to the controller or console, can experience connection issues. If you have an external hard drive, keyboard, or the like connected to your Xbox, try unplugging it and try again. Do the same for the stereo headphone adapter on your controller if you have one.
If you're trying to sync your controller with a micro-USB cable, make sure you're using a high-quality one. Poorly made or frayed/damaged cables When to throw away your missing cables and phone chargers When to throw away your missing cables and phone chargers Let's start here - in a benevolent ploy, we only want you to read this article for one reason:to throw away those mangled and damaged chargers NOW . Read More
As with all troubleshooting, you can determine where the problem is by trying different devices. Try connecting a different controller (with charged batteries) to your system.
If it works fine, then you have a problem with the original driver. But if both have problems, then you probably have a problem with your console.
We mentioned it above, but it bears repeating:Make sure you restart your console when troubleshooting the driver. Simply tapping the power button on the front of the system only puts it into sleep mode, so be sure to hold it down for at least 10 seconds for a complete shutdown.
Sometimes a quick reboot is all it takes to fix your problem.
If you find that connection issues are fixed by using a USB cable, it would be best to use your controller as a wired device to avoid future issues. You can buy an extra long micro-USB cable so you don't have to worry about sitting far away from your system.
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If nothing else works, go to the Microsoft Device Support page. Sign in with your Microsoft account, register your console if you haven't already, and you can follow the steps to replace your controller. You may also find a deal on a new controller to replace it.
Hopefully one of these tips fixed your Xbox One controller issue. Whether your controller won't connect, disconnects, or just won't turn on, something here should get you back in the game.
For more tips on how to get the most out of your current gaming console, check out The Xbox One Settings All Gamers Should Know 10 Useful Xbox One Settings You May Have Missed 10 Useful Xbox One Settings You May Have Missed If you have a Xbox One You should be aware of these useful hidden settings on your console. Here are ten that you can use to modify the Xbox to your liking. Read more.
