How to connect an Xbox controller to your Windows PC — wired and wireless gaming made easy
Game controllers on PC has come a long way since early serial and game port devices, and Windows now makes it easier than ever to get your game on.
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How can you connect your new gaming controller to a Windows 11 or 10 PC, and what can you do with it? Let us show you how to get your game on as quickly and simply as possible.
Years ago, gaming on PCs was restricted to the arrow keys, or W,A,S,D and a mouse. Over the years, game controllers made their way to the PC. Some connected via serial interfaces, others via your sound card’s MIDI/game port. This is when we usually ended up in driver hell, which often ate into our gaming time. The advent of USB eliminated this issue, and modern Windows operating systems now detect and configure the controller automatically. Here's the fastest way to complete this process.
Using a Wired Connection for your Controller
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The simplest way to connect your controller to a Windows 11 PC is via a USB cable.
1. Using the correct cable, connect the cable to the controller. Older Xbox controllers use Micro USB. The newer Series X/S pads use USB Type-C. Remember to purchase a good, quality data cable, as some cables are only for charging.
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2. Connect the controller to the PC. Windows will detect and configure it ready for use.
3. Press the Xbox button to launch the Xbox Game Bar, proving that your controller is connected.
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5. Start playing games!
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Connecting Your Controller Via Bluetooth
1. Press the Xbox button until it turns on and starts flashing slowly.
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2. Press and hold the connect button until the Xbox button starts flashing faster. This signifies that the controller is going into pairing mode.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
3. On your Windows PC, go to the system tray and click on the Bluetooth icon, select Add a Bluetooth device.
