Controller tester / Connection guides
How to connect an Xbox controller to a PC
Windows supports Xbox controllers out of the box, and most PC games expect one. Pick the connection you have; the box below turns green when your PC sees the controller.
No controller detected yet
Follow the steps below, then press any button on the controller. This box turns green when the connection works.
Plug it in with a USB cable (quickest)
Use a USB-C cable for Xbox Series X|S controllers or micro-USB for Xbox One controllers. Windows installs the driver by itself within a few seconds. If nothing happens, try another cable that carries data, not only charge.
Or use the Xbox Wireless Adapter
Plug the adapter into a USB port and press its pair button until its light flashes. Then hold the small pair button on top of the controller, next to the charging port, until the Xbox button flashes quickly. The adapter works with every Xbox One and Series controller and supports headsets plugged into the controller.
Or pair it over Bluetooth
Bluetooth works on Xbox Series X|S controllers and on Xbox One controllers made since 2016; on those, the plastic around the Xbox button is part of the front, not the top. Turn the controller on, then hold the pair button until the Xbox button flashes quickly.
On Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Add device › Bluetooth; on Windows 10, Settings › Devices › Bluetooth & other devices › Add Bluetooth or other device › Bluetooth. Choose Xbox Wireless Controller. Over Bluetooth, a headset plugged into the controller won't carry audio.
Update the controller
Install the free Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store, connect the controller with a USB cable and install any update it offers. Updates fix many Bluetooth dropouts and input lag problems.
Check every button and stick
Once the box above is green, open the Xbox controller tester to see every button, trigger and stick live, test both rumble motors in the vibration test, and run the drift test if a stick moves on its own.
Questions
Why won't my Xbox controller connect to my PC?
Try a different cable first. For Bluetooth, check your controller has Bluetooth, remove it from your devices and pair again, and update it in the Xbox Accessories app. If it keeps reconnecting to your Xbox console, unplug the console while you pair.
Do I need the Xbox Wireless Adapter?
No. A cable or Bluetooth works for most people. The adapter helps if your PC has no Bluetooth, you want to connect several controllers, or you use a headset through the controller.
Can I use my Xbox controller with my console and PC?
Yes. After a controller update, recent Xbox controllers can switch between your console and a Bluetooth device with a double press of the pair button; otherwise pair again. A USB cable always works without pairing.
Does trigger rumble work on PC?
In games that support it, yes. You can try it in Chrome or Edge on Windows with our vibration test.
Last checked 2026-10-17. Menu names can change between system updates.