How to use xbox360 controller on pc games

If you have success using the wireless models, be sure to drop a note in the comments and share your tips and tricks. Installing the Xbox controller should be a pretty painless affair. Plug your controller into an unoccupied USB port on your Windows machine. Windows should automatically detect and install the drivers for the device and in under 10 seconds the computer will be accepting input from the controller. If, during the following diagnostic tests, it becomes clear that the installation did not go as planned, you can visit the support page for the controller here and download the appropriate drivers for your version of Windows.

To test out the controller, we have a two prong approach. The first thing you want to do is go to the Start Menu and type joy. This will pull up the Game Controllers control panel like so:. Clicking Properties pulls up the controller properties for the controller.

Select the Test tab. Try out each button on the controller. If you fail to get any input at all, go back to the beginning of this section and download the drivers. The configuration wizard will walk you through identifying and correctly calibrating each button and joystick.

You can follow along with any application that allows you to select custom inputs. All you need to do in order to remap the button shortcuts from the ZXAS keyboard configuration they are in to the buttons on the controller is to double-click each entry with the mouse and then press the button on the Xbox controller like so:. Simply repeat the process for all the buttons you wish to map to the Xbox controller.

Xpadder is a portable application, once you purchase the app and download the executable, you just need to pick a folder for it and run through a very basic initial configuration. Here you can opt to have the profiles and other information saved either in your My Documents folder or the location of the program.

We like to keep our portable apps tidy so we opted to keep all the data with the Program location. Next, you can opt to associate the unique profiles of XPadder with the application. We opted to associate the file to save ourselves a little time in the future. Right now it looks pretty bare as the app comes with no default controller configuration. No matter the issue, the cause was probably in the controller packaging. Microsoft officially sells wireless Xbox controller s for PC in a bundle with the receiver adapter.

Anyone wondering how to connect an Xbox controller to a PC without a receiver will be disappointed. The only 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. If you get a 3rd party receiver, you might run into some trouble. A rule of thumb is: The cheaper you go, the higher your chances of encountering problems during setup or gaming. Insert the receiver into a USB slot.

If you are using a 3rd party receiver, here is a tip that will save you a lot of hassle: plug these receivers in a back USB slot or a powered USB hub. Once you put the receiver in, Windows should automatically install the necessary drivers.

At the time of writing this article, Microsoft retired a large number of Xbox accessories, including the Xbox Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows. Fortunately, the latest Windows updates have driver support for all official and most unofficial receivers. Press the Windows and X or right-click the Start button to open up the start menu. From the menu, select the Device Manager. Under Other Devices, you will see the Unknown Device item.

Select the Xbox Wireless Receiver for Windows. Step 4. Open a game that support your controller and then press a button, pull a trigger, or move a stick on the controller to test if your controller works properly.

Then you can follow the steps below to setup a wireless Xbox controller on a Windows PC and to play games with it. Prepare an Xbox wireless gaming receiver.

Once it is plugged in, you will see a green light appeared on the receiver, which indicates that the unit is working properly. Install software to make sure the gaming receiver and the wireless Xbox controller to properly sync with one another.

Step 5. Then you need to turn on the Xbox wireless controller. Press and hold the Xbox Guide button to turn on it. Viewed k times. Is there any way for me to use an Xbox controller to play Steam games?

Improve this question. Chris Salij Chris Salij 1 1 gold badge 2 2 silver badges 7 7 bronze badges. Add a comment.

Active Oldest Votes. In the Store page of every Steam Game you can check if one of these symbols is available. Improve this answer. Drake Drake 42k 84 84 gold badges silver badges bronze badges.

On steam, the game's page will often specifically say that is has controller support. Community Bot 1. This is disturbing, considering one of the specifications to get the Games for Windows certification is to have Xbox controller support.

Actually, it's not. I added controller support for a cheapo controller of mine to bioshock 1 - do they use the same config files? If anyone's interested maybe I can find it This answer is no longer correct. As of or so, Bioshock 2 on steam was updated and now finally includes controller support.

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