The situation when an external controller doesn’t work on the PC can be quite annoying, especially when Windows recognizes the equipment but your game still remains unresponsive to input from the controller.
Both the Xbox controller and the DualSense controller have two options for their connections through USB or Bluetooth, but they may sometimes not work due to problems with the connection, outdated drivers, and the fact that the device is not properly paired, and also in case the game is not supporting the controller features, etc.
If only physically plugged in the controller you don’t get it to detect try the fixes below one after another.
Verify the Controller Connection
Making sure of the controller connection is a very common problem and you need to make physical contact of controller and PC by first physically disconnecting it and reconnecting it directly to your PC if you’re going through USB. Try using a fresh USB port and keep away USB hubs for now in your troubleshooting. Also check out Microsoft’s suggestion which is to use a different USB port and verify your cables when the connected device isn’t working properly.
In the case of wireless connectivity you should confirm that battery is charged enough and that Bluetooth is on if the device is not detected by Windows. If it’s not then check Bluetooth device settings by going into Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices > Add device and then go through the pairing steps.
Solve the Xbox Controller Problem on PC
Your game doesn’t recognize the controller even though you successfully connected your Xbox controller and that Windows should be able to see it. First of all check whether the device is listed here in the Windows settings. If you have a physical USB controller, you can also check if the device manager is pointing to the right kind of device or input devices for the controller.
Disconnection and the controller, followed by restarting your computer, and reconnection may also be helpful. Once in the problem state you can make sure you get all latest drivers via Microsoft’s Windows Update that’s also a driver source within the Device Manager.
To avert a problem in Bluetooth pairing, delete the currently active Bluetooth device on your PC, and then do it all over again. If your controller keeps disconnecting, trying out USB will not only let you enjoy your preferred gaming, but you will also learn quickly whether the connection issues are caused by the wireless signal itself or not.
Fix DualSense Not Working on PC
The DualSense PC fix often starts with checking whether the controller is properly paired. PlayStation officially supports DualSense connections to Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 through both Bluetooth and USB. However, controller features can vary between games.
For Bluetooth pairing, turn off the controller first. Then hold the Create button and PS button together until the light bar starts blinking. On Windows, select the controller from the available Bluetooth devices. PlayStation notes that the DualSense can be paired with only one device at a time through its standard pairing process.
If Bluetooth remains unreliable, connect the DualSense with a USB data cable. Some DualSense features, including haptic feedback, may require a wired connection on PC when supported by the game.
Check Whether the Game Supports Your Controller
Sometimes the controller is working correctly, but the game does not support it properly. This is particularly important with DualSense, because controller support and features can vary from one PC game to another.
If you’re using Steam, check the game’s store page for its Controller Support information. PlayStation specifically recommends checking whether a game offers full or partial controller support.
Also check the game’s input settings. Some games require you to select a controller or gamepad manually before it responds.
Update Window Operating System Software and Drivers
The issue of the hardware detection of the controller by Windows could be linked to old versions of operating system files or device drivers, so it is recommended that you install the latest Windows updates and check for driver updates in the Device Manager.
In the case of Windows still failing to recognize the controller, the solution could be to uninstall the device from Device Manager and let it be detected by Windows again after re-connection of the device. Device drivers should always be kept updated by Microsoft when you are dealing with hardware problems.
Use Reset Option in DualSense Controller
One of the ways to get your DualSense controller to work after it keeps disconnecting or not pairing is to reset. In one of PlayStation’s troubleshooting methods, they show the process of pressing the small button to reset located at the back of the controller by the Sony logo for at most five seconds before you connect the device.
After the device comes back to its factory setting, reconnect the controller either via Bluetooth technology or physical port of a USB.
If the Controller Keeps on Getting Disconnected
If an Xbox controller that was being operated on a PC repeatedly got dis-connected, then it is good to evaluate connections both wired and wireless. If there is a problem that a wired connection cannot detect and the PC can, then you should consider other factors like the possibility of Bluetooth malfunction.
Additionally, you can try other ways like using different USB ports, removing any USB hubs, restarting the PC, and checking whether the controller is working on a different device. On the possibility that you get the same problems with multiple computers, either the cable or the hardware of the controller needs repair.
Conclusion
A controller not working on PC does not always mean the controller is faulty. Start by checking the USB or Bluetooth connection, then verify Windows detection, update drivers, confirm game compatibility, and test the controller with another connection method. For DualSense, resetting and pairing again can also resolve persistent connection problems. These steps can help get both Xbox and PlayStation controllers working without unnecessary troubleshooting.
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