Almost all PC games can be played not only on a keyboard and mouse, but also on an Xbox One controller. This is especially convenient if you like sports simulators: football, hockey, basketball.
Fans of platformers and fighting games can... increase your “skill” significantly, if they play on a joystick.
What has changed since the Xbox 360
Xbox One controller in appearance became more modern. Engineers from Microsoft made it more compact, redesigned the cross, worked on the design and added several new features. The result is a good gamepad, not inferior to its predecessor.
The changes affected almost all controls. Small “ribs” appeared on the sticks, due to which the finger slips less often.
Button Guide moved a little higher. Now, if your finger does slip off the stick, you won't accidentally press the center button.
Buttons X, Y, A, B now the same color. Only letters are marked with colors. On the Xbox 360 gamepad, the buttons were completely painted over: blue, yellow, green, red.
The triggers on the new joystick differ not only in size, but also the smoothness of pressing. If earlier we heard a distinct click sound, now everything sounds quieter and more pleasant.
Ways to connect an Xbox One controller to a computer
The connection method will depend on the revision of the game controller, as well as its configuration. In addition, you need to take into account presence of a wireless adapter on the PC and operating system version.
There are only 3 options, how to connect a joystick from Xbox One to PC:
- Using a micro USB cable;
- Via Bluetooth;
- Through a receiver for a wireless gamepad.
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How to Connect an Xbox One Controller to a Windows 10 PC
Option 1. The easiest way is to use joystick charging cable.
All you need to do:
- Insert cable to USB connector on the computer;
- Connect the controller at the other end.
A message indicating successful setup will appear in the lower right corner. That's it, now you can start the game and check the gamepad in action. No additional settings are required.
Updating the Xbox One controller via your computer occurs automatically if in the Windows 10 settings Auto driver updates enabled. If this setting is disabled, the built-in firmware of the Xbox One controller will be used.
If you buy a joystick separately from the console, it is included there may be no batteries or even a USB cable. Be sure to check this information with the seller so you don’t have to go to the store a second time.
Option 2. When connecting your Xbox One Wireless Controller to your PC via Bluetooth, keep in mind that not all controllers have this feature. To determine for sure whether your joystick has the appropriate adapter, pay attention to the body.
Gamepad on the left supports Bluetooth communication, but the one on the right is not.
How to connect:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your computer;
- Click Xbox center button on the joystick;
- For 3 seconds, hold the controller binding button, which is located near the triggers on the top panel;
- On PC, go to the menu "Start" and open “Settings” - “Devices” - “Bluetooth and other devices”.
- Select device "Xbox Wireless Controller" and press "To tie".
Option 3. if you have Microsoft Xbox One Controller and Wireless Adapter(a device for wirelessly connecting a joystick), you can use these setup instructions:
- On your computer, open "Options" and go to "Devices";
- Press "Add Bluetooth or other device";
- In the tab "Other" will appear "Xbox Wireless Controller", which needs to be selected.
- Confirm the action by clicking the button "Ready".
Windows 7/8
Once you connect your Xbox One controller to the USB port, Drivers will be updated automatically(if the computer is connected to the Internet). Next, the system itself will install the necessary drivers. If automatic updates are disabled, enable automatic software search in Device Manager. This will help if the computer does not see the Xbox One joystick.
Although the mouse and keyboard are the traditional input means for computer games, many games also use joysticks. Many users prefer them, having experience playing on consoles and getting used to joysticks. In addition, joysticks are finding use in emerging virtual reality games.
If you own a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One console, you can use their joysticks to play games on computers. A few simple steps will allow you to connect the joysticks to your computer and configure them.
Xbox One controller
The joystick from the Xbox One is one of the simplest to use on Windows, and support for it is integrated into the Windows 10 version. Computers running Windows 7 and Windows 8 can also use these joysticks, although this one is a little more complicated. Joysticks from Xbox One have excellent compatibility with most other gamepads, including Sony DualShock 4 joysticks.
Connecting an Xbox One controller via microUSB
The easiest way to connect an Xbox One joystick to a computer is via a USB-microUSB cable using drivers for the latest versions of Windows. You just need to connect the joystick to the connector; you don’t need to do anything else.- If you're using Windows 10, Xbox One controller drivers come pre-installed. They will be updated automatically through the Xbox Accessories app.
- Windows 7 and 8 users can use the Xbox One joystick through automatic downloading. After connecting the joystick to the computer, the necessary drivers will install themselves.
Connecting an Xbox One joystick via the Xbox Wireless Adapter
If you prefer to use a wireless Xbox One controller, Microsoft sells wireless adapters. This is a keychain for connecting to a USB connector, which allows you to simultaneously connect eight joysticks to it.
The Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows can be used on versions 7, 8, and 10, supporting all Xbox One controller models. A limited number of modern joysticks have additional support for the Bluetooth communication standard; the adapter allows you to connect your computer via a proprietary wireless connection for all Xbox One models.
To use the Xbox Wireless Adapter, follow these steps:
- Connect the Xbox Wireless Adapter to your Windows computer.
- The adapter must be detected by the system, and drivers will be installed automatically.
- To connect the joystick, press the binding button on the adapter and on the joystick.
- Wait until the devices discover each other.
Connecting an Xbox One joystick via Bluetooth
Along with the release of the Xbox One S console this year, Microsoft introduced a new joystick for it. This version of the joystick has new internal components, including support for connection via the Bluetooth communication standard. If you own a new joystick, you won't need a wireless adapter to connect it to your computer.
Here's how to connect your Xbox One controller to your computer via Bluetooth:
- Make sure you have the latest version of Windows 10 installed.
- Press the Xbox button to turn on the joystick.
- Press the bind button on the top of the joystick for three seconds.
- In Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth.
- Select the Xbox wireless controller from the list of available devices and click Connect.
PlayStation DualShock 4 gamepad
Although Sony PlayStation joysticks do not have native support for Windows, there are several methods for connecting them to your computer. To get better results, you will have to use third-party solutions.
A wireless PlayStation DualShock 4 joystick adapter for Windows is also available, but is not recommended due to limited game compatibility. Designed for use with the PlayStation Now gaming service, the DualShock 4 joystick is not compatible with this adapter in most games.
Connecting a PlayStation DualShock 4 controller via microUSB
Although the DualShock 4 joystick can be used on PC, connecting directly to Windows 10 is not currently available. The joystick can be connected to Windows, but assigning actions to the buttons for control in games is difficult.To make the joystick work with your computer, you need a third-party program called DS4Windows. This is a simple program that helps the joystick emulate an Xbox 360 gamepad; to configure it you need to follow these steps:
- Download the DS4Windows ZIP archive from here.
- Unpack the archive and you will see two programs - DS4Windows and DS4Updater.
- Launch DS4Windows.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation process. When prompted to connect the joystick, use the USB-microUSB cable.
Connecting a PlayStation DualShock 4 joystick via Bluetooth
All versions of DualShock 4 have Bluetooth support, so you can connect them to your computer via this standard. As with a wired connection, it is best to use DS4Windows.
Follow these steps:
- The PlayStation joystick must be disabled.
- Hold down the PlayStation and Share buttons at the same time. The joystick light bar will begin to blink, indicating the transition to connection mode.
- When your device is in pairing mode, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth.
- Select a wireless controller from the list of available devices and click Connect.
We've covered the process of connecting Xbox One and PlayStation 4 joysticks, but there are many third-party joysticks available for purchase.
Xbox One owners today have the opportunity to use the standard console controller on a desktop computer. This does not require soldering irons or exotic adapters, everything is simple and easy, sometimes you don’t even need to install special software drivers. Who wouldn't want to be able to stream games from their Xbox One to the top ten, in this case a standard gamepad would be just the perfect solution. No matter how simple it is, there are users who do not yet know how to do this. Let's take a brief look at this matter.
Tools
To connect an Xbox One controller to your computer you will need:
- Actually, the controller itself;
- USB cord (microUSB);
- A computer with Windows 7 or Windows 7 installed.
So, we connect the gamepad to the computer via a USB cable, the system detects the new device and tries to install its drivers, if everything is fine with the OS, then Windows 10 will do everything itself, install the drivers, you just need a little patience. Suddenly? Yes, that’s really all, now you can safely play using the Xbox One controller.
Old OS versions
Things are a little different with older versions of OS from small soft ones, here you will have to find and download drivers yourself, and then install them on your PC. Just don’t forget about the difference in files intended for operating systems of different bits, there are for 32-bit and 64. We download only for your OS, usually it is no more than three megabytes. After installing the driver, you can connect the manipulator, the system will again detect the new device and install the drivers previously downloaded to the system. That's it, you can play again.
It is worth noting that if you intend to use one controller on both the computer and the console, then after playing games on the PC you will have to re-synchronize the gamepad with the Xbox One. This is also easy to do, just press a special button on the manipulator and on the console at the same time, synchronization will take place automatically. You can also connect the gamepad via a cord.
Without cable on PC?
Some would like to get rid of the cable when playing on a computer; this is really inconvenient, but, unfortunately, Microsoft is in no hurry to release a wireless receiver for a computer, so gamers will have to be content with only a wired controller for now. But there is still light in the tunnel, a receiver for a gamepad has already been announced, so soon you can buy it for $25, or buy a complete set for $80 right away. This device, similar to a Bluetooth flash drive, will need to be inserted into a USB port and you can enjoy games without any wires, just like on a console.
Compatibility.
At the moment, the Xbox One controller is the most “pc friendly” gaming controller. Of course, if we are talking about the current version of Windows - Windows 10.
Almost immediately after the launch of the Xbox One game console on the market, Microsoft implemented the ability to connect the XBox One gamepad to a computer (Windows 7 and 8), but to begin with, only via wire, via a USB cable.
That is why the “Gamepad + cable for Windows” kit was born, which included a standard, wireless, XBox One gamepad and micro-USB<->USB cable for wired connection.
There are three versions of these kits in total:
set with a gamepad of the first revision (7MN-00002*) and with a gamepad of the second revision (EX6-00002*)
and a set with a gamepad of the third revision (4N6-00002*)
Naturally, the gamepads from these kits are no different from regular XBox One gamepads of the corresponding revisions.
*The last digit in the code of any gaming accessories from Microsoft varies depending on the region of sale.
So.
Some time after the release of the XBox One, Microsoft released drivers for the then current Windows 8, as well as Windows 7; these drivers allowed the XBox One gamepad to be used with a PC, like a standard XInput controller, but only “over the wire”. These are the drivers:
And only with the release of Windows 10, the situation with wire dependence changed. In mid-2015, a wireless adapter went on sale, with which it became possible to connect an XBox One gamepad to a PC “over the air”: 
The wireless adapter supports simultaneous connection of: eight gamepads, or four gamepads and four headsets, or two gamepads and two stereo headsets.
Initially, the wireless adapter was compatible exclusively with Windows 10, for which the adapter was announced. But in December 2015, Microsoft took pity on users and released a driver:
adding adapter support to Windows 7 and 8. True, in a somewhat neutered form. Here is the official compatibility table:
Unlike Windows 10, Windows 7 and 8 do not support: sound transmission (to a headset connected to the gamepad), as well as the operation of vibration triggers. Compatibility with some games is also poor.
But a small wireless adapter released at the end of 2017 is completely and irrevocably compatible exclusively with Windows 10:
and no amount of tricks will be able to make him friends with the seven and eight.
Otherwise (except for size), there are no functional differences from the large adapter.
If we talk about Bluetooth, implemented in gamepads of the third revision, full-fledged operation when connecting a gamepad using this protocol is also possible only in Windows 10 with updates that were current at the time the gamepad was released. But more on that below.
Based on all of the above, the Xbox One gamepad is a gamepad for Windows 10 OS. And only in this OS is it fully supported. This is worth considering when choosing a game controller.
Gamepad revisions.
Since the introduction of the Xbox One gamepad, three revisions of the gamepad have been released:
Gamepads of the first revision (MODEL - 1537) have hard bumpers (LB and RB buttons) and did not have a 3.5-inch headphone/headphone input;
A distinctive feature of the gamepads of the second revision (MODEL - 1697) are soft bumpers and a separate 3.5-inch input for headphones/headsets;
The third revision (MODEL - 1708) added: Bluetooth support, increased range, and the gamepad also acquired a textured coating on the back surface;
The elite gamepad still exists in one revision. There are rumors that the elite gamepad v2 will be released in 2018, but this is not certain
Bluetooth.
In the third revision of the gamepad, Bluetooth support appeared, in addition to the already existing connection interfaces: USB cable and proprietary 5Ghz wireless protocol.
The appearance of Bluetooth in the gamepad has significantly expanded the range of supported devices. Now the gamepad can be connected to Android smartphones\tablets\TV (depending on the specific device model, check before purchasing) and PCs running Windows 10:
When connected via Bluetooth to a PC (with the current version of Windows 10), the basic functions of the gamepad are supported (including vibration of all four motors) with the exception of audio transmission. In some cases, for normal operation, you may need to update the gamepad firmware.
There are user reviews on the Internet where, when connecting a gamepad via Bluetooth, a window pops up asking you to enter a secret code. Like this:
I was able to reproduce this scenario using a very old Bluetooth adapter. Attempts to enter four zeros as a password, or not to enter a password at all, did not yield any results. The gamepad did not want to be friends with the old adapter. The advice here is to use Bluetooth adapters no younger than version 3.0.
There is also a great variety of various junk from Chinese and not so internet flea markets, but I have neither the time nor the desire to delve into it.
Drivers\Software.
Drivers.
All necessary drivers (if we are talking about Windows 10) are installed on the gamepad and adapter automatically, no additional movements are required. The only thing you need to keep an eye on is that the version of Windows 10 on your PC is up to date.
However, there are situations when the driver still needs to be downloaded manually. All drivers can be easily found in the Windows Update catalog:
and are slipped through the device manager.
Xbox Accessories app.
With the Xbox Accessories app you can:
- Update the gamepad firmware (if necessary);
- Configure button mapping;
- Turn vibration on/off, check vibration of triggers and motors;
- Check the battery charge;
- Enable/disable co-op mode (two gamepads required);
- In the case of an elite controller, configure additional gamepad functions
Using a gamepad from Xbox One and 360, you can control games both on the console and on your computer, thereby replacing the mouse and keyboard. Let's look at options for connecting Xbox gamepads to a PC.
Wireless controller from Xbox One + PC
1) Wired connection via micro-USB cable
An Xbox One controller can be connected to a PC using a USB cable. To do this you need to have:
- Wireless controller from Xbox One;
- Cable "USB - micro-USB";
- PC with Windows 7 and above.
We connect one part of the wire to the gamepad, and insert the other into the USB connector on the computer. Most often, drivers are downloaded automatically. For Windows 10 owners, you won’t have to configure anything yourself.
× Problems occur when on a computer with Win 7, 8 and 8.1 Automatic software update is not enabled, then the installation must be done manually.
- Go to “Settings”, then to “Devices” and at the bottom “Device Manager”;
- Select the line “Microsoft XboxOne Gamepad”, then right-click and “Update Drivers”;
- We do “Automatic search...” (Internet required);
- We are waiting for the driver to install and check.
If the joy does not work, then switch it to another USB connector on the computer.
2) Xbox Wireless Adapter for PC
To operate the controller, perform the following steps:
- We connect the adapter to the PC via a USB connector;
- Go to “Settings” – “Devices” – “Bluetooth and other devices”;
- There, click “Add Bluetooth or other device”;
- Find “Everyone else” and click on “XboxOne Gamepad”
- We install and check the functionality of the controller.
3) Connection via Bluetooth
A distinctive feature of the updated gamepad from Xbox One S and future X, is that it has Bluetooth technology. The device is compatible with any hardware on which the operating system is installed Windows-10 system.
To connect the gamepad to the PC via Bluetooth, do the following:
- Turn on the Xbox One S controller;
- Turn on Bluetooth on the computer and go to “Settings” - “Devices” - “Add Bluetooth or other device”;
- We look for “Gamepad from XboxOne” and activate the device;
- Let's check and enjoy.
× Mode « In airplane» turns off all radio modules (WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS).
Gamepads from Xbox 360 for PC
1) Wired Xbox 360 joystick.
On Win10, drivers are installed automatically, there should be no difficulties.
On Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 You may have to install the software yourself:
- We go to the Microsoft store, look for the gamepad you need, and click “Downloads”.
- Select the desired version of the operating system (7, Vista or XP).
- Download, install and reboot the PC;
- We connect the Xbox 360 gamepad and check.
For Windows 8 and 8.1 use Win7 compatibility mode. To do this you need:
- Download software for 7;
- After downloading, right-click on the file and select “Properties”;
- “Compatibility” tab and check the “Run this program in compatibility mode” checkbox;
- Select the OS “Windows 7” and the “OK” button;
- We start installing the drivers, then connect the gamepad and check the settings.
2) Xbox 360 wireless joystick.
- We connect the receiver to the USB-2.0 input on the PC.
- The driver installation will begin automatically, but you can install them from a disk or from the Internet.
- We turn on the controller from XBox 360.
- Press the button on the Receiver, and then click the “Connect” button on Geimad 360(from above between the triggers).
- The connection will be established when the lights stop blinking and turn solid green.