Is your Xbox I controller not working, or maybe you're having problems with an Xbox Series X|S controller? This is an annoying problem that a lot of Xbox owners face up. While today'due south wireless controllers are more convenient than the wired ones of previous systems, they come with their own prepare of issues.

In this troubleshooting guide, nosotros'll show you how to ready your Xbox One controller when it won't connect, sync, or fifty-fifty turn on properly. Past the end, you'll be back to gaming. And while we focus on the Xbox One hither, most of these tips also apply to the Xbox Series 10 and Series S, since the controllers are nigh-identical.

1. If Your Xbox Controller Is Not Connecting

Xbox-One-Controller-and-System

If you tin't become your Xbox One controller to connect to your console, yous should beginning bank check for a few common issues.

Do you lot take eight controllers already connected to your console? While y'all likely don't use this many, the maximum amount of controllers an Xbox One supports is 8. Afterwards this betoken, you tin can't connect any more controllers.

Agree the Xbox button on a controller and cull Turn controller off on the resulting menu to disconnect 1 or more of them. So try connecting the new controller over again.

Also, retrieve that yous can only pair a controller with ane Xbox system at a fourth dimension. If you become to a friend'south firm and pair your controller with his Xbox, you'll take to pair it with yours again. This also applies when y'all connect your Xbox controller to a PC then try to use it on your console again.

See the "If Your Xbox I Controller Is Blinking" section below for more on this.

2. If Your Xbox One Controller Keeps Disconnecting

What if your Xbox controller pairs merely then keeps disconnecting? This can ruin a great gaming session and is extremely frustrating to deal with.

Do think that information technology's a normal bombardment-saving characteristic of the Xbox One and Serial X|S controller to disconnect if you don't use it for 15 minutes. This won't usually happen when playing games, but can come up into play if you primarily use your Xbox One as a media center.

You'll need to move a stick or press a push every so often. Otherwise, you'll accept to reconnect the controller later past pressing the Xbox button.

Xbox One Pad

However, if you lot're having a trouble with your Xbox controller disconnecting, it probably happens much more frequently than every 15 minutes. If that's the case, you can try a few troubleshooting steps.

It's of import to ostend that your batteries are charged when you lot have this issue. Tap the Xbox button to go back to the Home carte, and so look for the battery icon in the top-right corner. If they're low, you should replace or accuse the batteries as necessary.

Frequent disconnects tin also happen because of interference. The Xbox Ane controller has a wireless range of about 19-28 anxiety, according to Xbox Back up. Try moving closer to your console if your controller won't stay connected.

You lot should also remove obstructions between the controller and panel, like laptops, metal shelving, and similar. If your Xbox is inside an entertainment middle, endeavor moving information technology outside the unit to go a better connection.

three. If Your Xbox One Controller Is Blinking

If you press the Xbox push button on your controller and information technology blinks or flashes, this usually indicates that your controller isn't paired to a console. As mentioned above, this tin happen when you pair the controller to another system. Merely it can also occur due to various glitches.

Follow our guide showing how to sync an Xbox One controller to your console to get yours connected again.

If your controller doesn't pair using the buttons, attempt using a USB cablevision to pair it. Merely plug the cable into a USB port on your console and connect the other end to your controller, then concur the Xbox button on your controller for a few seconds.

If this fails to solve the problem, yous should restart your panel. Printing and hold the Xbox button (which is the ability push button) on the front of your system for 10 seconds to fully power information technology off. So printing it again to turn information technology back on. Afterwards a power cycle of both your console and controller, you lot should exist able to pair them without it flashing.

If your controller keeps blinking and turning off after this, your controller may accept a hardware issue. Try another controller with your console and see if you accept the same problem, or test your controller with a friend's Xbox or another device similar a PC.

Contact Xbox Support if you lot can't get the controller to connect nether whatsoever circumstance. In the meantime, exist aware that you can press and hold the Xbox push button on your controller for several seconds to turn it off. This tin help conserve battery life if information technology just keeps flashing during your troubleshooting.

4. If Your Xbox One Controller Won't Plow On

If your Xbox controller is not turning on, don't worry. This is another mutual trouble, with like solutions to the above.

When your Xbox 1 controller won't turn on, beginning, make sure the batteries aren't dead. If the batteries are low, the controller won't turn on at all. Pop the back cover off and supersede the two AA batteries, then try again.

You lot can also purchase the Xbox Rechargeable Bombardment kit to proceeds rechargeable batteries. This kit comes with a USB-C cable, which the newer Serial Ten|Due south controllers apply. For an Xbox One controller, y'all'll demand to connect a micro-USB cable to accuse instead.

Xbox-One-Controller-Battery-Compartment

If irresolute the batteries doesn't piece of work to ability on your Xbox controller, endeavour this:

  1. Turn off your Xbox One fully by pressing and belongings the ability button on the front of the organisation for x seconds.
  2. Unplug your console's ability cable and exit it unplugged for a few minutes.
  3. Use a USB cable you know is good (try others if the showtime doesn't work) to connect your controller to the organization.
  4. Plug your Xbox back in and turn it on using the power push button on the system. Don't press anything on the controller until the Xbox boots upwardly.
  5. Endeavour pressing the Xbox push button on your controller at this point to see if it's working.

General Xbox One Controller Connexion Tips

We've covered specific Xbox controller problems above. However, if your Xbox controller is still not working afterwards walking through them, hither are some other general solutions to try.

Update the Xbox Controller Firmware

Your Xbox I controller really has its own firmware that receives updates at times. While information technology doesn't get these updates oftentimes, corrupted or outdated firmware could crusade disconnection bug.

If your controller is functional, you can update it past tapping the Xbox button to open the Guide while your system is on. Become to Profile & system > Settings > Devices & connections > Accessories.

Select your controller, so choose the iii-dot button and striking Firmware version to check for updates.

Update the firmware on an Xbox One controller

Remove Connected Xbox Accessories

Sometimes Xbox One accessories, attached either to the controller or panel, tin introduce connection issues.

If yous accept an external hard drive, keyboard, or similar peripheral connected to your Xbox, try disconnecting information technology and and then attempt to connect your controller again. Practice the same for the Stereo Headset Adapter on your controller, if you accept it.

If you lot're trying to sync your Xbox controller using a USB cablevision, make sure you're using a high-quality cord. Low-quality or damaged cables may not work correctly.

Try Connecting Another Controller to Your Xbox

Like most troubleshooting, yous can aid nail downwards where the trouble lies by trying dissimilar devices. Try connecting a different controller (that y'all know works) to your Xbox organization. Confirm that its batteries are charged, also.

If that controller works fine, so the original controller is the issue. But if both have problems, and then the trouble likely lies with your console instead. You may demand to get in bear upon with Xbox Support in this case.

Reboot Your Xbox One

Nosotros mentioned information technology above, but it bears repeating: make sure to reboot your console when troubleshooting controller issues. By default, simply tapping the power button on the front of the organisation only puts information technology into slumber mode, and so brand sure you hold it for at least 10 seconds for a full shutdown

If yous have a working controller, you tin can also go to Settings > General > Power mode & startup and cull Full shutdown. Sometimes a quick reboot is all y'all need when an Xbox One controller isn't working.

Attempt Connecting With a USB Cable Permanently

Xbox-One-Controller-Connected-Cable

If you discover that your Xbox controller connection bug clear up when using a USB cable, your best bet might be to use your controller every bit a wired device to forbid future issues. You tin can buy a long cable, similar the 15-human foot MATEIN micro-USB cablevision, so you don't have to worry near sitting far abroad from your system.

This isn't platonic, but it beats spending the coin on another controller.

What If Your Xbox One Controller Is Still Not Working?

If nix else works, head to the Xbox device back up page. Sign in with your Microsoft account, annals your console if y'all haven't yet, and you can proceed through the steps to replace your controller. If Microsoft won't replace it, you lot'll need to look for a deal on a new controller instead.

Hopefully, one of these tips cleared up your Xbox I controller problem. Whether your controller won't connect, keeps flashing, or won't plow on, one of these tips should go you back in the game.

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About The Author

Ben Stegner (1808 Articles Published)

Ben is the Editor in Primary at MakeUseOf. He left his IT job to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked dorsum. He's been covering tech tutorials, video game recommendations, and more than as a professional writer for over viii years.

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