Xbox One Aftermarket Controller Driver

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Four months after the launch of the console, Microsoft still hasn't released a PC driver for the Xbox One controller. Someone else has finally done it for them. With a few caveats, YouTube user. 3 Ways to Update Xbox One Controller Driver on Windows 10, 8 & 7 Xbox One is a line of eighth generation home video game consoles developed by Microsoft. As a well designed controller, Xbox One Controller can provide gamers excellent experience when playing a game.

Some would say the best way to play a computer game is using a game controllerEverything You Need to Know About Buying a Controller for PC GamingEverything You Need to Know About Buying a Controller for PC GamingA decade ago the controller was a definitive line separating PC gamers from their console brethren. PC gamers used keyboards, console gamers used controllers, and there was very little overlap between the two. Times have..Read More. If that’s you, you’ll be delighted to hear that Microsoft has made it easy to use an Xbox One controllerController Wars: PS3 vs PS4, Xbox 360 vs Xbox OneController Wars: PS3 vs PS4, Xbox 360 vs Xbox OneLet us take a look at how both of these controllers have evolved from their predecessors, and then we will compare them to each other to see which might be the best controller.Read More on Windows 10.

Whether you want to use a cable or go wirelessWired vs. Wireless Peripherals: What You Really Need to KnowWired vs. Wireless Peripherals: What You Really Need to KnowNot all devices are equal. There are some things you need to know before deciding between wired or wireless. Sometimes wireless is a no-brainer -- or it could be the worst move you make.Read More, it’s incredibly simple to connect your controller and jump into a game. We’ll walk you through all the different ways that you can connect your controller to your system.

If you need help connecting your controller or have any methods to share, please let us know in the comments below.

  1. Jul 26, 2016 - If you own an Xbox One controller, you can use it to play games on your. Burgess hacked together a custom controller using switches and his.
  2. To use an Xbox One controller on your PC requires you have Windows. There are Linux and Mac solutions, too, but they require more work. Windows might take a second or two to update the drivers.

Note: If your Xbox One Controller is no longer workingXbox One Controller Not Working? 4 Tips on How to Fix It!Xbox One Controller Not Working? 4 Tips on How to Fix It!Is your Xbox One controller not working? This troubleshooting guide will help when your Xbox controller won't connect, keeps disconnecting, won't power on, and more..Read More, you can fix it! We’ll show you how.

Connect Your Controller

There are three different ways to connect your controller. The method you choose will depend on whether or not you want to go wireless and what type of controller you have.

1. Using a USB Cable

You can use the micro-USB cable that came with your controller to create a wired connection. You’ll need to do this whenever you need to charge your controller. Simply plug the USB cable into your computer and then plug the other end into the front of your controller. A connection will be established and charging will instantly begin.

2. Using the Wireless Adapter

To connect wirelessly, you’ll need an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10. This may have come with your controller, but you can also buy it separately. Bear in mind that this is different to the adapter for the Xbox 360 controller (CA, UK), which won’t work for the Xbox One controller (CA, UK).

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10Microsoft Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10 Buy Now On Amazon $24.99

Take the Wireless Adapter and plug it into a USB port on your computer. You may need to use the included USB extender if the port is at the back of your computer or it doesn’t have a good line of sight to the controller.

Hold the Xbox button on your controller to turn it on. Now press the button on the adapter. Then press the bind button on your controller, located near the top. The LED on the controller will blink while it searches for a connection and will go solid once it’s established.

3. Using Bluetooth

You may be able to use Bluetooth to connect your controller. First, your Windows 10 computer needs to support Bluetooth. Second, you need to be running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which was released in August 2016 and should have been rolled out to you by now.

Finally, you’ll need to have the newest Xbox One controller that comes with the Xbox One S (CA, UK), though it’s also sold separately. Check the product description if you’re unsure before ordering.

Xbox Wireless Controller - WhiteXbox Wireless Controller - White Buy Now On Amazon

Turn on your controller by holding the Xbox button on the front. Then press Windows key + I to open Settings and navigate to Devices > Bluetooth. Slide Bluetooth to On so that your system can discover devices. Now press the bind button on your controller, found at the top. The Xbox Wireless Controller will appear on your device listing. Click Pair.

Note that while connecting more than one controller via Bluetooth to your system is possible, it can have a negative impact on performance. To get the best performance, be sure to…

Update Your Controller

Windows 10 comes with the relevant drivers for the Xbox One controller by default. However, there might be the occasion when you need to update your controller. If you’re having any difficulties with your controller then try this before any other troubleshooting.

You’ll need a specific app to do this. Do a system search for store and launch it. Search the Store for Xbox Accessories, then download and launch that app. Connect your controller using one of the above methods. If there’s an update then you’ll see a message saying Update Required, at which point you can follow the prompts through. You can also check this in the app by going to Device Info.

If you have an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller (CA, UK), you can click Configure to remap buttons, adjust trigger sensitivity, invert stick axis, and more.

Calibrate Your Controller

Your controller will come calibrated out of the box, but you can use the Windows calibration tool to adjust it or to just check how responsive your controller is being. Though note that this is a legacy tool, which hasn’t changed in Windows 10 or been specifically designed for the Xbox One controller.

Do a system search for joy.cpl and select the relevant result. The Game Controllers window will open. Select your controller from the list and click Properties.

The Test tab will be open by default. Here you can determine where on the axis your thumbstick is resting, the pressure response of the triggers, plus whether the button presses are being registered. If you’re not satisfied, click Settings and then Calibrate…. Follow the wizard through to calibrate your controller.

You can always set these back to how the controller was originally by clicking Reset to default on the Settings tab.

Get Your Game On

Microsoft designed specific gaming features for Windows 10Here's How Gaming Will Work With Windows 10Here's How Gaming Will Work With Windows 10With Windows 10, Microsoft is bringing PC gaming and the Xbox One together in a big way. Find out what to expect once Windows 10 arrives.Read More with the aim to better tie the operating system into the Xbox platform. That’s why your controller should just work out of the box without any messing around, like installing drivers.

However, some users have been reporting problems with their Xbox One controller after installing the most recent Windows 10 UpdateHow (Not) to Upgrade to the Latest Windows 10 VersionHow (Not) to Upgrade to the Latest Windows 10 VersionThe Windows 10 October 2018 Update will roll out soon. Whether you want to latest feature upgrade now or wait, we show you how.Read More, like the connection constantly dropping out. Microsoft is aware of the problem and working to fix it, but there’s no official date for that patch.

Do you like using your Xbox One controller on Windows 10? Is there a better controller that you recommend?

Explore more about: Game Controller, Windows 10, Xbox One.

  1. Yeah, this is all nice and newb friendly and all that, but this article does not reach any depth beyond 'plug and play'. Write about microsofts inability to alow their users to map input or scripts to their controllers, as not all games support controller, but microsoft should and windows 10 should also. It's not like they don't have enough money to buy a programmer's sollution that is allready available as 3rd party software.
    Write about those people and test some of their applications on this controller.
    Do some work
    Grow some balls

The wired Xbox 360 controller is USB, so using it for PC gaming is easy–but things get a bit more complex if you have a wireless controller. Let’s take a look at how you can enjoy wireless gameplay on your PC while minimizing the headaches.

Xbox One Aftermarket Controller Driver Windows 7

The Three Prong Path to Wireless Freedom

When it comes to wireless Xbox 360 on Windows you have three options: the expensive and easy way, the cheap and somewhat frustrating way, and the grey market middle ground. If you’re sitting at your computer desk and not across the living room, for example–then you might just want to skip the whole hassle, just buy an official wired Xbox 360 controller for $27, and be done with it. A wired controller is pure plug and play with no hassle–but if you absolutely must have wireless play at your PC, you’ll need to buy a USB-to-wireless adapter.

That’s right, you can’t just connect a wireless Xbox 360 controller to your PC using Bluetooth, or anything like that. Xbox 360 controllers use a propriety 2.4Ghz communication method that need a specific a USB adapter made for the Xbox 360 controller–no substitutes allowed.

This is where the decision making process gets slightly complicated. Microsoft doesn’t sell the adapter by itself. They sell it in a bundle with a wireless controller–but if you already have a wireless controller, you probably don’t want to buy another one just to get the adapter.

If you want to buy the adapter separately, you can, but you’ll either be buying a Chinese knockoff product, or an official adapter that’s been separated from its kit by a third party. Picking from these potential options is the most important step in the project.

The Official Bundle: Expensive, But Headache-Free

If you don’t mind paying a premium (and potentially buying an extra controller you don’t need) then the most frustration-free and guaranteed-to-work method is to buy the official Xbox 360 wireless controller for Windows bundle. Despite the Xbox 360 getting a little long in the tooth, you can still find official Xbox 360 “For Windows” controller packs both on the shelves at many electronics retailers, online, and directly from Microsoft. And hey, if you only need the USB receiver, you can always sell the controller on Craigslist and try to get your money back.

RELATED:I Got Scammed by a Counterfeiter on Amazon. Here’s How You Can Avoid Them

The MSRP of the official bundle $59.95, and you’ll usually find it at close to that price at places like Best Buy. If you can find it cheaper from a reputable retailer, then by all means jump on it. If you must shop on Amazon, be sure you’re buying a product marked “fulfilled by Amazon” and be ready to return it if it ends up that the product is not an official model. (Remember, “fulfilled by Amazon does not guarantee a genuine product.)

The Dubious Aftermarket Clones: Cheap and Doable, but a Headache

On the opposite side of things, you’ll find piles upon piles of knockoff USB receivers sold separately all over Amazon, eBay, and other big online marketplaces. Typically, you’ll find them ranging in price from $7-15 and they’re either flawless clones that are indistinguishable from the official adapter dongle or they’re terrible knockoffs that will give you a headache setting them up.

The official Microsoft Xbox 360, seen above left, is always branded as “Microsoft” on the front and says “Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows” on the back. The knockoffs are almost always branded “X360”, seen above right, and usually say “PC Wireless Gaming Receiver” or a variation on the back. Note the purposeful omission of any copy or trademarked names like “Microsoft”, “Xbox 360”, or “Windows”.

In general, we don’t recommend buying these. But if you already have one, we’ve got your back–scroll down for detailed instructions on getting it up and running, even when Windows doesn’t want to place nice.

The Official Orphans: A (Nearly) Sure Bet, as Long as You Can Find One

In between the expense of buying an official Xbox 360 Windows controller bundle and cheap $7 eBay specials, you’ll find a sort of grey market happy medium if you’re willing to make a small gamble. If you look on Amazon and eBay, you’ll find hundreds of official Microsoft brand Xbox 360 PC dongles that have been separated from their controller mates.

Your best bet is to look for listings that include not just the dongle (with proper markings and tags, as we saw above) but also include an official driver CD and booklet. While you don’t need either of those things to use the controller (Windows will download the drivers automatically), it’s generally a good indicator that the listing is legitimate. It’s not really profitable (or legally wise) for companies to go to the extra hassle of creating fake Microsoft support materials.

Just remember that Microsoft does not officially sell these separately, so if you’re buying one separately, you are taking a bit of a gamble. While we recommend you carefully study each listing, read reviews, and make sure there is a good return policy for whatever online retailer you’re using, we can say that we’ve had great luck purchasing these official adapters for $15 a piece off Amazon (specifically fulfilled by RushHourWholesalers). Every one we’ve ordered has shipped with a driver disc, documentation, and is identical in terms of branding, construction, and labeling to those found in the official bundle.

How to Install an Official Microsoft Adapter

If you’ve purchased the official bundle, got your hands on an official adapter, or just happened to have purchased a knockoff adapter of exceptionally good quality, then the installation process is incredibly simple.

On Windows 8 and above, you can simply plug the adapter right into your PC. A few seconds later, it will be automatically detected and Windows will install the drivers. You can confirm this by opening up the Windows Device Manager–press the Start button and type “device manager” to access it. Look down at the bottom of the hardware list for the Xbox adapter entry:

On Windows 7 and earlier, you’ll be prompted by the “Add Hardware” wizard to add the USB adapter. You can select “Install the software automatically”, and if your version of Windows has the drivers the process will continue automatically. If you don’t have the drivers already on your PC, you can either use the included driver disc or download the appropriate drivers from the official website here.

Makaveli the don killuminati the 7 day theory free download. Once the adapter is installed (and you’ve confirmed its presence on the Device Manger list) you can jump down the section “Pairing Your Controllers to Your PC”.

How to Install a Knockoff Adapter

If you’re stuck with one of the lower-quality knockoffs, we’re sorry–by comparison, it’s a huge pain. Fortunately for you, it’s not hard to get them up and running as long as you know the completely non-intuitive way to do it.

First, plug your device into your computer. We recommend plugging it directly into a port on the back. If you must plug it into a USB hub, make sure it’s a powered hub. We’d also recommend picking a port that you’ll be able to leave the device more or less permanently attached to. Whenever you unplug it, you’ll need to repeat the annoying steps we’re about to outline–so you’ll want to leave it plugged in at all times, if you can.

Let’s emphasize that last point again: with the majority of aftermarket adapters we’ve come across if you unplug the adapter you have to repeat the annoying multi-step installation process. In my experience, it was worth the extra money to buy another genuine adapter just to avoid this hassle.

With the adapter plugged in, navigate to the Windows Device Manager. Press the Start button and type “device manager” to access it. Look under “Other Devices” in the list of devices under the entry for your computer.

We know it’s quite nondescript, but unless you have multiple Unknown Devices on your PC, that little “Unknown device” entry is your knockoff Xbox 360 controller adapter. Right click it and select Properties.

Select the Driver tab in the Unknown device Properties box and then click Update Driver.

When prompted to select whether you want Windows to search automatically or for you to browse your computer for the drivers, select “Browse my computer for driver software”. Don’t worry, you don’t actually need any drivers, as they’re already included with Windows. (On the off chance that yours have gone missing, however, you can download the drivers here.)

You’ll be given the option to search for the drivers in a location you specify or you can pick from a list of device drivers already installed. We want the latter, so select “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer”.

Scroll down the list until you see “Xbox 360 Peripherals”. Double click on it.

Note: These screenshots are from the setup process on Windows 8 and 10; under Windows 7 it’s possible that you may need to look under “Microsoft Common Controller” instead of “Xbox 360 Peripherals”.

On the next screen, select “Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows Version 6.3.xxxx”. Click Next. When prompted by the driver update warning, click Yes. The hardware signature of the knockoff doesn’t, in fact, match the driver signature, but it will work fine just the same.

You’ll receive a confirmation that the device was installed properly.

If you get the error “Xbox 360 Controller for Windows / This Device Cannot Start. (Code 10)”, then you’ve accidentally selected the drivers for the controller, not the receiver. You’ll need to go back into the device manager, delete the erroneous entry and repeat the tutorial from the start.

Back in the Device Manager, scroll down to the bottom and double check that there is now an entry for the Xbox receiver:

Xbox One Aftermarket Controller Driver Windows 10

If you see that entry, you’re in business–it’s time to add your controllers to your PC.

How to Pair Your Controller(s) to Your PC

The only thing left to do at this point is to sync your controller to the new wireless receiver. If you’re an Xbox 360 user porting some or all of their old controllers to their PC, then this process will seem very familiar, as its only a hair different than the process of pairing controllers with the actual Xbox 360.

Press the button on the receiver (the light will blink) then, immediately after, press the connect button on your wireless controller (located at the top of the controller just above the battery pack).

Xbox One Aftermarket Controller Drivers

The green ring of lights on the Xbox controller will rotate around and then the controller will signify which controller it is by lighting up the appropriate quadrant (the wireless receiver will support up to 4 controllers for those rare multiplayer PC games).

One final step you may wish to take, even though it’s not required to get the controllers to work, is to download the 360 for Windows controller software, it adds in a really convenient function: you can tap and hold the Xbox logo on the controller to get a battery status check.

That’s all there is to it! Before you dash off to play, however, we strongly recommend bookmarking, Evernote clipping, printing, or otherwise saving this tutorial if you have an aftermarket dongle. As we mentioned at the start, if you unplug the receiver you have to go back into the Device Manager and install the drivers again.