How to connect Xbox One controllers to PC

If you are reading this article it is perhaps because you want to play Xbox One console games on a PC and you don’t know how to connect the controller to your Windows computer. Or, are you trying to connect Xbox One controller to PC to play games on your Windows computer and don’t know how to do it?

A keyboard or mouse is realistically better for manoeuvring in action based games. Other genres such as platforming games work best with a controller. It is not always easy or intuitive to connect a controller to the PC. Thankfully, it is easier to use an Xbox controller on a PC than a PS4 controller.

If you also own a PS4, read our guide on how to use the PS4 controller on PC. The Xbox One console controller is known as one of the most ergonomic and practical tools to be able to play any video game title even from a PC, effectively replacing the computer’s keyboard and mouse. Let’s get to the heart of the procedure then.

How to connect Xbox One controllers to PC

Now, let’s say that the Xbox One controller can be easily connected to the PC, and there are three different ways to make the connection, using either a USB cable or a wireless connection (Bluetooth or wireless). Either way you’ll be able to effectively use the Xbox One controller on your Windows PC and be able to play your favorite games as if you were on the console. If you don’t know how to connect, read on and I’ll show you the three different possible options that will allow you to connect the Xbox One controller at the PC.

1. Connect the Xbox One controllers with the USB cable

To connect an Xbox One controller to the PC you can use a simple USB cable. Just plug the microUSB cable into the Xbox One controller and plug the other end into a USB slot on your PC. On Windows 10, after plugging it in your computer should immediately recognize the controller. On Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 it’s a bit more complex because Windows needs to download the controller drivers from the internet (albeit automatically), and be ready to play immediately afterwards.

2. Connect the Xbox One controllers with Wireless

You can also use the Xbox Wireless Adapter. Microsoft has a new standard called Xbox Wireless which is already built into some computers, but there’s a good chance it’s not built into yours, but no worries, because there is a way to fix it. If you want to connect Xbox One controller to PC wirelessly, you need to purchase the Xbox wireless adapter. Now you will need to connect it to a USB port on your PC and let Windows install the drivers. Then, press the button on the adapter, turn on the controller and press the button called Bind at the top of the controller to connect it.

3. Connect Xbox One controllers with Bluetooth

The third method uses the Bluetooth system. The new Xbox One S Microsoft has equipped its controllers with the Bluetooth technology. This is a feature designed primarily for PC gaming. In addition to wireless mode, therefore, you can also use the Bluetooth function to connect the controller to Windows 10. For this connection, you need the latest model of the Xbox One controller.

The procedure to follow is this:

Enable Bluetooth on your PC (Settings> Devices> Bluetooth and other devices), then press and hold the Bind button on the controller for a few seconds to put it into pairing mode.

Note that after connecting the Xbox One controller to the PC, the next time you use it on your Xbox you will need to reconnect it again. You can pair the controller to your Xbox by using a USB cable and pressing the Xbox button to pair it. Or press the button Connect on the system (to the left of the disc tray on the original Xbox One and bottom right on the Xbox One S and Xbox One X), then press and hold the Bind button on the controller.

Now, after learning how to connect Xbox One controllers to the PC you will have several alternatives to enjoy your video games, adding the computer option that you can use according to your needs or convenience of the moment.