Is your Xbox I controller not working, or maybe you're having problems with an Xbox Serial Ten|S controller? This is an abrasive trouble that a lot of Xbox owners face. While today's wireless controllers are more than convenient than the wired ones of previous systems, they come with their ain set of issues.

In this troubleshooting guide, nosotros'll show you lot how to fix your Xbox One controller when it won't connect, sync, or even plow on properly. Past the terminate, you'll be back to gaming. And while we focus on the Xbox One hither, most of these tips besides use to the Xbox Serial X and Series South, since the controllers are near-identical.

1. If Your Xbox Controller Is Non Connecting

Xbox-One-Controller-and-System

If you can't get your Xbox One controller to connect to your console, you should first check for a few common issues.

Do you have eight controllers already continued to your console? While you likely don't use this many, the maximum amount of controllers an Xbox 1 supports is eight. After this point, you lot tin't connect any more than controllers.

Hold the Xbox push button on a controller and choose Turn controller off on the resulting menu to disconnect one or more of them. Then attempt connecting the new controller again.

Too, remember that you lot tin can just pair a controller with one Xbox system at a time. If you go to a friend'due south house and pair your controller with his Xbox, you'll have to pair it with yours again. This also applies when you connect your Xbox controller to a PC and then try to use it on your panel once again.

Encounter the "If Your Xbox One Controller Is Blinking" section below for more on this.

2. If Your Xbox One Controller Keeps Disconnecting

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

Do remember that it's a normal bombardment-saving characteristic of the Xbox One and Series Ten|S controller to disconnect if y'all don't use it for fifteen minutes. This won't unremarkably happen when playing games, but can come up into play if you primarily apply your Xbox I as a media center.

Y'all'll need to motility a stick or press a button every and then oft. Otherwise, you'll have to reconnect the controller after by pressing the Xbox button.

Xbox One Pad

Notwithstanding, if you're having a problem with your Xbox controller disconnecting, it probably happens much more frequently than every fifteen minutes. If that'due south the case, you can try a few troubleshooting steps.

It's important to confirm that your batteries are charged when you have this result. Tap the Xbox button to get back to the Domicile menu, then look for the battery icon in the elevation-right corner. If they're low, you should replace or charge the batteries equally necessary.

Frequent disconnects tin can also happen because of interference. The Xbox One controller has a wireless range of near nineteen-28 anxiety, according to Xbox Support. Attempt moving closer to your console if your controller won't stay connected.

You should also remove obstructions between the controller and panel, like laptops, metallic shelving, and similar. If your Xbox is inside an entertainment center, try moving it outside the unit to get a better connection.

3. If Your Xbox 1 Controller Is Blinking

If you press the Xbox button on your controller and it blinks or flashes, this usually indicates that your controller isn't paired to a console. As mentioned to a higher place, this tin happen when y'all pair the controller to another organization. But it can also occur due to various glitches.

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

If your controller doesn't pair using the buttons, try using a USB cable to pair information technology. But plug the cable into a USB port on your console and connect the other end to your controller, then hold the Xbox push button on your controller for a few seconds.

If this fails to solve the problem, y'all should restart your console. Press and hold the Xbox button (which is the ability button) on the front of your system for 10 seconds to fully power it off. Then press it again to turn it back on. After a power wheel of both your panel and controller, you should be able to pair them without information technology flashing.

If your controller keeps blinking and turning off subsequently this, your controller may take a hardware issue. Try another controller with your console and see if you take the aforementioned problem, or exam your controller with a friend's Xbox or another device like a PC.

Contact Xbox Back up if yous can't become the controller to connect under any circumstance. In the meantime, be aware that yous can printing and concord the Xbox button on your controller for several seconds to plough it off. This can aid conserve bombardment life if it just keeps flashing during your troubleshooting.

iv. If Your Xbox I Controller Won't Turn On

If your Xbox controller is not turning on, don't worry. This is another common problem, with similar solutions to the to a higher place.

When your Xbox I controller won't turn on, first, brand 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 replace the two AA batteries, then endeavor again.

Yous can besides purchase the Xbox Rechargeable Battery kit to gain rechargeable batteries. This kit comes with a USB-C cable, which the newer Series 10|Southward controllers use. For an Xbox One controller, yous'll need to connect a micro-USB cable to accuse instead.

Xbox-One-Controller-Battery-Compartment

If changing the batteries doesn't work to power on your Xbox controller, attempt this:

  1. Plow off your Xbox I fully by pressing and holding the power push on the forepart of the arrangement for 10 seconds.
  2. Unplug your panel's ability cable and exit it unplugged for a few minutes.
  3. Utilise a USB cable you lot know is skillful (endeavour others if the first doesn't piece of work) to connect your controller to the system.
  4. Plug your Xbox back in and turn it on using the ability button on the system. Don't press annihilation on the controller until the Xbox boots up.
  5. Endeavor pressing the Xbox button on your controller at this point to see if it's working.

General Xbox One Controller Connection Tips

We've covered specific Xbox controller problems above. However, if your Xbox controller is withal not working after walking through them, here are another general solutions to attempt.

Update the Xbox Controller Firmware

Your Xbox Ane controller actually has its own firmware that receives updates at times. While it doesn't get these updates often, corrupted or outdated firmware could cause disconnection bug.

If your controller is functional, yous tin can update information technology by tapping the Xbox button to open the Guide while your system is on. Get to Contour & system > Settings > Devices & connections > Accessories.

Select your controller, and so cull the three-dot button and hitting Firmware version to check for updates.

Update the firmware on an Xbox One controller

Remove Connected Xbox Accessories

Sometimes Xbox 1 accessories, attached either to the controller or console, tin can introduce connection issues.

If yous have an external difficult drive, keyboard, or similar peripheral connected to your Xbox, endeavor disconnecting it and then endeavor to connect your controller again. Do the same for the Stereo Headset Adapter on your controller, if you have information technology.

If yous're trying to sync your Xbox controller using a USB cable, make sure yous're using a high-quality string. Low-quality or damaged cables may non work correctly.

Endeavor Connecting Another Controller to Your Xbox

Like most troubleshooting, y'all can help nail down where the problem lies by trying different devices. Endeavor connecting a different controller (that y'all know works) to your Xbox arrangement. Confirm that its batteries are charged, as well.

If that controller works fine, so the original controller is the issue. Just if both have problems, then the problem likely lies with your panel instead. You may need to get in touch with Xbox Support in this case.

Reboot Your Xbox One

We mentioned it to a higher place, but it bears repeating: make sure to reboot your console when troubleshooting controller issues. By default, simply borer the power push button on the front of the system only puts information technology into sleep mode, and then make sure you hold it for at least 10 seconds for a full shutdown

If yous have a working controller, you can as well go to Settings > Full general > Power manner & startup and choose Full shutdown. Sometimes a quick reboot is all you need when an Xbox I controller isn't working.

Try Connecting With a USB Cable Permanently

Xbox-One-Controller-Connected-Cable

If you lot detect that your Xbox controller connectedness issues articulate up when using a USB cable, your best bet might be to use your controller every bit a wired device to prevent future issues. You lot can buy a long cable, like the 15-foot MATEIN micro-USB cable, and then you don't take to worry about sitting far away from your organisation.

This isn't ideal, only it beats spending the money on some other controller.

What If Your Xbox One Controller Is All the same Not Working?

If cipher else works, caput to the Xbox device support page. Sign in with your Microsoft business relationship, annals your console if you haven't yet, and you can go on through the steps to supervene upon your controller. If Microsoft won't replace it, you'll demand to expect for a bargain on a new controller instead.

Hopefully, i of these tips cleared up your Xbox One controller problem. Whether your controller won't connect, keeps flashing, or won't turn on, one of these tips should get y'all back in the game.

We hope you similar the items we recommend and discuss! MUO has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, and then we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. This won't affect the price yous pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

The 7 All-time Xbox Series X/S Controllers

Read Next

About The Author