Is your Xbox I controller not working, or maybe y'all're having problems with an Xbox Series X|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 bug.

In this troubleshooting guide, nosotros'll prove y'all how to fix your Xbox 1 controller when it won't connect, sync, or even turn on properly. By the end, you'll be back to gaming. And while nosotros focus on the Xbox One hither, most of these tips as well apply to the Xbox Series X and Series S, since the controllers are almost-identical.

1. If Your Xbox Controller Is Non Connecting

Xbox-One-Controller-and-System

If you tin't get your Xbox One controller to connect to your console, you should kickoff check for a few mutual issues.

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

Agree the Xbox push on a controller and choose Plow controller off on the resulting menu to disconnect one or more than of them. Then try connecting the new controller again.

As well, call back that yous can only pair a controller with one Xbox system at a time. If you go to a friend'south business firm and pair your controller with his Xbox, you'll have to pair it with yours again. This as well applies when you lot connect your Xbox controller to a PC and then try to utilize information technology on your panel over again.

See the "If Your Xbox 1 Controller Is Blinking" section below for more than on this.

two. If Your Xbox Ane Controller Keeps Disconnecting

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

Do recall that it's a normal battery-saving feature of the Xbox Ane and Series Ten|S controller to disconnect if you don't utilise it for xv minutes. This won't unremarkably happen when playing games, merely can come into play if you lot primarily utilize your Xbox 1 as a media center.

You'll demand to movement a stick or press a button every so ofttimes. Otherwise, yous'll have to reconnect the controller later by pressing the Xbox button.

Xbox One Pad

Nevertheless, if y'all're having a problem with your Xbox controller disconnecting, it probably happens much more frequently than every 15 minutes. If that's the case, yous can try a few troubleshooting steps.

It's important to confirm that your batteries are charged when yous accept this issue. Tap the Xbox push button to go back to the Home menu, and then look for the battery icon in the tiptop-right corner. If they're depression, you should supersede or charge the batteries as necessary.

Frequent disconnects can also happen because of interference. The Xbox One controller has a wireless range of about 19-28 feet, according to Xbox Support. Attempt moving closer to your console if your controller won't stay connected.

You should also remove obstructions betwixt the controller and console, like laptops, metal shelving, and similar. If your Xbox is inside an amusement center, try moving it outside the unit to go a better connection.

3. If Your Xbox I Controller Is Blinking

If you press the Xbox push on your controller and it blinks or flashes, this normally indicates that your controller isn't paired to a panel. As mentioned above, this tin can happen when you pair the controller to some other organisation. But information technology can as well occur due to diverse glitches.

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

If your controller doesn't pair using the buttons, endeavour using a USB cablevision to pair information technology. Simply plug the cablevision into a USB port on your console and connect the other cease to your controller, and so agree the Xbox button on your controller for a few seconds.

If this fails to solve the trouble, you lot should restart your console. Printing and hold the Xbox button (which is the ability button) on the forepart of your arrangement for x seconds to fully power it off. Then press it again to turn it back on. Later on a power cycle of both your console and controller, you should be able to pair them without it flashing.

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

Contact Xbox Back up if you can't become the controller to connect under any circumstance. In the meantime, be enlightened that you can press and agree the Xbox button on your controller for several seconds to turn information technology off. This can help conserve battery life if it only keeps flashing during your troubleshooting.

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

If your Xbox controller is not turning on, don't worry. This is some other mutual problem, with similar solutions to the higher up.

When your Xbox One controller won't turn on, first, make sure the batteries aren't expressionless. If the batteries are low, the controller won't turn on at all. Pop the back comprehend off and supervene upon the two AA batteries, then try again.

You can also purchase the Xbox Rechargeable Battery kit to gain rechargeable batteries. This kit comes with a USB-C cable, which the newer Serial X|S controllers use. For an Xbox Ane controller, you lot'll need to connect a micro-USB cable to charge instead.

Xbox-One-Controller-Battery-Compartment

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

  1. Turn off your Xbox One fully by pressing and holding the power button on the front of the arrangement for ten seconds.
  2. Unplug your panel's power cable and get out it unplugged for a few minutes.
  3. Apply a USB cable you know is practiced (endeavour others if the first doesn't work) to connect your controller to the system.
  4. Plug your Xbox back in and plough it on using the ability button on the system. Don't press anything on the controller until the Xbox boots up.
  5. Effort pressing the Xbox button on your controller at this signal to encounter if information technology'due south working.

General Xbox I Controller Connection Tips

Nosotros've covered specific Xbox controller problems higher up. However, if your Xbox controller is still not working after walking through them, here are some other general solutions to try.

Update the Xbox Controller Firmware

Your Xbox One controller really has its own firmware that receives updates at times. While it doesn't get these updates frequently, corrupted or outdated firmware could cause disconnection issues.

If your controller is functional, you can update it by tapping the Xbox button to open the Guide while your organization is on. Get to Profile & organisation > Settings > Devices & connections > Accessories.

Select your controller, then choose the three-dot button and hit 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 console, tin introduce connection issues.

If you have an external difficult bulldoze, keyboard, or similar peripheral connected to your Xbox, try disconnecting it and and so attempt to connect your controller once again. Practice the aforementioned for the Stereo Headset Adapter on your controller, if you lot have it.

If you lot're trying to sync your Xbox controller using a USB cable, make sure you're using a loftier-quality string. Low-quality or damaged cables may not piece of work correctly.

Try Connecting Another Controller to Your Xbox

Like nearly troubleshooting, you can assist smash downwardly where the problem lies by trying different devices. Try connecting a different controller (that you know works) to your Xbox organisation. Ostend that its batteries are charged, as well.

If that controller works fine, then the original controller is the upshot. But if both have bug, then the problem likely lies with your panel instead. You may demand to go far affect with Xbox Support in this case.

Reboot Your Xbox One

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

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

Try Connecting With a USB Cable Permanently

Xbox-One-Controller-Connected-Cable

If yous observe that your Xbox controller connectedness issues articulate upward when using a USB cable, your best bet might exist to employ your controller every bit a wired device to preclude future problems. You tin can buy a long cable, like the 15-foot MATEIN micro-USB cable, then you don't take to worry nigh sitting far away from your organization.

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

What If Your Xbox One Controller Is Still Not Working?

If null else works, head to the Xbox device support folio. Sign in with your Microsoft account, register your panel if you haven't however, and you can proceed through the steps to replace your controller. If Microsoft won't replace information technology, you'll need to look for a deal on a new controller instead.

Hopefully, ane of these tips cleared upwardly your Xbox I controller problem. Whether your controller won't connect, keeps flashing, or won't turn on, 1 of these tips should go y'all back in the game.

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