The current Xbox controller, both the Xbox One and the Xbox Series controller, is for now the standard and par excellence PC controller, since all PC games are directly compatible with this controller thanks to the DirectInput API. DirectX. Although there are different ways to connect it, we will explain how it connects and what advantages they have over others.
The following tutorial is applicable for all Xbox controllers that have appeared since the original Xbox model was released in late 2013.
Connect the Xbox controller via USB
It is the simplest way of all and the one that will give us the least problems when connecting, we simply have to connect the micro-USB cable to USB type A in the case of the Xbox One controller or a USB-C cable to USB type A if it is the Xbox Series X controller.
Just by connecting the Xbox controller to the PC, it will quickly detect what type of controller it is and install the drivers directly so you can start playing.
With regard to use in games, it is the way that we recommend the most if you are going to play at a short distance with your PC, the reason is that you forget to change the batteries or to charge the battery to be able to play without cables. In addition, you do not have to worry about input lag, which is the increased response time when we press a button, since with the USB cable it will never be greater than 1 ms, apart of course from the input lag added by the motor of the game and other elements.
Connect your Xbox controller via Bluetooth
Here at the outset we have to give a warning and that is that the first generation of Xbox One controls did not have a Bluetooth radio inside, but the second generation that came with the launch of Xbox One S and Xbox One X. so if you have a first-generation remote, you won’t be able to connect it via Bluetooth. If you don’t have this problem and your Xbox controller can communicate through the Bluetooth interface then setting it up is very easy.
Go to Start → Settings → Devices and from there select the Bluetooth and other devices tab. To pair the Xbox controller you just have to click on the “+” icon where you can read “Add Bluetooth or another device” to make the PC start looking for the new device.
In order for the Xbox controller to be within the search range, you have to press the pairing button to put it into network search mode. At the end of the process the PC will inform you that the process has been done correctly and you will be able to use the driver.
The advantage of connecting the remote via Bluetooth is that you can also use it on PostPC devices such as smartphones, tablets and SmartTVs. So in this way you will increase the number of devices with which you will be able to use your Xbox controller, but the counterpart is that it is the worst way to play with the Xbox controller on PC, since the input lag is much higher than with Wi-Fi Direct and obviously USB. Nor is it going to prevent you from playing properly, but believe us that in some games you will notice the difference, especially if you play at 60 frames per second.
Connect the Xbox controller via Wi-Fi Direct
The standard way of wireless connection of the Xbox controllers, we have to clarify that the Xbox 360 controller adapter is not compatible with the Xbox One controller and vice versa. Installation? It is very simple, you only have to connect the USB dongle that emits the Wi-Fi Direct signal to the PC.
To synchronize the remote with the Wi-Fi Direct adapter, all you need to do is press the synchronization button on the adapter at the same time and then the button on the remote. When the light of the central button or Xbox button on the controller stops flashing, as in the other cases, then it has been synchronized.
If you are going to play wirelessly then it is the best option, the input lag is much lower than with the Bluetooth connection and you will have a better gaming experience. Since the Wi-Fi Direct radio is included as standard in the Xbox, these do not need the adapter and to use the Wi-Fi Direct connection it is necessary to buy the adapter separately, since it is not included as standard with the controller.
