The Xbox One controller is one of the most popular, both among console users, of course, and on PC users. It is very comfortable, fast and generally works very well, but like all electronic devices it is not without problems. So, next we will see what are the most common problems of the Xbox One controller (also applies to the Microsoft Elite Controller) and how to fix them .
Although wireless controls are much more comfortable than wired ones, they are usually much more troublesome because they cause connectivity problems quite frequently. In this troubleshooting guide we are going to show you what you can do to fix your Xbox One controller, use it on console or on PC.
Xbox One controller doesn’t connect
The most common problem is that the controller refuses to connect wirelessly, either to the Xbox One console itself or to the PC if you use the wireless adapter that Microsoft sells for it. First of all you should know that if you are using it on a PC, for some reason Microsoft limits the maximum number of controls connected to the PC to 8, so if you have more, the ninth will not work.
It will seem improbable to you that nobody has 9 controls on PC, right? The problem is that when you disconnect a controller, it has been “caught” and when you connect it again, it detects it as if it were a separate controller. To do this, access the Windows Control Panel -> Devices and Printers and check if you have more than one controller connected.
If you have more wireless controllers or adapters in your account, obviously you should remove them.
The controller is constantly disconnected
If the remote connects normally but is constantly disconnected and you have to pair it again, there is probably a power problem, either from the remote’s battery or from connection to the wireless adapter (remember, however, that by default the remote is will automatically turn off after 15 minutes of inactivity). Make sure that the battery is charged, and of course that you are not more than 10 meters from the wireless adapter or the console.
If you have this problem, check that the battery connects correctly to the remote, and try cleaning the connectors on both the battery and remote sides. If the problems persist and you are on a PC, check that the wireless adapter is properly connected, and you can always try plugging it into another USB connector on the computer.
Remote control light blinks constantly
If you press the Xbox button on the controller and it blinks, it usually indicates that it is not paired with the console or the wireless PC adapter. This can happen if for example you have used the remote in another console or with another wireless adapter, since each remote can only be paired with one device at the same time.
If you have problems to pair the remote wirelessly, you can always temporarily connect the USB cable to do the pairing (that should never fail, neither on the console nor on the PC, and if it fails, the device is defective).
Xbox controller doesn’t turn on
If the controller doesn’t turn on, the first thing you should make sure of is that the battery has not passed a better life. Remove the back cover and remove the battery to replace it with a pair of AA format batteries to rule out that the controller has been damaged; if it turns on with batteries then it is ok and the problem is with the battery.
If even changing the battery or putting batteries in still does not turn on, it may be damaged. Anyway, try connecting it in this case by cable to be able to rule this problem out entirely.
General advice if you have problems with your Xbox controller
First of all, it’s pretty important that you make sure you have the controller firmware updated. On Xbox One you can check this in System -> Settings -> Devices and Streaming -> Accessories, selecting the controller and then Device Information, where you can see the firmware version and update it if applicable.
On PC, you should go to Xbox Accessories in Windows 10 and select the icon with the three dots under the command. Likewise, there will be the firmware version and if there are updates.
Of course, connecting the USB remote almost always fixes connectivity issues, so you’ll always have that possibility there as a last resort.
