The Xbox One controller is one of the most ergonomic and practical to be able to play any video game even from the PC, effectively replacing the keyboard and mouse (at least in some titles).
If it is the first time that we play from the PC, we come from the world of consoles and we want to take the comfort of the Xbox controller (for many incomparable), in this guide we will show you how to connect an Xbox One controller to the PC, showing you the steps to follow in Windows 10, the differences between the different types of controllers and the technologies that we can use to connect the gaming device.
Obviously, if we don’t have an Xbox One controller yet, we will also show you the best models that you can buy online along with their Wi-Fi or Bluetooth adapters.
How to connect an Xbox One controller to your PC
The Xbox One controller can connect to any Windows 10 computer using a USB cable or a wireless connection (Bluetooth or wireless). We carefully choose the right model, also taking into account the batteries that will be used for wireless connections.
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Connect the Xbox One Controller via a USB cable
The quickest and most practical way to use the Xbox One controller on a PC is to use the USB cable, which also avoids having to use batteries to make it work (thus also avoiding the hassle of having to recharge or change them at regular intervals).
For this we can use any USB cable with a micro-B socket, identical to those used to charge smartphones or other electronic devices. After connecting the USB cable to the controller and a free USB port on our computer, Windows 10 will automatically recognize it and we can start using the controller immediately, without any other configuration.
If we don’t have a USB cable for this purpose, we can buy one from here -> AmazonBasics – USB 2.0 A to micro B, 1m of nylon cable (3 euros).
If we are looking for a wired charging kit for the Xbox One controller, we can take a look here -> AmazonBasics – Play & Charge Kit with Braided Cable for Xbox One, although it is not available at the moment.
Connect your Xbox One controller via Bluetooth
If we want to play a video game on a computer without cables on our way or on our desk, we can take advantage of the Bluetooth connection of the Xbox One controllers (except the oldest ones). To check if our controller has a Bluetooth connection, just look at it from the front: if there is no black plastic on the top (between the logo and the side buttons), the controller supports Bluetooth connection.
To connect via this technology, simply open your Windows 10 computer, press the lower right corner of the notification menu, right-click on the Bluetooth icon, select Go to Settings, turn on Bluetooth (by pressing the switch below the button of the same name) and finally press Add Bluetooth device or other device.
In the window that will open, click on Bluetooth and wait for the driver to be searched. To be seen by the system, the X-shaped button on the controller must flash rapidly (pairing mode): if not, press and hold the button with the three waves between the rear buttons of the controller.
As soon as the name of the driver appears in the search for Bluetooth devices, click on it to start the configuration: Windows 10 will take care of pairing the device and making it immediately available, without having to press any other button or install additional drivers.
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If our computer does not have a Bluetooth connection, we can quickly remedy it by getting a Bluetooth USB adapter like the one available here -> TP-Link UB400 Bluetooth USB Bluetooth 4.0 (11 euros).
PLEASE NOTE: If your Windows 10 system requires a PIN to pair the controller, our USB Bluetooth adapter or internal Bluetooth module is too old to handle the Xbox One controller properly; Make sure your PC has a Bluetooth 4.0 or higher connection before connecting any Xbox One controller.
Connect your Xbox One controller wirelessly
As an alternative to Bluetooth we can use the patented wireless connection of the Xbox One, identical to the connection available for the controllers when used in the Microsoft console; it is much more stable than Bluetooth and also seems to consume less battery. To connect the Xbox One controller wirelessly we will have to buy the Xbox One wireless adapter for PC (27 euros).
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Once you have purchased the adapter, connect it to a free USB port and wait for Windows 10 to download the necessary drivers for its operation. Once the adapter is configured, put the controller in pairing mode (as already seen for Bluetooth), open the Settings application, press the Devices menu, press the Add Bluetooth or other device item and this time select the All other button items.
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After a few seconds we will see the Xbox One controller appear, just click on it to add it to the devices available in the system.
If we have to buy a new Xbox One controller, we invite you to consider the controller with the included adapter right now, as you can see here -> Microsoft PC: New Xbox Controller + Wireless Adapter (49 euros).
Conclusions
Playing on the PC can provide the same excitement and fun as the console, especially if you use the Xbox One controller to play games that require a large number of keys and do not require you to point (in shooting games it is always preferable to use the mouse, to be more precise).
If we want to bring the gaming experience from your PC to our TV without buying a dedicated console, please read our guide on How to Play PC Games
