The Xbox Wireless Gamepad may have Xbox in the name, but you can simply pair it with a console. If you have a newer Xbox controller Gamepad you can skip this part because you already have the most current version. And, if you’ve gotten one in the last few years, you’re good for that, too.
The controller pairs with Windows 10 and 11, allowing you to use it wirelessly with any compatible PC game. Here’s what you need to do to start using your Xbox Gamepad with your PC.
The new Xbox Wireless Gamepad is similar to the Xbox Series S/X and supports Xbox Wireless communication and Bluetooth. After the initial wave of Xbox One consoles, most Xbox wireless gamepads of that generation also included Bluetooth.
Xbox One controllers do not have Bluetooth connectivity and rely exclusively on Xbox’s wireless communication standard. It is good for Xbox consoles but not for PCs. You can still use one with your PC, but the process is different; You should get a wire.
Here how you can connect the controller to your PC:
Plug one end of your USB-to-micro USB or USB-to-USB-C (depending on controller version) cable into the controller. Plug the other end into your PC.
That’s it! It will be automatically configured under Windows 10 and 11 and will work with any game on your PC.
Pairing an Xbox controller with your PC via Bluetooth is almost the same as pairing it with your Xbox One or Xbox Series X. You activate the controller by pressing and holding the Guide button, then holding the pairing button for three seconds until the Guide button lights up. This means it is in pairing mode. When you connect the controller to the console, you hold the pair button in the system.
When you connect the controller to Windows 10 PC, you must go through some menus. If you do not have Bluetooth on your PC, you will also need a Bluetooth USB dongle.
Here is the complete step-by-step process:
- Hold down the Guide button to turn on the controller.
- Hold the pairing button for three seconds until the guide button flashes.
- Right-click on the Bluetooth icon in your system tray.
- Click “Pair Bluetooth Device”.
- Click “Pair Bluetooth or another device”, then select Bluetooth.
- Click “Xbox Wireless Controller”. Wait until the Guide button turns white and the Bluetooth menu controller says connected.
