Xbox Controller Connected But Not Working Fix

Using your Xbox Controller but even though it is connected it's not working? This guide has the fix you are looking for.

Nothing can be more infuriating than having your Xbox Controller connected but seeing that it is not working. This can be troublesome because even though it looks to be working in reality it just isn’t. Thus many players want to resolve this issue. Thankfully though there are a few things you can try before replacing your current controller with a new one. So in this guide let us quickly check how to fix the Xbox controller connected but not working error.

How to Fix Xbox Controller Connected but Not Working issue

xbox controller connected but not working fix

There are multiple things you can try when you want to fix your connected Xbox controller not working and they are:

  • Restart your System:
    • Console: If you are using your controller on your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One then you can fix the issue by restarting your console. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to make sure the restart happens successfully. Once the console is back on try checking if you get the same issue again.
    • PC: PC players can also try this fix and restart their system by pressing Alt + F4 and choosing restart. Once it restarts try checking if you can use it properly.
  • Update your controller:
    • Console: You can update your controller on your Xbox both wired and wirelessly. If you want to update it via a wired connection then connect your controller using a USB. And players updating wirelessly can do this directly.
      1. Click on the Xbox button on your Controller.
      2. Here choose Profile and System.
      3. Next, click on Settings.
      4. Under settings click on the Devices & connections tab on the left side of the screen.
      5. Here, click on Accessories.
      6. Click on the button with the three dots/ellipsis icon.
      7. Now, click on the Update button. It shows you the current Firmware version.
      8. If there is an update available then click on Update Now.
      9. Wait for the controller to update.
      10. Once you update your controller try using it again to see if you still get the issue.
    • PC: In order to update your controller on your PC you need to install the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft store. You also need to connect it to your PC using a USB. Once you are ready follow the steps below.
      1. When you install the app login into your Xbox account.
      2. Click on the ellipsis button under the configure button.
      3. Here, click on the Update button.
      4. It will update your controller. Once updated see if using it still gives you the not working issue.
  • Restart your controller: You can also try to restart your controller by pressing and holding the Xbox button until it turns off. Once it is off wait for a few seconds then turn it back on. Your controller should now start working.

That covers this guide on how to fix the Xbox controller connected but not working issue. For more such help for your Xbox, and for other things gaming be sure to check out Gamer Tweak.