Xbox One Wireless Controller Troubleshooting

No matter how many times you try to connect or sync the controller, it refuses to turn on and shows no signs of life.

Your batteries may be low. If the batteries are low, the controller's wireless signal strength may be weak and therefore will not connect to the console. You are going to want to charge you batteries. If the batteries will not charge, or drain too quickly, replace your batteries.

Parts: AA Batteries for Xbox One, Xbox One Controller Charging Cable

Tools required: None

Your battery pack may be completely drained. Plug the controller into the console using a USB cord. To check on how charged the battery is, press the Xbox button to go to the home screen where the charge will be displayed in the bottom right corner.

If the pack will not charge, or drains too quickly, you can get replacement battery packs.

Part: Battery pack for Xbox One

Tools required: None

Your charging cable may be defective and will not charge your controller at all. If this is the case, you will need to buy a new cord.

Part: Xbox One Controller Charging Cable

Tools Required: None

If your controller was disconnected during a firmware upgrade, it will not function until the firmware is recovered. To do this, the controller will need to be updated from scratch. Note: In this condition, the wireless on the controller is nonfunctional. This must be done over USB.

Tip: If you have problems getting the controller to turn on, removing the batteries for 15 minutes before recovery can resolve this issue.

Plug your controller into an Xbox One console or a PC. At this point, the method will vary. Note: at least one functional controller is required to use a console for controller firmware recovery.

To recover the controller on a console, follow these steps:

• Step 1: On the console, navigate to Devices and Accessories.
• Step 2: Find the Elite controller. It should say Update Required if it is the correct controller.
• Step 3: Recover the controller firmware.

PC recovery requires Windows 10 as a prerequisite - Windows 7/8.x DO NOT WORK. Newer versions of Windows 10 do not require a Microsoft Account for the download, but older versions usually do. Users on older versions of Windows 10 may need to convert one of the accounts on the computer to a Microsoft Account, or log into the Store without altering the account.

• Step 1: Install the Xbox Accessories application.
• Step 2: Once Xbox Accessories is installed, plug the controller in. It should turn on and say Update Required if your controller is visible to the PC and Xbox Accessories.
• Step 3: Click Update Required and allow the firmware to reinstall.

If you followed these steps correctly, your controller should be functional again.

When the controller is plugged into the computer using a USB cable, the controller does not function.

In Windows 7 and 8.x, the Xbox One controller is known to fail automatic driver installation. This issue is well documented and is caused by the lack of drivers bundled with these operating systems. The issue is made worse by the fact that Windows Update is somewhat notorious for detection issues in some situations. The standard controller offers two driver options:

Note: Correcting the issue by manually installing the driver requires administrator permissions. Users with Standard and Limited accounts will need the admin password to fix the issue this way.

Manual fix

• Step 1: Plug in the controller. If the automatic driver installation fails, go on to the next step.
• Step 2: Open Device Manager and find the controller. This is typically located under Xbox Peripherals (Legacy) in Windows 7 and 8.x systems.
• Step 3: Select the Driver tab.
• Step 4: Click Update Driver.
• Step 5: Try using Search automatically for updated driver software. If this doesn't work, go to Step 6.
• Step 6: If this did not work, download the driver from Microsoft. Put this in a place you can easily find it on your computer. Once it is downloaded, select Browse my computer for driver software and manually select the driver.

If you did this correctly, your controller should now work.

Automatic install

The easiest way for inexperienced users to fix this problem is to use the .exe package that copies the required files to your PC that was released in 2012. This driver is older, but it is wrapped into a package that is easier to understand. This driver is no longer hosted by Microsoft, as the driver is now Windows Update only.

Note: This driver is older. Some games may not work correctly until it is updated in Device Manager to the new version. However, this will allow you to quickly fix the issue.

The driver can be found here: 64-bit .exe (TechSpot)

I want to navigate my Xbox One, but my controller refuses to connect or will not stay connected for long.

Your batteries may be low. If the batteries are low, the controller's wireless signal strength may be weak and therefore will not connect to the console. You are going to want to replace your batteries or charge the controller.

Parts: AA Batteries for Xbox One, Xbox One Controller Charging Cable

Tools required: None

A conflicting signal may be responsible for connectivity issues. Consider turning off nearby wireless devices and reconnecting the controller.

Make sure you do not have more than eight controllers connected. That is the limit for the Xbox One console.

If you set down your controller for longer than fifteen minutes and then come back to an unresponsive controller, you may need to turn the controller back on.

Your Xbox One Controller signal has a range of 30 feet (9.1 meters). Make sure you are within this range.

If you sync your controller to another device, you will need to re-sync it back to your console. To do this, turn on the Xbox One and hold down the sync button on your controller. Simultaneously, hold down the sync button on your console until the light on your controller begins to flash at a rapid pace. Once this happens, release both sync buttons. Your controller should now be connected after about five to ten seconds.

Some people have reported that the controller will not connect with the headset mic plugged in. Unplug the mic, and reconnect. Sync if necessary. Plug the mic back in after establishing a connection.

If you are using a Model 1697 controller, your internal headphone jack may be damaged. Try unplugging the mic and trying again. If you continue to have problems, try a different pair of headphones that are known to work.

Parts: Xbox One headphone jack, Xbox One headset adapter

Tools required: T6 Torx, TR8 Torx, Spudger, tweezers (recommended)

Tools are not required if you use the Xbox One headset adapter to fix the issue.

One or more of the buttons on my controller takes longer than usual to pop back up.

There could be minor dirt build up or sugary drink residue within your controller. You're going to want to see our Buttons Replacement Guide so you can get to get to your buttons to clean them, or replace the covers or gasket.

Parts: Button gasket, Button covers, alcohol cleaning pads

Tools required: T6 Torx, TR8 Torx, Spudger, tweezers (recommended)

Replacing the switches themselves requires replacing the main board.

Part: Xbox One Controller (1537) Motherboard

Tools: T6 Torx, TR8 Torx, Spudger, soldering station tweezers (recommended)

I cannot properly navigate my Xbox One.

Your thumbstick may be sticking or not rotating properly. Check out the Thumbstick Replacement Guide so you can get to your thumbsticks and clean them or replace the thumb stick covers.

Part: Thumbstick cover

Tools Required: TR8 Torx, Spudger

If this does not fix the problem, the thumbstick mechanism may be faulty meaning you should replace the secondary board. However, if you are comfortable soldering the Analog sticks can be replaced without a new midframe.

Part: Xbox One Controller (1537) Midframe Assembly and control board, Xbox One Controller (1697) Midframe Assembly and control board

Tools: T6 Torx, TR8 Torx, Spudger, soldering station tweezers (recommended)

It is possible that you have have been gaming a little too hard and one or both of your thumbsticks are bent or broken. Look at our Thumbstick Replacement Guide to see how you can get back to your hardcore gaming habits in no time.

Part: Thumbstick cover

Tools Required: TR8 Torx, Spudger

If cleaning or replacing the thumbstick covers does not fix the problem, the thumbstick mechanism may be faulty meaning you should replace the main board. However, if you are comfortable soldering you can replace the Analog sticks without a new main board.

When I am playing games, my controller refuses to vibrate.

Make sure your vibrations setting is enabled. This can be done in the settings of the game you are playing.

If your batteries are low, the controller may not vibrate in an effort to save battery life. Replace the batteries or charge your controller.

Parts: AA Batteries for Xbox One, Xbox One Controller Charging Cable

Tools required: None

Try using another controller on the game that you are playing. If the controller is still not vibrating, the game most likely does not support this option.

If you have tried everything above and your controller still refuses to vibrate, there may be something wrong with the vibration motor. Get ready to grab a screw driver, you're going to need it for the Trigger Rumble Motor Replacement Guide. This guide requires soldering.

Part: Xbox One controller trigger vibration motor

Tools required: T6 Torx, TR8 Torx, Spudger, soldering station tweezers (recommended)