If your Xbox One Controller is not connecting, flashing but not working, or not syncing or tuning on, then re-connect the Xbox One controller to your PC using these instructions.
I use my Xbox One wireless controller with Windows PC and the game console. One of the common problems which I face many a time is that Xbox One fails to detect once it’s connected to a PC or any other console. This happens every time. What seems to be the case is when I connect my controller to the PC using the USB wire, the pairing between the console and the controller seems to be broken. Apart from this, there are many scenarios where Xbox One fails to detect the controller, even though its paired. In this guide, we will learn to re-connect wireless Xbox One controller with the console.
Re-connect Wireless Xbox One controller with the console
At times Xbox One console fails to detect the wireless controller for an odd reason. You might have used it on some other PC or a console, and the pairing seems broken. If your Xbox One Controller is not connecting, flashing but not working or not syncing or tuning on, then this post shows how to re-connect your Xbox One controller to your Windows PC.
Xbox One fails to detect the controller
There are two ways to do this. First is repairing using the console’s connect button, and the second is using a USB wire. If you are using a battery pack inside the controller instead of AA batteries, you must have a cable already. If not you can use any USB wire with a micro USB 2.0 port.
Connect the controller using the console’s connect button
- Turn on your Xbox One, and you have a battery charge in the controller.
- Press and hold the Xbox Button on the controller. It is located in the middle with Xbox Logo on it.
- If the light on the button keeps blinking, it means its not able to connect the console.
- In this case, we will have to use the connect button. This button is available both on Xbox One, and the controller.
- On Xbox One X and Xbox One S, the connect button is on the front right, below the power button.
- On original Xbox One, the connect button is on the side, around the corner from the disc tray.
- On the controller, it’s on upper edge, just below the guide button. You should see arrows right next to it.
- Press and release the connect button on the Xbox.
- Instantly do the same on the Xbox Controller, but this holds it in your hands until the controller’s Xbox button flashes a few times. Officially you have 20 seconds for this.
- Once the connection is setup, the Xbox button will stay lit on the controller.
If you have multiple controllers, repeat this for every additional controller. Also, you may have to re-assign the controller to the user if the console fails to do so.
Connect the controller using a USB-to-micro-USB cable
It’s a simple method and works with both wired and wireless controllers. You will need a micro-USB cable, preferably which comes with Xbox One Play, and a charge kit or any which works with your phone.
- Connect the USB end of the cable to one of the Xbox One USB ports.
- Insert the charging port of the cable into Xbox One controller.
- Wait till you see the Xbox One button turned on and stays like that.
This is what I use most of the time because I use the same wired cable to connect it to my PC. You don’t have to push any pairing button, and it’s instant. However, you should know that it will get assigned to the profile of the current Xbox One user. So if you have multiple users on the console, sign in with your account first, and then try this. After this, you can remove the cable, and it will automatically connect to the console again.
In case this is not working, you may want to check on two things. First is that your AA battery is not out of charge, and second you made sure to push the connect button on time in case of a wireless controller. Lastly, you may want to restart your console once to see if everything is working fine.
