Mixed Reality Controllers not connecting in Windows 11/10

If Mixed Reality Controllers are not connecting in Windows 11/10, the solutions provided in this article will help you resolve the issue. Here, you may experience one of the following scenarios:

Mixed Reality Controllers are displayed but do not connect.
Mixed reality Controllers are not displayed

The solutions provided here will work in both of these scenarios.

Mixed Reality Controllers are not connecting in Windows 11/10

There could be many reasons why Mixed Reality Controllers are not connecting in Windows 11/10, like drained-out batteries, USB 3.0 interference issues with the Bluetooth signal, etc. Whatever the cause of this issue is, the fixes provided below will help you solve the problem. Before you proceed, we suggest you check for Windows Updates and install all the pending updates (if any).

Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter
Disable and re-enable Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator
Check the status of the Bluetooth Support Service
Make sure that your controller firmware is up to date
Check for multiple instances of the Mixed Reality Controller driver
Reinstall your controller driver
Reinstall the Bluetooth adapter
Remove and add your controller by performing a factory reset
Check for interference issues
Take your Mixed Reality Controllers to the service center

Let’s talk about these fixes in detail.

1] Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter

As the name implies, Bluetooth Troubleshooter is an automated tool in Windows 11/10 operating systems that help users fix Bluetooth connectivity issues. You are experiencing problems with your Mixed Reality Controller. Hence, running the Bluetooth Troubleshooter may help. Go through the following instructions:

Open Windows 11/10 Settings.
Go to “System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters” or “System > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters” whatever you see in your Windows 11/10 Settings.
Locate Bluetooth and click Run.

Let the troubleshooter check for the problem and fix it.

2] Disable and re-enable Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator

Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator is required by Windows computers to communicate with wireless devices. If you disable it, you will not be able to pair new Bluetooth devices and connect the existing ones with your system. Also, the already connected Bluetooth devices will be disconnected after disabling Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator.

If the Mixed Reality Controllers are showing in Windows 11/10 but won’t connect, disabling and re-enabling Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator can help. The steps to do this are as follows:

Open the Device Manager.
Expand the Bluetooth branch.
Right-click on Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator and select Disable device.
Wait for a few minutes. Right-click on it again and select Enable device.

Now, check if you can connect your controller to your system or not.

3] Check the status of the Bluetooth Support Service

Bluetooth Support Service is responsible for the discovery and association of remote Bluetooth devices. If you stop or disable this service, already installed Bluetooth devices may fail to operate properly and new Bluetooth devices will not be discovered by your system.

Check the status of this service. If it is stopped, start it. If it is already running, restart it. The following steps will help you with that.

Open Windows Services Manager.
Locate the Bluetooth Support Service. If its status shows Stopped, right-click on it and select Start.
If its status shows Running, right-click on it and select Restart.

4] Make sure that your controller firmware is up to date

One possible cause of the problem is an outdated version of controller firmware. When you connect your immersive headset to your PC and a new controller firmware update is available, the update will be pushed to your controllers automatically and get installed when you turn on your controllers the next time. The controller firmware update is indicated by a pattern of illuminating LEDs in a circular motion. The controller firmware update takes from 1 to 2 minutes. After the installation of the firmware update, controllers will reboot and reconnect to your PC automatically.

5] Check for multiple instances of the Mixed Reality Controller driver

Sometimes, multiple instances of a device driver get installed on a Windows computer. These drivers remain hidden and interfere with one another due to which problems occur. We suggest you check for multiple instances of the Mixed Reality Controller driver and delete all the instances. The following instructions will guide you on this:

Open the Device Manager.
Go to “View > Show hidden devices.”
Now, see if multiple instances of your Controller driver are installed or not. If yes, uninstall them.

6] Reinstall your controller driver

The problem might be associated with your controller driver. Uninstall your controller driver from the Device Manager and reinstall it. The following instructions will guide you on this:

Open the Device Manager.
Uninstall your Mixed Reality Driver.
Download the latest version of the Mixed Reality Motion Controller driver from the official website of the manufacturer.
Restart your computer.
Run the installer file to install the Mixed Reality Controller driver manually.

If the driver is in INF format, you will not be able to install it simply by double-clicking on it. To install drivers in INF format, you have to use Device Manager.

7] Reinstall the Bluetooth adapter

If the Bluetooth adapter is corrupted, you will experience Bluetooth connectivity issues on your system. We suggest you uninstall your Bluetooth adapter and install its latest version. Go through the following instructions:

Open the Device Manager.
Expand the Bluetooth node and uninstall your Bluetooth adapter.
After uninstalling the Bluetooth adapter, turn off your computer.
Unplug the power cables from the wall socket and wait for a few minutes.
Turn on your computer. On the restart, Windows will automatically install the latest version of the Bluetooth adapter.

This should fix the issue.

8] Remove and add your controller by performing a factory reset

If the problem still persists, remove and add your controller by performing a factory reset. To reset your controllers to factory default settings, you need fresh batteries. Go through the following instructions:

Unplug and power off your controllers.
Open the battery cover and insert new batteries.
Press and hold the pairing button. You will find it at the bottom under the batteries.
Do not release the pairing button. Press and hold the Windows button for 5 seconds. (Keep both buttons pressed).
Release both buttons and wait till the controller is powered on. It may take up to 15 seconds. Do note that, you are resetting your controllers and this process is called device recovery. During device recovery, no indicators are displayed. If the controllers turn on immediately after releasing both buttons, you need to try again from scratch.
After turning on the controllers, open Windows 11/10 Settings and remove the previously added Motion Controller from the Bluetooth devices.
Now, pair the controllers with your PC or headset.
After the pairing is completed, the controllers may install the firmware updates.

9] Check for interference issues

Bluetooth connectivity issues also occur due to USB 3.0 interference. USB 3.0 cables emit radio waves. These radio waves can interfere with wireless signals with a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Bluetooth signals also have a frequency of 2.4 GHz. If you have connected a USB device to a USB 3.0 port and the Bluetooth USB adapter is connected adjacent to that port, you may experience Bluetooth connectivity issues due to the USB 3.0 interference.

To fix this problem, disconnect your USB device from the USB 3.0 port or connect your Bluetooth USB adapter to a USB port away from the USB 3.0 port.

10] Take your Mixed Reality Controllers to the service center

If despite using all the fixes explained above, the problem persists, there may be a hardware issue with your Mixed Reality Controllers. Now, you should take your controllers to the service center to get this issue resolved.

Read: How to uninstall Mixed Reality Portal in Windows 11/10.

What is Mixed Reality Portal in Windows 11?

The Mixed Reality Portal in Windows 11 helps Windows 11 users know whether their computer is ready to run Mixed Reality or not. After running this app, click on the Start setup and check your PC. The app will check your hardware and show you one of the following three messages:

You’re good to go: If you see this message, this means that your PC is ready to run Mixed Reality games.
Supports some features: If you see this message, it means that your PC can run some Mixed Reality experiences.
Can’t run mixed reality: It is clear from the message, your PC is not compatible with Mixed Reality. Hence, you cannot enjoy Mixed Reality experiences on your PC.

Does Windows 11 support Mixed Reality?

Yes, Windows 11 supports Mixed Reality. But your computer should have minimum hardware requirements to enjoy Mixed Reality. If you do not know whether or not your Windows 11 computer supports Mixed Reality, you can install the Mixed Reality Portal app from Microsoft Store and run it.

I hope this helps.