Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Guides

How to connect your Xbox 360 controller to a PC

By

It wasn’t that long ago that trying to connect a controller to your PC was either impossible or you needed plenty of wires and cords to get it done. However, new technology has finally made it easier to connect your controller to your PC by using Bluetooth and similar methods. 

Syncing your Xbox 360 Controller is not an exception, and even older models should connect to your laptop or desktop without too much trouble. Here is a basic rundown of how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your PC.

Recommended Videos

Further reading:

Plug in your wireless receiver

This section only applies to those with wireless controllers. If you’ve got a wired Xbox 360 controller, skip straight to Install software.

Related

For those of you that own wireless Xbox 360 controllers, connecting to a PC isn’t as straightforward as simply plugging in the device. First off, you’ll need to purchase a capable receiver, then run the proper setup wizard.

Xbox wireless receiver
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you don’t already have a receiver, they typically cost between $10 and $20. The official Microsoft version will cost a bit more than that, but there are many third-party versions available that work perfectly well.

After purchasing the wireless receiver, connect it to a compatible USB port on your computer (see Figure A below). Once plugged in, a green light will appear on the receiver indicating the device is working properly.

Install software

For the wireless gaming receiver and the wireless Xbox 360 controller to properly sync with one another, users must download the necessary software via Microsoft’s website, or the bundled installation disc packaged with their receiver.

If you have the aforementioned installation CD (probably not, but it’s possible), insert it into your PC’s main optical drive and follow the on-screen wizard. You may need to restart your computer. If not, you can download from the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows link; if wired, select Xbox 360 Controller for Windows instead. Choose which version of Microsoft Windows you’re using — the Windows 7 drivers will work for Windows 8 and Windows 10 — select the operating system language and click Download.

Once the download screen pops up, hit Run and allow the Xbox 360 Accessories Setup program to install the required files. Again, you may be required to restart your computer upon completion of the install.

360 controller on PC
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Syncing the controller

If you’re using a wired controller, just plug it in. You’re good to go. Scroll down to Testing the Controller to make sure everything is working correctly.

If not, you’ll need to connect the wireless Xbox 360 controller with the receiver plugged into your computer. To do so, first turn on the controller by holding down the Xbox Guide button in the center of the controller, and wait for the green backlight to turn on. Afterward, press the connect button on top of the wireless receiver (Figure B) until it begins to flash green, then press the corresponding button on your controller (Figure C).

The pairing process should only take a few seconds, after which the light on the receiver will return to solid green and one of the four corners around the controller’s Guide button will light up (Figure D). If you’re still having issues, check Microsoft’s support page for more help.

Testing the controller

Once the necessary software is installed and the controller plugged in or synced, it’s time to test the connection. Open the Start menu on your PC, click the search menu, and look for “game controllers.” You should see an option that reads: Set up USB game controllers.

Xbox controller test
Image used with permission by copyright holder

To ensure that your controller is functioning properly, test it by turning the joysticks, pulling on the triggers, and pressing all the buttons. If everything is working correctly, you’ll see the corresponding action highlighted in the app. Your system should reflect when every button is pushed. If it’s reflecting all of your actions, it doesn’t matter which area of the screen is lighting up. 

If your app isn’t fully pairing with your controller and certain buttons aren’t lighting up the screen, you can check out Xbox’s support website for detailed troubleshooting tips.

Start Playing

To keep things convenient, the company labeled the Xbox 360 controller as the default setup for most new PC games. You likely won’t need to play around with settings or set up key bindings to start playing. 

We recommend that you check that your controller is fully paired while you load your game because if the two devices aren’t connected, the game won’t recognize your controller. Some newer games support quick and convenient controller changes; Users can switch to 360 controllers, even if they’re in the middle of playing.

Topics
Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

Editors’ Recommendations

Xbox Game Pass is getting 2 of January’s biggest games
Citizen Sleeper 2 cover art.

Both Sniper Elite: Resistance and Citizen Sleeper 2 are making their way to Game Pass before the end of the month, along with a slew of other must-play titles. Although games come and go from the service, Game Pass rarely adds as many notable games at once as it has this month. January is host to several day-one releases, as well as several updates and DLC that promise to change up your most-played games.
Sniper Elite: Resistance — January 30

Few games can compare themselves to the Sniper Elite franchise in terms of gameplay. Combining stealth and tactical combat, Sniper Elite: Resistance isn't just a sniping sim. You'll have to think carefully about your targets and find the right way to line up your shot without being targeted.
Citizen Sleeper 2 — January 31
The original Citizen Sleeper was one heck of an RPG, and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector builds on that formula with an amnesiac android with a busted body. Find a ship, find a crew, keep flying. It's like cyborg Firefly, kind of — and that's incredibly exciting.
Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders — January 21
Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders is a follow up to Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a Trials-like experience that has you master the mountain trails on skis, racing against other players in online multiplayer or trying to set the best time possible. Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders is available today on Game Pass.
Flock — January 22

Read more
Best video game controllers of all-time, ranked
A Super Nintendo Controller on a purple and black background.

It doesn't matter if you're playing the best game of all-time or one of the worst if you're holding a terrible controller. These are our gateway into the world of gaming, and depending on how they are designed can completely change how we look at a console. The best NES games wouldn't have taken off if it weren't for its controller, and we've only been iterating on them since then. Graphics are important, but the best consoles of all-time wouldn't have succeeded without a great controller. Let's go back through the ages and pick out the best controllers we've ever held.
Atari 2600

We have to hand it to Atari for keeping it simple but functional early on. A lot of competing consoles around now tried to get crazy with controllers, adding things like number pads and spinning dials. This joystick and button is about as limited as you can get for a controller but is more than enough for the type of games that were coming out at the time. It served as a great starting point to build off of.
NES controller

Read more
How to watch January 2025’s Xbox Developer_Direct
Hazel sits cross-legged in South of Midnight.

To kick off 2025, Microsoft is holding another Xbox Developer_Direct showcase to highlight four games making their way to Xbox Game Pass throughout 2025. We'll finally get a new look at games like Doom: The Dark Ages and South of Midnight, and a surprise reveal from the show is also bound to create excitement. It's a show that Game Pass subscribers across any platform will want to tune into. To help with that, I've rounded up all the pertinent information surrounding the showcase, including how to watch it and what you should expect.
When is January 2025's Xbox Developer_Direct
The third annual Xbox Developer_Direct will take place at 10 a.m. PT on January 23, so you'll need to set aside some time midday on Thursday if you want to watch it live. Microsoft has not said how long the show will last, but Developer_Directs typically last 45 to 50 minutes, with lengthy segments dedicated to each title.
How to watch January 2025's Xbox Developer_Direct
As is the case with most of its first-party showcases, you can expect the latest Developer_Direct to live-streamed across official Xbox and Bethesda channels on YouTube and Twitch. We'll embed the YouTube limk for the Developer_Direct into this article as soon as it's available so you can watch the whole show right from this webpage.
What to expect from January 2025's Xbox Developer_Direct
Xbox Developer_Directs aren't like Nintendo Directs because they give us extended looks at a smaller number of games rather than rapid-fire looks at several. Microsoft confirmed that four games will be featured in this year's Developer_Direct, and we know three of them: South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Doom: The Dark Ages.

South of Midnight is a new action-adventure game inspired by the culture and mythology of the American Deep South. It's the first game We Happy Few and Contrast developer Compulsion Games has released since it was acquired by Microsoft in 2018. Meanwhile, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an stylish turn-based RPG from a new independent European studio called Sandfall Interactive.

Read more