How to connect your Xbox 360 Controller for Windows to your computer

This article describes how to connect your Xbox 360 Controller for Windows to your computer.

With the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows software, you can set up the Xbox 360 Controller to work with a computer that's running Windows.

Download the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows software

If you want to use the controller from your Xbox 360 console on your computer or if you've lost the installation CD that came with your Xbox 360 Controller for Windows, you'll have to download the software for the controller. To download the software, please visit the Downloads section on the following Microsoft Web site:

Install the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows software on your computer

Note You must install the installation software on your computer before you connect the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows to your computer.

To install the software, follow these steps:

1. Open the software file that you downloaded from the Microsoft Windows gaming Web site or insert the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows installation disc in the CD or DVD drive of your computer.
   
   If the Setup screen does not appear automatically, click Start, click Run, type the following command in the Open box, and then click OK:
   drive_letter:setup
   For example, if the CD or DVD drive is drive E, type e:setup, and then click OK.
2. On the Setup screen, click Install.
3. Follow the Setup Wizard instructions to complete the installation.
   
   Note You may be prompted to restart the computer.

Connect the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows to your computer

After you install the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows software, connect the controller to a powered USB 2.0 port on your computer.

To disconnect the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows, disconnect the USB connector from your computer. Make sure that you pull the USB connector, not the cable.

To make sure that your computer correctly identifies the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows, see the Game Controllers item in Control Panel. For more information about how to test the controller, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

See the game manual for information about how to configure the Xbox 360 Controller in the game.

Additional support

Please visit the following Web site for information about how to contact Xbox Customer Support: