Troubleshooting your Xbox 360 Controller for Windows

This article describes what to do if your Xbox 360 Controller for Microsoft Windows isn't working correctly.

To help diagnose and fix this problem, follow these steps:

1. What version of Windows are you using?
   The Xbox 360 Controller for Windows is designed to work for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and later versions of Windows. Windows XP SP2 is very easy to install. The quickest method is to use Windows Update.
2. Has the software been installed?
   Make sure that the software has been installed. The controller requires a driver to work on a Microsoft Windows XP-based PC. A disc that contains the driver is included with the controller. You can also download the driver from the following Microsoft Web site:
   https://www.microsoft.com/hardware/download/DownloadResult.aspx?category=Gaming&type=Controller&name=pk_xbox_cont&os=XP_SP1&lang=en (https://www.microsoft.com/hardware/download/DownloadResult.aspx?category=Gaming&type=Controller&name=pk_xbox_cont&os=XP_SP1&lang=en)
3. Is the problem just in one game?
   If the problem appears to be with only one specific game, contact the publisher of that game for support.
   
   You can use the Microsoft Windows Control Panel to test the controller. Click Start, click Run, type joy.cpl, and then click OK.
4. Try another USB port.
   If the problem persists, plug the controller into another USB port on the back of the computer. Try to avoid using USB hubs or the front ports on a PC. Unpowered hubs or ports might not provide enough power for the controller.
5. The amount of power that the USB bus can provide might have been exceeded.
   1. Try connecting the Xbox 360 Controller to a powered USB 2.0 port on the back of the computer.
   2. Remove any unnecessary USB devices.
   3. Try again.
      Note If this resolves the issue, we recommend that you add your other devices to a powered USB hub.
   Note Typically, the ports on the back of a computer are powered ports. Ports on the front of the computer may not be powered ports. Also, an external USB hub does not provide powered ports if it does not have its own separate power supply or AC adapter.
6. Look in Device Manager for problems.
   Look in Device Manager to see whether the correct items are listed and to make sure that there are no conflicts. Conflicts are displayed as yellow exclamation points. To open Device Manager, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
   2. On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
   When the controller is successfully installed, you see three entries in Device Manager. You see two entries under Human Interface Devices:
   • HID-compliant game controller
   • USB Human Interface Device
   The third entry in Device Manager branches from a new group named Microsoft Common Controller for Windows Class:
   • Xbox 360 Controller for Windows
   If you see yellow exclamation points on any one of these entries, there is a problem with the installation. Because the two entries under Human Interface Devices are generic, if there is a problem with these entries, you'll have to verify that the problem is an entry that is related to the controller. To verify that the problem is caused by the controller, unplug the controller, and then look in Device Manager. If the controller was causing the problem, the yellow exclamation point will no longer appear in Device Manager.
   
   To resolve problems with the controller that you see in Device Manager, follow these steps:
   1. Use the built-in troubleshooter:
      • In Device Manager, double-click XBOX 360 Controller for Windows.
      • Click Troubleshoot, and then follow the process.
   2. Remove and then redetect the controller:
      • Right-click XBOX 360 Controller for Windows, and then click Uninstall.
      • In the Action menu, click Scan for hardware changes.
   3. Try updating the driver:
      • Double-click XBOX 360 Controller for Windows.
      • On the Driver tab, click Update Driver.
7. Try to use the controller on an Xbox 360 console.
   To help eliminate any possible hardware issues, try to use the controller on an Xbox 360 console.
8. The controller may be broken.
   If these steps or any steps that are not outlined in this article do not resolve the issue, you may have to contact Xbox Customer Service to replace the device. To contact Xbox Customer Service contact, visit the following Web site:
   http://www.xbox.com/support/contact (http://www.xbox.com/support/contact)

Additional support

If the steps in the previous section did not resolve your issue, your console may have to be repaired. For more information about how to start the online repair process, please visit one of the following Web Page links: For more information about how to contact Xbox Customer Support directly, please visit the following Microsoft Web site: