How To Connect Xbox 360 Controller To Pc Without Receiver

The wired Xbox 360 controller is USB, then using it for PC gaming is easy–simply things get a scrap more than circuitous if you have a wireless controller. Let's take a look at how you can relish wireless gameplay on your PC while minimizing the headaches.

The Three Prong Path to Wireless Liberty

When it comes to wireless Xbox 360 on Windows you have iii options: the expensive and like shooting fish in a barrel manner, the cheap and somewhat frustrating fashion, and the grey market middle ground. If you're sitting at your computer desk-bound and not across the living room, for example–then you lot might merely desire to skip the whole hassle, just buy an official wired Xbox 360 controller for $27, and be washed with it. A wired controller is pure plug and play with no hassle–simply if you lot absolutely must have wireless play at your PC, you'll need to buy a USB-to-wireless adapter.

That'southward right, you can't but connect a wireless Xbox 360 controller to your PC using Bluetooth, or annihilation similar that. Xbox 360 controllers use a propriety 2.4Ghz communication method that need a specific a USB adapter fabricated for the Xbox 360 controller–no substitutes allowed.

RELATED: How to Use an Xbox 360 Controller On Your Windows PC

This is where the decision making process gets slightly complicated. Microsoft doesn't sell the adapter by itself. They sell it in a bundle with a wireless controller–but if yous already have a wireless controller, you probably don't want to buy another 1 only to become the adapter.

If y'all desire to buy the adapter separately, you can, but you lot'll either be buying a Chinese knockoff production, or an official adapter that'south been separated from its kit by a third party. Picking from these potential options is the most important step in the projection.

The Official Bundle: Expensive, But Headache-Free

If you don't listen paying a premium (and potentially buying an extra controller you don't need) then the nigh frustration-complimentary and guaranteed-to-work method is to buy the official Xbox 360 wireless controller for Windows bundle. Despite the Xbox 360 getting a little long in the tooth, y'all can still discover official Xbox 360 "For Windows" controller packs both on the shelves at many electronics retailers, online, and directly from Microsoft. And hey, if you only need the USB receiver, you can always sell the controller on Craigslist and effort to get your money back.

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The MSRP of the official bundle $59.95, and you'll usually observe it at shut to that price at places like All-time Buy. If you can discover it cheaper from a reputable retailer, so by all means jump on it. If yous must shop on Amazon, be sure you're buying a product marked "fulfilled by Amazon" and exist ready to render it if it ends upwards that the production is not an official model. (Call up, "fulfilled by Amazon does not guarantee a genuine product.)

The Dubious Aftermarket Clones: Inexpensive and Doable, but a Headache

On the opposite side of things, you'll find piles uponpiles of knockoff USB receivers sold separately all over Amazon, eBay, and other large online marketplaces. Typically, you lot'll find them ranging in cost from $seven-15 and they're either flawless clones that are duplicate from the official adapter dongle or they're terrible knockoffs that will give you a headache setting them upward.

The official Microsoft Xbox 360, seen to a higher place left, is e'er branded as "Microsoft" on the front end and says "Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows" on the back. The knockoffs are almost always branded "X360", seen higher up correct, and usually say "PC Wireless Gaming Receiver" or a variation on the dorsum. Note the purposeful omission of whatsoever re-create or trademarked names like "Microsoft", "Xbox 360", or "Windows".

In general, we don't recommend buying these. But if y'all already accept one, we've got your back–curlicue downward for detailed instructions on getting it upwardly and running, even when Windows doesn't want to place dainty.

The Official Orphans: A (Nearly) Sure Bet, equally Long as You Can Find One

In between the expense of buying an official Xbox 360 Windows controller bundle and cheap $vii eBay specials, you'll find a sort of gray market happy medium if you're willing to brand a small chance. If you await on Amazon and eBay, you'll notice hundreds of official Microsoft make Xbox 360 PC dongles that have been separated from their controller mates.

Your all-time bet is to look for listings that include not just the dongle (with proper markings and tags, equally nosotros saw above) simply also include an official driver CD and booklet. While you don't need either of those things to use the controller (Windows volition download the drivers automatically), it's mostly a skilful indicator that the listing is legitimate. It'due south not really profitable (or legally wise) for companies to go to the extra hassle of creating fake Microsoft back up materials.

Just recollect that Microsoft does not officially sell these separately, and so if y'all're buying one separately, you lot are taking a bit of a gamble. While we recommend y'all carefully report each list, read reviews, and make certain there is a good return policy for whatever online retailer you're using, nosotros tin say that we've had great luck purchasing these official adapters for $15 a slice off Amazon (specifically fulfilled past RushHourWholesalers). Every one we've ordered has shipped with a driver disc, documentation, and is identical in terms of branding, structure, and labeling to those found in the official packet.

How to Install an Official Microsoft Adapter

If y'all've purchased the official bundle, got your hands on an official adapter, or only happened to have purchased a knockoff adapter of exceptionally adept quality, then the installation procedure is incredibly simple.

On Windows 8 and above, you can merely plug the adapter right into your PC. A few seconds later, it will exist automatically detected and Windows volition install the drivers. You tin confirm this past opening up the Windows Device Director–press the Kickoff button and type "device director" to access information technology. Look down at the lesser of the hardware list for the Xbox adapter entry:

On Windows 7 and earlier, you'll be prompted by the "Add Hardware" magician to add the USB adapter. You can select "Install the software automatically", and if your version of Windows has the drivers the process will go on automatically. If you don't have the drivers already on your PC, you tin either use the included driver disc or download the appropriate drivers from the official website here.

Once the adapter is installed (and y'all've confirmed its presence on the Device Manger list) you can leap downwards the department "Pairing Your Controllers to Your PC".

How to Install a Knockoff Adapter

If yous're stuck with 1 of the lower-quality knockoffs, nosotros're deplorable–by comparing, it's a huge pain. Fortunately for you, it's not hard to get them upwardly and running as long as you lot know the completely not-intuitive style to do it.

First, plug your device into your computer. We recommend plugging it directly into a port on the back. If y'all must plug information technology into a USB hub, make sure it'due south a powered hub. We'd also recommend picking a port that you'll be able to go out the device more or less permanently fastened to. Whenever you unplug information technology, y'all'll need to repeat the abrasive steps we're about to outline–then you'll want to leave information technology plugged in at all times, if you can.

Let'due south emphasize that terminal point again: with the majority of aftermarket adapters nosotros've meetif you unplug the adapter y'all have to echo the abrasive multi-step installation process. In my feel, it was worth the extra money to buy another genuine adapter just to avoid this hassle.

With the adapter plugged in, navigate to the Windows Device Manager. Press the Start button and type "device manager" to admission it. Look under "Other Devices" in the list of devices nether the entry for your computer.

Nosotros know it'south quite nondescript, merely unless you have multiple Unknown Devices on your PC, that lilliputian "Unknown device" entry is your knockoff Xbox 360 controller adapter. Right click information technology and select Backdrop.

Select the Driver tab in the Unknown device Properties box and then click Update Driver.

When prompted to select whether you desire Windows to search automatically or for you lot to browse your computer for the drivers, select "Browse my computer for driver software". Don't worry, you don't actually demand any drivers, as they're already included with Windows. (On the off gamble that yours accept gone missing, however, you tin download the drivers here.)

You'll be given the choice to search for the drivers in a location y'all specify or you tin option from a list of device drivers already installed. We desire the latter, and so select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my reckoner".

Scroll down the list until yous see "Xbox 360 Peripherals". Double click on it.

Annotation:These screenshots are from the setup process on Windows 8 and 10; nether Windows 7 it'southward possible that you may need to look under "Microsoft Common Controller" instead of "Xbox 360 Peripherals".

On the adjacent screen, select "Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows Version six.3.xxxx". Click Side by side. When prompted past the driver update warning, click Aye. The hardware signature of the knockoff doesn't, in fact, match the driver signature, simply information technology will work fine just the same.

You'll receive a confirmation that the device was installed properly.

If yous get the error "Xbox 360 Controller for Windows / This Device Cannot Get-go. (Code 10)", and then you've accidentally selected the drivers for thecontroller, not thereceiver. Y'all'll need to go back into the device managing director, delete the erroneous entry and repeat the tutorial from the beginning.

Dorsum in the Device Manager, whorl down to the bottom and double bank check that in that location is at present an entry for the Xbox receiver:

If you see that entry, you're in business–it'southward fourth dimension to add together your controllers to your PC.

How to Pair Your Controller(s) to Your PC

The only matter left to practice at this point is to sync your controller to the new wireless receiver. If you lot're an Xbox 360 user porting some or all of their erstwhile controllers to their PC, then this procedure will seem very familiar, every bit its only a pilus different than the process of pairing controllers with the bodily Xbox 360.

Press the push on the receiver (the light will blink) then, immediately after, printing the connect push button on your wireless controller (located at the top of the controller just above the battery pack).

The light-green band of lights on the Xbox controller will rotate around and then the controller will signify which controller it is by lighting upwardly the appropriate quadrant (the wireless receiver volition back up up to 4 controllers for those rare multiplayer PC games).

Ane final step you lot may wish to accept, fifty-fifty though it's not required to become the controllers to piece of work, is to download the 360 for Windows controller software, information technology adds in a really convenient office: you can tap and concord the Xbox logo on the controller to get a battery condition bank check.

That's all there is to it! Before you dash off to play, however, we strongly recommend bookmarking, Evernote clipping, printing, or otherwise saving this tutorial if yous have an aftermarket dongle. As we mentioned at the commencement, if you unplug the receiver you have to become back into the Device Manager and install the drivers again.