The latest version of the Xbox One controller that ships with the Xbox One S and the upcoming One X comes with Bluetooth, which has delighted many fans of this accessory. Microsoft has finally decided to add Bluetooth connectivity to the controller, along with the old Xbox wireless technology, so Windows users can connect an Xbox One controller without any additional dongles. Let’s see how to connect this accessory to your laptop or desktop computer equipped with a Bluetooth adapter.
What do you need
First of all, you need to determine whether your Xbox One controller is an older model or an updated one. Distinguishing them is incredibly simple: in the new controller design, the Xbox button is covered in the same type of plastic as the face buttons (like A, B, X and Y).
The Xbox button on the older model is covered with the type of plastic that is located on the top of the controller (where the triggers and bumpers are located). To put it simply, the new controller from the Xbox One will have Bluetooth, while the old one will not.
You will also need a computer running Windows 10 with the August 2016 Anniversary Update installed. And, of course, you need a Bluetooth adapter.
If you own a laptop not older than five years, then such functionality will definitely be present there. However, most personal computers are not equipped with Bluetooth. If you have such a computer, then you will need to purchase a Bluetooth adapter for it.
Connecting an Xbox One controller to a PC
Connecting an Xbox One controller via Bluetooth is pretty straightforward. In the example, we will use a computer running Windows 10. However, you can try to connect it to other devices, for example, an Android smartphone, but it is unlikely that it will work normally there, especially for gaming.
To get started, make sure you don’t have anything in your room turned on that might interfere with your controller connection, such as an Xbox One console or Xbox Windows dongle adapter. Turn on your Xbox One controller by pressing the Xbox button in the center of the accessory. Then press and hold the wireless button on the top of the controller, which is to the left of the charging port. The Xbox button should start flashing at this point.
Go to the parameters of your computer. Go to the “Devices” section. Next, go to the “Bluetooth and other devices” tab. You can also simply call up the search bar by pressing Windows + S, enter a Bluetooth request into it and select the found result.
Once you go to the desired window with the settings, click on the “Add Bluetooth or other device” button. Then click on Bluetooth again.
Select your Xbox One controller from the list that appears and click on it. The connection should happen automatically. You are now ready to start playing any XInput compatible video games. As you can see, this procedure was nothing complicated.