How To Connect Xbox 360 Controller To Pc Without Receiver Windows 10

How to Connect Xbox 360 Controller to PC Without Receiver

Mehak Sohail | Last Updated On January 19th, 2022

Playing video games with a keyboard (see also all-time mechanical keyboard kits) and mouse can get tiring, peculiarly if you are a long-time console gamer switching over to PC gaming from time to time.

In my opinion, some games are all-time played with a keyboard and mouse (games such as competitive offset-person shooters,) whereas others are more comfy and easier with a controller. (fighting games and racing games)

What'due south astonishing about gaming on a PC with a controller is that yous tin always switch back and along betwixt mouse/keyboard and controller seamlessly with the press of a button. (I usually exercise this when I'm playing Rocket League)

And so if you've got an erstwhile wired Xbox 360 controller lying around, at present's the best time to use information technology on your PC. Only what about wireless controllers? Is information technology possible to set up upward a wireless Xbox 360 controller without the stock receiver? If then, how to connect Xbox 360 controller to PC without receiver?

Aye, It is possible to connect an Xbox 360 controller to a PC without a receiver, as you can easily detect another one or use a 3rd-party adapter.

So, to help you interface your Xbox 360 controller with your PC, we are going to talk about several topics such as:

How to set up a wired Xbox 360 controller?
How to set up upwardly a wireless controller?
What to look for when buying a new adapter/receiver?
What'southward Xbox Gamepass?

With that beingness said, allow'south get into it.

How to Gear up a Wired Xbox 360 Controller?

If y'all've already got a wired Xbox 360 controller, and then y'all don't have to worry well-nigh all this adapter/receiver nonsense. Just plug it into a USB port and let it install the drivers. One time the drivers accept installed, check if the controller backlight lights up the Xbox logo. (the large button in between the "back" and "showtime" buttons, likewise called the "Guide" push)

If the lights are on, the controller is practiced to go. Take it a step further and check information technology out past loading upwardly a controller-friendly game to see if the in-game menu responds to your controller, and just similar that, you've fix up your wired Xbox 360 controller.

Unfortunately, if the lights are flashing and the controller doesn't seem to work, plug it into a dissimilar USB port or try restarting your estimator. If that doesn't seem to solve the problem, you've probably got an incompatible/lacking controller on your hands.

Nosotros besides have an article hither on how to play Xbox games on PC with disc that might be helpful to you in the future.

How to Set Up a Wireless Xbox 360 Controller?

If you lot have a wireless Xbox 360 controller, and you've lost the receiver or if information technology is broken, then you've got several alternatives:

Find another receiver (used or orphaned)
Buy a tertiary-party adapter
Buy a new Xbox Bundle (panel)
Buy a third-party controller

So there's aught to worry nearly, and you've always got a ton of options at your disposal. And so in the adjacent section, I'll starting time past showing you how to set a wireless Xbox 360 controller using an existing stock receiver.

Setting up a stock Xbox 360 wireless receiver on Windows eight/x

If you've managed to snag another wireless stock receiver – or managed to recover your old one – along with Microsoft Xbox 360 parcel, then you can follow these simple steps to prepare your wireless receiver on your Windows 10 or 8 OS.

Plug the receiver into a USB port.
Wait for the confirmation that will pop up later the drivers have been installed.
Afterwards that, to ostend that the device is successfully installed, become to the search bar.
Search for "Device Manager" and open it upwards.
Look for "Xbox 360 wireless receiver for windows" in the devices list (it's commonly in the bottom, inside the subcategory named "Xbox 360 peripherals")
If you tin notice this device, then it's been installed successfully.
If not, endeavour once again with a unlike USB port or after restarting the PC.

Setting up a third-party Xbox 360 wireless receiver on Windows 8/10

Third-party Xbox receivers/adapters also work fine with your Xbox 360 controller, and in this section, I'm going to guide y'all on how to ready these third-party adapters on your PC.

First off, if y'all've been provided a CD with your third-party adapter, insert the CD into your PC and install the contents of the CD, it contains the necessary drivers/instructions for your adapter to piece of work properly.
Plug the adapter into a USB port on your PC.
Go to the "Device Manager." (Follow steps iii-four in the previous guide)
Click on the "Other Devices" drop-downwards bill of fare and look for an option named "Unknown Device." (it'southward supposed to exist the 3rd-party adapter)
Double click on this option and a small window will popular up.
Click on the "Driver" tab and then click on "Update Driver."
Another window will popular upwards with two options, click on "Browse My Estimator For Drivers."
After that, click on "Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my calculator."
Another window will pop up, listing a ton of devices, search for "Xbox 360 peripherals" (information technology'due south usually at the bottom of the list)
A smaller listing will pop upwardly, from this listing, select "Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows."
Afterward that, click on the "Next" button and confirm your selection by clicking "Yes" on any warnings that popular up.
Finally, give it a couple of seconds and the wireless receiver will be all prepare.
You can now follow the next guide on how to pair upwardly your controller with this new wireless receiver.

Pairing upward your Wireless Xbox 360 Controller to your PC

Afterward you've set up the wireless receiver – tertiary political party or otherwise – you tin follow these steps to connect your Xbox controller to your PC

Outset, click the push button on the wireless receiver (the large push on the adapter, called the "pair" button)
Subsequently that, switch on your controller by pressing on the "Guide" button (the large button with the Xbox logo)
Give information technology some fourth dimension to pair up with the wireless receiver. (if you have an Xbox console, make sure to switch it off)
Afterward it has paired up with your wireless receiver the backlight will turn dark-green and stop flashing.

Voilà! You're all fix with your wireless Xbox 360 controller, time to kickoff playing.

What to Look For When Ownership a new Adapter/Receiver

Computer game controllers

Sometimes, the cheapest selection may non be the best, and you should e'er do some research and find several of the available options before jumping in and spending your money.

You lot tin follow these tips to vet the seller, peculiarly if it'southward a third-party adapter.

Look for an adapter that comes with a CD and a manual. As yous've already seen in the previous guide, installing the drivers is essential when you're dealing with tertiary-party adapters.
Don't forget to read the customer reviews, I understand that information technology's just a $10-$20 product, merely a dollar is a dollar, and you lot can always relieve a couple of extra bucks by doing your due research on what others – who bought the product – have to say.
Check if a product is "Fulfilled by Amazon" that way, you take the guarantee of being able to return the device if it'south institute to be broken or fake.
Always check if the adapter is compatible with the Xbox 360 controller.
If they claim to be a Microsoft product, always brand certain that the seller/store is the genuine

Here are several options for you lot to choose from:

Wireless Adapter past KUJOBUY: This is one of the most common third-party adapters out in that location on the market, the adapter is like a small mouse, with the "Pair" button on the tiptop. In that location's a 6ft USB two.0 cable and it can pair up to 4 controllers at a range of 30ft. It also comes with a CD for the drivers/transmission, and it's got some fairly good reviews. Unfortunately, it is non "fulfilled by Amazon" so be wary of that.

FunTurbo Wireless Controller Adapter: This adapter is very versatile, as it tin back up the Nintendo Switch, PC, PS3, and Xbox consoles. There are some fairly good reviews and setting information technology up is very easy. However, you lot can only connect one wireless controller and one wired controller. (it's got a USB port on information technology) The USB port is amazing because it helps you connect 3rd-party controllers without the need for whatever special software. (such as the TocaEdit Xbox 360 Controller Emulator)

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10: The official adapter provided by Microsoft, it'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to utilize and in that location are no unnecessary wires. (it as well provides an optional USB port extender cable) However, this product doesn't have a lot of positive reviews, and it probably doesn't back up other consoles or third-political party controllers.

So far, nosotros've discussed a lot on how to connect a wireless Xbox 360 controller to your PC, permit'south recap what we've unearthed so far.

You tin can connect a wireless Xbox 360 controller to your PC with help of 3rd-party adapters, especially if you don't own the stock receiver. However, there are some things y'all need to do differently to get them working.

Setting up a "wired" Xbox 360 controller is mode easier. In my opinion, wired controllers are the improve pick because they have reduced lag and they don't require constant recharging.

Conclusion

Connecting a wireless Xbox 360 controller to your PC is not every bit easy when you don't have the branded receiver provided by Microsoft. You cannot connect to the controller via Bluetooth because it uses a different wireless network. Then the best style to connect your wireless controller (Xbox or 3rd-party) is to apply an adapter. There are lots of affordable tertiary-party options out there. Unfortunately, getting them to work volition not be so straightforward.

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