Fix Xbox One controller won't connect to PC via Bluetooth

Some users are experiencing issues while connecting their wireless Xbox controller to their computers. According to them, they are not able to connect their Xbox controller to their PC via Bluetooth, but when they try connecting it via a USB cable, it works fine. Hence, the problem is occurring only with the wireless connection. If your Xbox controller won’t connect to your PC via Bluetooth, some of the solutions described in this article may help you fix the problem.

Xbox One controller won’t connect to PC via Bluetooth

Follow the solutions listed below one by one and see which of them fixes your problem.

Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter
Remove the Bluetooth Device and add it again
Check the status of Device Association Service
Remove and add your Bluetooth device via the Control Panel
Update and reinstall your Bluetooth driver

Let’s see all these solutions in detail.

1] Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Troubleshooters are automated tools developed by Microsoft. If you open Windows 11/10 Settings, you will see different types of troubleshooters. Based on the problem you are facing, you can run a specific troubleshooter.

For some users, the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter has fixed the problem. You can also try this and see if this helps.

To invoke the troubleshooter, all you need do is to launch the command prompt, then type or copy and paste the command below and hit Enter.

msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic

2] Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter

If the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter did not fix your problem, run Bluetooth Troubleshooter. The problem that you are experiencing is associated with the Bluetooth connection, hence, running the Bluetooth Troubleshooter may fix the issue.

Because Windows 11 UI is different from Windows 10, the steps to run Bluetooth Troubleshooter are also different.

Windows 11

Open Windows 11 Settings.
Go to “System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.”
Click on the Run button next to Bluetooth.

Windows 10

Open Windows 10 Settings.
Go to “Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.”
Click on the Other troubleshooter link on the right side.
Select Bluetooth and click Run the troubleshooter.

Read: Bluetooth is not working in Windows

3] Remove Bluetooth device and add it again

If the automated troubleshooting tools did not fix your problem, remove the Xbox controller from Bluetooth & Devices in Windows 11/10 Settings and add it again.

The following steps will help you with that:

If you are a Windows 11 user, open Settings and select Bluetooth & Devices from the left pane. Now, click on the three vertical dots on the top right side of your Xbox controller and select Remove device.
If you are a Windows 10 user, open Settings and go to “Devices > Bluetooth & Other Devices.” Select your Xbox controller and remove it.

After removing your Xbox controller from Windows 11/10 Settings, right-click on Start and select Device Manager. Expand the Human Interface Devices node.

Right-click on the HID-compliant game controller and select Uninstall device. This will uninstall the HID-compliant game controller driver. If you do not find this driver under the Human Interface Devices node, click View and select Show hidden devices.

Now, open Windows 11/10 Settings and add your controller again.

4] Check the status of the Device Association Service

This solution is for the users who do not find their Xbox controller in the Bluetooth Add a Device window. Check the status of the Device Association Service. If the service is not running, start it. Follow the instructions written below.

Press Win + R keys to launch the Run command box.
Type services.msc and click OK. This will launch the Services app.
Scroll down and locate the Device Association Service. Its Status should show Running. If not, start the service.
To start the service, right-click on it and select Start.

After starting the service, check if you can connect your Xbox controller with your PC via Bluetooth or not.

Please also ensure that its Startup type is set to Manual (Triggered).

Read: Wireless Xbox One controller requires a PIN for Windows.

5] Remove and add your Bluetooth device via the Control Panel

If removing and adding the Xbox controller via Windows 11/10 Settings did not solve the issue, try it again via the Control Panel. Many users have found this solution helpful.

Open the Control Panel and change the View by mode from Category to Large icons. Now, select Devices and Printers. Remove the Xbox controller and add it again via the Control Panel.

6] Update and reinstall your Bluetooth driver

If you are still unable to connect your Xbox controller to your PC, there might be a problem with your Bluetooth driver. In this case, updating or reinstalling the Bluetooth driver will fix the problem.

First, open the Optional updates page in Windows 11/10 Settings and check if there is any update available for your Bluetooth driver. If yes, install it.

If there is no pending update for your Bluetooth driver in Windows 11/10 Optional updates page, open the Device Manager and expand the Bluetooth node. Now, right-click on your Xbox controller’s Bluetooth driver and select Update driver. After that, click Search automatically for drivers.

If updating the driver does not fix your problem, uninstall it from the Device Manager and restart your computer. After restarting your device, Windows will search automatically for the latest version available and install it.

Related:

Why won’t my Xbox One controller connect through Bluetooth?

If your Xbox One controller is not connecting to your computer through Bluetooth, make sure that the Bluetooth is turned on and the Airplane mode is turned off. You can try removing and adding your Xbox controller to your computer. If these fixes do not work, your Bluetooth driver may have malfunctioned. Hence, consider updating it.

Why is my Xbox controller not showing up on my PC Bluetooth?

If your Xbox controller is not showing up on your PC Bluetooth, make sure that the controller is turned on and is in the range of your PC Bluetooth. If everything is OK, the issue may be with your Bluetooth driver. Open the Device Manager and update your Bluetooth driver.

Hope this helps.