Thrustmaster makes gaming wheels and other gaming accessories for gaming. The Thrustmaster wheel is the most popular product among the gaming communities. You can install and tweak a few settings of the Thrustmaster wheel using the Thrustmaster control panel. If it does not work as expected, it could be a problem while gaming with the preset settings. Let’s see what to do when the Thrustmaster Control Panel is not working or showing.
How do I access my Thrustmaster control panel?
The Thrustmaster Control Panel is not seen in the program list as is every other program. You can open it in two ways. Click on the Start menu and search for Control panel. You will see the Thrustmaster Control panel in the results. Click on it. It will open the Game Controllers window. Click on Properties to open the Thrustmaster Control Panel.
Alternatively, open the normal Control Panel on your PC, and select Hardware and Sound. Click on Devices and Printers. Under the Multimedia Devices, you will see the Thrustmaster device you have connected to the PC. Right-click on it and select Game controller Settings.
It will open the Game controller settings. Click on Properties to open the Thrustmaster Control Panel.
Fix Thrustmaster Control Panel not working or showing
If you do not see the Thrustmaster Control Panel or it is not working as it should be on your Windows PC, you can follow the below methods to fix the issue.
- Make sure the Thrustmaster device is connected
- Relaunch the Thrustmaster processes
- Reinstall Thrustmaster drivers and software using the latest version
- Update Thrustmaster device firmware
- Tweak EHCI Hand-off and XHCI Hand-off modes
Let’s get into the details.
1] Make sure the Thrustmaster device is connected
The Thrustmaster Control Panel cannot be opened or does not work if the Thrustmaster gaming wheel or other device is not connected to your PC. You need to connect it properly and then try to launch the Thrustmaster Control Panel.
2] Relaunch the Thrustmaster processes
Open the Task Manager from the Start menu or use the Ctrl+Shift+Esc shortcut on your keyboard. End the processes with the name Thrustmaster by right-clicking on them and selecting End task. Disconnect the Thrustmaster gaming wheel and then reconnect it by plugging it back. Launch the Thrustmaster Control Panel now. It should work fine.
3] Reinstall Thrustmaster drivers and software using the latest version
Uninstall the Thrustmaster Force Feedback driver in the Programs list. If you have installed any other programs related to Thrustmaster, uninstall them too. Now, visit the Thrustmaster support website and download the necessary drivers and software based on your device. You just need to search your device model on the website to get the drivers and related software. Install them properly and connect your device to the PC.
4] Update Thrustmaster device firmware
The Thrustmaster device comes with firmware that interacts with your PC for its proper functioning. If there are any issues with it, or outdated, you need to update the firmware. This method also helps when you can access the Thrustmaster Control Panel, but the settings you change are not affecting the device.
To update Thrustmaster device firmware,
- Locate the Guillemot folder in the Program files in Local Disk C and open it
- Click on tmfwupdater folder
- Open TMFirmwareUpdater application
- Your device and the current firmware version running are shown in the Thrustmaster – Firmware Updater window. Click OK to proceed with updating firmware.
5] Tweak EHCI Hand-off and XHCI Hand-off modes
EHCI and XHCI Hand-off modes define how your computer’s BIOS interacts with USB controllers like USB 2.0 (EHCI) and USB 3.0 (XHCI). You can access these settings in the BIOS. To access BIOS, shut down your PC and restart it. While it is booting up, press F1, F2, F10, etc. based on your device’s OEM, and enter BIOS. If EHCI Hand-off is disabled, enable it. If it is enabled, disable it. If the XHCI Hand-off is disabled, enable it. It is all about tweaking settings and how it works on the Thrustmaster device and its control panel. Find the right combination for your PC and the Thrustmaster Control Panel, and enjoy using the Thrustmaster gaming gear.
Also read: Where to download Thrustmaster T300 Drivers for Windows PC
Why is my Thrustmaster not turning on?
If your Thrustmaster gaming device is not turning on, it might be due to a loose connection with the power cable. Check the cable and plug it in properly. Try on a different power outlet and see if it helps. If it is not turning on after you have tweaked the hardware, read the user manual carefully and assemble it properly.
Related read: Controller detected but not working in Game on PC.
