How to connect Xbox 360 controller to PC
One of the main features of Xbox 360 controllers is that they are compatible with gaming computers and laptops, as long as they have a Windows operating system. This means that using these controls to play with a computer is very simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install, set up, and play with an Xbox 360 controller on PC .
For all those users who have one of Microsoft’s last generation consoles at home, it is very easy to connect the Xbox controller to a PC to play their favorite video games on their computers. In this way, despite the fact that the console no longer receives updates in the form of new titles, these peripherals are still useful and users have the opportunity to give them a second life as controls for computers, with which they can enjoy other titles and even take advantage of them to play with an Xbox 360 emulator for PC and relive old console titles.
How to Connect Xbox 360 Wireless Controller to PC
Xbox 360 consoles offered two configuration options for their controllers, one with a USB cable and the other with Bluetooth. When it comes to connecting an Xbox 360 controller to PC, users can do it with both methods.
In the event that you want to connect the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller to PC, it will not be as easy as with the cable models. In this case, you will need to purchase a wireless adapter that is capable of receiving the controller’s Bluetooth signal. This adapter for Xbox 360 PC controller has its own application to configure the signal, so that it is able to detect the controller easily.
Wireless controller adapters are cheap products and can be found on any online sales page, for example on Amazon. For the most demanding users, Microsoft has its own adapters, which are slightly more expensive, while those looking for a cheaper configuration have third-party models that work very well and cost between 10 and 20 euros.
These adapters are also very simple to use, since you only need to connect it to one of the USB ports on your PC, wait for the green LED to turn on, which shows that it is working, and once it is on, open the configurator from Windows 10 or any other supported operating system, to sync and connect your Xbox 360 to your PC properly. The configuration software is included in the accessories of the adapter or, if not, it can be downloaded free of charge from the official Microsoft website.
To download the adapter installation and configuration software, as we have explained, you will have to access the official Microsoft page. Once there, you can access the download from the “Downloads” area, where a section called “Game Controls” will appear. Once here, you will have two options: “Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows”, which will be the configurator for a wireless controller and “Xbox 360 Controller for Windows”, which will be the one you must download to connect the Xbox 360 controller to PC Windows 10 wired.
In this section, users will be able to choose their version of Windows, being able to choose between Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10, in addition to selecting the language of their operating system.
Once the whole process is done, the file will be downloaded. Once the file has been downloaded, it must be installed on the computer. Upon completion of the Xbox 360 controller driver installation in Windows 10, the program will prompt you to restart your computer.
Configure the PC controller for any game
For those players who have a wired Xbox 360 controller, the situation is much simpler, since it will be enough to connect the USB cable to the computer and the configurator will start automatically. When connecting the PC control, just by scrolling down you can check that the control works well.
To configure the Xbox 360 controller to Windows 10 PC, you must press and hold the Xbox Guide button, the circular button with the Xbox logo in the center of the controller, and wait for the green light to turn on. In the case of wireless, after pressing the Guide button, you must press the Bluetooth button that appears on the top of the remote until the green LED begins to flash, when it does, press the button on the receiver.
Pairing is complete when the light on the receiver is solid and one of the four corners of the Xbox Guide button turns green. This pairing or setup process is very quick, even more so with the Xbox 360 Controller Cable.
We remind you that this process is to configure an Xbox 360 controller, since for now connecting an Xbox One controller to PC is still not possible.
try the controller
To use the Xbox 360 controller on PC, once the software installation and synchronization process is complete, you must access the PC Start menu and enter the word “game controllers” in the search menu, to find all the controllers that are have installed. In this section, look for the option “Configure USB game controllers”.
This application allows you to test all the buttons and triggers of the controller, to verify that they work correctly and that they have the correct sensitivity, something important in certain games that require a lot of precision. This application is very simple to use, since when you press a button, it will light up on the screen to check that it is correctly synchronized.
With all this, you now know how to play with the controller on PC and enjoy your favorite video games, giving your old controller a new life.
