Guide – How to use the Xbox One controller with your PC or Windows 8 tablet [Updated]

By Paul Acevedo
last updated

The Xbox One controller is one of the finest control pads ever designed. The same goes for the Titanfall Limited Edition Controller we just reviewed. But one flaw compared to Xbox 360 controllers is that Xbox One controllers don’t work on computers and tablets. Blame Microsoft, who have yet to release a PC driver even though it would take virtually no effort to do so.

Luckily, a hobbyist developer named Lucas Assis has developed a temporary Xbox One controller driver for Windows 7 and 8. It doesn't work on Windows RT, so this won't help regular Surface users. His solution requires the use of several companion programs (bundled with the driver) and a few quarts of elbow grease, but it does actually work. Until now, you’d have to endure a somewhat painful tutorial video in order to guide you through the process. Lucky for you guys, I’ve gone through that already so that we can bring you this easy-to-understand written guide!

Part One

  • First download the driver package from Lucas's OneDrive. This includes the driver, vJoy, X360CE, and LibUSB.

Part Two

  • Connect your Xbox One controller to the computer via micro-USB cable/
  • Head to Device Manager. On Windows 8, right-click the Start Menu, select Control panel, and Device Manager.
  • Xbox One controllers show up under Other devices as "Controller." They can't normally be installed because Microsoft still hasn't released drivers for them.
  • Select the Controller and click Update Driver.
  • Choose "Browse my computer for driver software"
  • Click "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
  • Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus devices
  • Select WinUSB Device and answer yes to the Update Driver Warning.
  • Repeat this process for any additional Xbox One controllers you connect.

Part Three

Xbox One Driver App

  • Launch XboxOneDriverApp.exe (found in the App folder of the driver package).
  • For each detected controller, one Xbox symbol lights up in the app. If using more than eight controllers (!), check the “Additional gamepads” box.
  • Enable the “Trigger button” option for games that don’t otherwise support the analog triggers.

Part Four

vJoy settings

  • Install vJoy. You can select not to install the Feeder component, but the Configuration component is required.
  • Launch the vJoy application file vJoyConf.exe.
  • Select the options in the screenshot above and click Apply.
  • If connecting more than one controller, repeat the settings and change the target device number for each controller.
  • Return to Control Panel and search for joy. Choose “Set up USB game controllers” from the search results.
  • Select the controller(s) from the Game Controllers list and verify that Windows detects your inputs.
  • If everything works, close the Game Controllers list and close vJoyConf.

Part Five

  • Install LibUSBDotNet. You can select not to install the Source and Example code. Make sure you select to install LibUSB with filter capabilities on the next screen.
  • Finish the installation and allow the first installer to launch the filter installer wizard.
  • Select “Install a device filter” and select the WinUSB device(s) from the top of the list. Choose Install and hit OK.
  • Close LibUSB.

Part Six (optional)

X360CE menu settings

  • If you want the Xbox One controller to be detected as an Xbox 360 controller in games that support it (most modern controller-enhanced games), you also need to install X360CE and run it alongside XboxOneDriverApp.
  • Windows 8 users: Before launching the program, right click it and choose to run it in Windows 7 compatibility mode and “Run this program as an administrator.”
  • When first launching the app, it will ask if you want to create a DLL. Click Yes.
  • You can now test and configure the buttons for each controller.
  • Change the settings to those shown in the screenshot above.

Done!

If everything worked properly, your Xbox One controllers will now work on your PC or Windows 8 tablet! Launch a few games with controller support and enjoy the ergonomic comfort that only a well-designed controller can provide.

A few Windows 8 games with controller support to get you started:

Thanks to Busyman96 for tipping us on the driver package!

Paul Acevedo
Paul Acevedo

Paul Acevedo is the Games Editor at Windows Central. A lifelong gamer, he has written about videogames for over 15 years and reviewed over 350 games for our site. Follow him on Twitter @PaulRAcevedo. Don’t hate. Appreciate!

100 Comments
  • I must've done it wrong if it's supposed to show up as an Xbox 360 controller. Oh well. Can't wait for the official driver!
  • C'mon Microsoft, release an official driver. How could an independent person beat you? D:
  • If MS had released this as a solution people would flip out.
  • +1 Sometimes Microsoft's actions make zero sense. Windows support should have been ther from the start. I thought the point was to sell as much hardware as you can and not limit who can use it and thus reduce sales.  
  • I find just about everything about the Xbox One to be a bit disappointing. Around every corner it seems like the team that made this never owned a 360.
    Fortunately, I think (hope) that its only because this was launched prematurely in order to keep up with Sony.
  • Yep.... Xbox 360 controllers had Windows support before the console every launched!
  • Exactly
  • Seriously. Doesn't Sony even have a driver for the PS4 controller?
  • Is it faster? than other controllers? I may wait for official drivers.
  • Thaaaaaaanks Paul! You r great :D
  • Also, excellent article Paul! Thanks for breaking it down and making it easier for us!
  • Thanks man! I was all about the controllers when I wrote this and the Titanfall controller review. :D
  • ok so I did everything and it worked just fine, but the net day when I plugged in my controler it didnt work. I tried the all the steps over accept step 2. I wanted to know do I have to disable winusb everytime i try to hook my controler and do the steps over?
  • Did you know that you can use Xbox 360 controllers with Android phones?
    Why not with Windows Phone? That would be much cooler than those Moga controllers.
  • You can not as there is no way to connect them. (the Xbox 360 controller uses a proprietary wireless system. The Xbox One uses WiFi direct.) You can use PS3 controllers though, since they work via Bluetooth.
  • Yes. Yes you can.
    http://www.phonebuff.com/2012/08/xbox-360-controller-play-games-android/ ...
    I often wonder why people would so confidently and boldly tell someone that they are wrong ... and then prove that THEY are the ones who are wrong. Why put yourself out there like that based on an assumption.
  • That's a hardware hack, essentially.
    There's still no way to do it officially.
  • Its not a hardware hack? you dont have to hack anything hardware or software to get controller support under android amd other mobile OSs. tanglewoodDEV is completely right, you shouldnt shut people down like that when you have no clue what you are talking about.
  • Don't want to pull up an old thread, but... Microsoft does not support their Xbox 360 controller for use on Android, only on Xbox 360 and Windows. The USB OTG cable forces the controller to be plugged in on devices with only a micro-USB port, and Android fools the controller into thinking its an Xbox/Windows machine.
  • That is so incorrect that its hard to keep from laughing at you, Android supports HID and controller devices natively, the cable does not trick anything, it is simply an OnTheGO (OTG) adapter. Fact is no hacking, mods, or tweaks nor any other stupid explination you come up with will negate the fact that Xinput and DirectInput devices are nativly supported by the Android OS and many games with no changes needed. "You can not as there is no way to connect them.", Proven incorrect. "That's a hardware hack, essentially.", Proven incorrect "Android fools the controller into thinking its an Xbox/Windows machine.", proven incorrect Please, enlighten us with some more innacurate statements.
  • Okay, but there's no need to be rude about it. Please treat other commenters with more respect, even when they're incorrect.
  • Okay, you win. I was only thinking of the wireless 360 controller at the time, months ago. I think what's really sad is that you still care on such an old thread.
  • Comment was only a couple months old, i still qualify that as open for discussion, its not revivng a dead topic. And this is the first ive been here as I just landed here after a Google search a couple days ago and as a developer I really get easily pissed off when i see misinformation out there.
  • Dude, so PS3 will work with WP & W8.1 with Bluetooth? I want a wireless controller, but without a dongle for my Flex 10
  • With Windows Phone 8.1, and Windows 8, but not Windows Phone 8 quite yet. WP8 lacks HID support, but its coming in 8.1.
  • Hmmm. See, I just want to play with my NES, SNES, N64 emulators is all. But I don't want cords or a USB antenna, which is why I'm hoping for Bluetooth.
  • Connect a wired controller via an OTG cable. Voila, connected.
  • I'm pretty sure Xpadder will do the same thing.
  • Microsoft stated previously that they wanted to wait to release drivers, until they were certain that they could support games that support the Xbox 360 controller.
  • That's nonsense, buddy.
  • You would know better than me, are you saying these quotes were made up?
    http://www.computerandvideogames.com/423909/xbox-one-pad-to-get-pc-compa...
  • Yes.
  • Ya there ... buddy?
  • Yep looks like it is non sense bud :)
  • I don't know, maybe he's taking his time to debunk that link. Surely, as a contributor here on WP, he wouldn't make a claim without knowledge and then ignore evidence.
  • For a contributor, that was a serious jerk comment.
  • Yeah, I personally think he's a tool and I've seen him acting a fool in the comments before, saying much, much worse. Just don't disagree with him too much, you could get banned.
    What's really funny is that he is clearly still reading the comments, he has posted several times since I posted the link. He is purposely ignoring it, which I think makes him look really bad. Why not admit your mistake or even correct our mistake - if that is the case.
  • Will an XBOX one wireless controller connect to WP8 like this?
  • Will this work with PS4 controllers?
  • Killer opportunity lost Microsoft, should have had a built in wireless receiver for Xbox controller in the Surface Tablets. The big arse wireless Xbox dongle is too big and cumbersome.
  • so much crap to get it working and you'd think this is all from the "ONE" microsoft vision. This company couldn't be more fragmented from withing if it was made from cats and dogs.
  • Relax Francis, the Xbox One is still pretty new and MS has said that support is coming. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/423909/xbox-one-pad-to-get-pc-compa...
  • The 360 controller had support from day 0 (from before, actually).
  • It works but Asphalt 8 is not working with the controller :(
  • Dropbox has blocked the link... anyone know if it's hosted somehwere else?
  • Here is a link to his Onedrive folder.
  • Thank you.
  • I downloaded it last night, but it doesn't include WinUSB. Also, it's not on his onedrive anymore apparently.
  • What cover is on that Surface? Not the keypad cover, the one on the Surface itself.
  • any guide for x360 controller?
  • The 360 controller automatically works with Windows and even RT.
  • Just asking im new to this stuff going to buy an xbox so if i buy the 360 i can automatically connect its controller to my Win8 Laptop with a USb cable I presume?
  • If you buy a wired Xbox 360 controller, it will automatically work with Windows 8. A wireless controller would require the additional purchase of an Xbox controller wireless adapter.
  • And what about WP is it also compatible. BTW thanks for your help
  • No, the only physical controllers you can use with Windows Phone are MOGA controllers. Check out our MOGA Pro Controller review for more details.
  • Rht thanks a lot
  • Where do I copy the xinput1_3.dll file to inorder to get metro apps to detect it?  
  • Why go through all the fuss? Wait a little longer..
  • Wait for what? Has Microsoft announced an official driver is coming?
  • Yes.
  • Have you read the article at all?
  • Ridiculous that the XB1 controller doesn't support Windows 8/RT/7 out of the box. I don't know how MS could have screwed this up so easily
  • Holy, yup elbow grease is right.
  • I prefer the 360 controller over the new One design. My thumbs hurt after an hour of gaming on the XB1.
  • "It doesn't work on Windows RT" (><) Nooooooo!
  • Just in time for the last beta weekend for Elder Scrolls Online!  Thanks!!!
  • One of the many reasons I bought Titanfall for the PC and NOT for my Xbox One was because I HATE controllers.  The mouse + keyboard is significantly better.  Plus the graphics on the PC make the Xbox One look sick.
  • It's not significantly better for platformers and a variety of other genres - quite the opposite.
  • Yeah, there are more games than just first person shooters and real time strategy....
  • If I had a surface, this would be awesome. For now I'm ok using 360 controller on my PC til MS releases the drivers....
  • I keep getting vJoy not enabled help!
  • I would wait a little longer.. If you have a wireless Xbox 360 contoller, a $10-20 adapter will allow you to use it on any PC and it even works in Windows 8 (tested it on my W8.1 tablet).. Microsoft will release a driver at some point and it should work just like a 360 controler...Plug and play (no real config on the 360 controler on the PC)
  • If you have to deal with so much bullshit I rather just use a DualShock 4 + XInput wrapper (which ironically, it's easier to set up). The touchpad is just perfect for navigating Windows and game menus.
  • Yup! The new release of the DS4 Xinput tool is great, rumble, wireless, and touch pad support, what else could you ask for.
  • There's no reason to do this. What is needed, and should come ASAP is native Windows 8.1 support. It's the same friggin' company after all. Also it should be backwards compatible with the 360 controller, of course.
  • Hey! Lucas here :) Thanks for the article, it's great \o/     ps.: Just a heads up, I had to reupload the file due to Dropbox bandwidth limit, so it's now on my OneDrive: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=ABB82C5879AF9C52!2031&authkey=!ADC...
  • Appreciate the link, Lucas! Let me know if anything else changes and I'll update the guide. :)
  • Thanks For Your Work. I have only gotten it to work with Steam Big Picture So far. You can check my tutorial for that here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDuTevvf1o4&feature=share&list=PLxV5dldYJ...
  • Guys plz someone tell me how i will connect my controller with pc (wireless, cable) ?
  • Did you even bother to read the article?
  • Thanks Paul, just picked up a XBox One controller at MicroCenter today to play TitanFall on my PC...I wish that there was a more compelling reason to get an XBox One...I want to like it, but I feel they have taken more steps backward from the 360 than the ones they have taken forward.
  • If you dont already own a controller and want to purchase one specifically for use on the PC you would have been better off with a 360 or DS4 controller.
  • Part 3 step six gives no response...I get to this part and windows is not detecting the gamepad's button presses...what to try next?
  • I would try asking for help from Lucas, the guy who developed the driver setup.
  • Thanks paul
  • When I try to launch XboxDriverApp.exe, an error comes up saying VJoy not enabled! Much obliged
  • Hey brother, I'm having issues getting the x360ce to work, i'm not sure what i'm doing wrong, i followed the steps to running it as an adminitrator and compatibility with win 7 but i'm getting an error message: "Unhandled exception has occurred in your application... could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.DirectX.DirectInput,Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=nuetral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.   If you could help a soldier out it'd be much appreciated. I love that its worked with everything else, i'm just rying to get my XBOX One controller to work with Spartan Assault.   V/R  SPC Joshua Dutton US ARMY
  • Thanks for your service, Joshua! I've slept since writing the guide, so I can't really help you out, unfortunately. But I emailed the driver creator and asked him about the problem. We'll see if he responds.
  • Though x360ce is not part of my app, I think I can help ;). I searched a little bit on the x360ce forums, and found that updating your DirectX and .NET might be able to help. I cannot put the links to the download pages here as my comment is marked as spam, but a quick search on google for DirectX and .NET will get you to their respective download links. If it doesnt work just ask again here and I'll make my best to help.
  • I had the same issue and found this... Prerequisites - All required to be installed (if not already installed)
    - Windows XP SP3/ Windows 7/ Windows 8 OS.
    - .NET 3.5 (Included in Windows 7)
    - if win7/8 .NET 4.5 (Included with Windows 8)
    or if XP .NET 4.0
    - DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010)
    - Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 3
    (more help here if you're having trouble http://code.google.com/p/x360ce/wiki/Whatisx360ceandhowuseIt)
     
  • I am running Windows 7 64-bit and I can't get this to work... Device Manager does not give me an option for WinUSB Device I tried using the libusb_device.inf, and that got it installed, but once I got to the vJoy step, it wasn't recognizing any of the keypresses on the controller. After uninstalling everything and starting over it seems like maybe I need to customize the libusb_device.inf file??? If that's the case could you please elaborate on how to do this properly for Win7 64-bit?? I would really like to get these Xbox One controllers working so I can play some Steam Big Picture games with my kids...
  • FOR WINDOWS 7 USERS... Follow this guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9vKvVHw-Y8 It works flawlessly for me now :-)
  • Ah, he must have changed something since we wrote the guide. Good to know.
  • I think it was just the order. You have to run the App (Part 5) prior to doing parts 3 and 4, otherwise those steps won't work. That was the only thing holding me back...I was trying to use the Windows "Set up USB Controllers" step, and it wouldn't work!! After watching his video I realized all that was missing was I needed to run the App (Part 5). Everything was actually installed correctly the first time, but without the App running in the background, the Controller won't function at all. It might be worth it to revise the article, as I'm sure there are plenty of other people trying to use this right now :-) I was |---| that close to upgrading to Windows 8.1 to see if it'd work better that way LOL
  • Guide updated. Thank you for finding what needed to be changed! I was not going to watch another video... I really did not enjoy the first one.
  • By the way. I'm also using two Titanfall XBox One Controllers! They look awesome. My two boys, ages 4 1/2 and almost 7, are going to be so excited in the morning when they find out that the controllers are functioning and we can play some new games during Easter Break! :-) http://s27.postimg.org/b0q51w343/Xbox_one_controllers.jpg
  • Nice! Now I wish I'd picked up a second one as well. :) I'm up to three Xbone controllers and still need a fourth. But I'll probably hold out for a new design.
  • Could someone please help me? I am stuck on Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus devices Select WinUSB Device and answer yes to the Update Driver Warning. I can't see those two options. Somebody got the same problem? I hope someone can help me with this cuz i have done everything i could find on the web and nothing is working
  • Lucas has updated the method. It's not perfect, but it's a bit easier than before...read the user questions/comments to figure out how to get it working for (most) games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bCEK71UuW4
  • First thanks to Lucas Assis for doing this even though the drivers where eventually going to be released. Second thanks to Paul Acevedo & Mobile Nations for putting this guide up. Finally .. this method is no longer needed. MS Finally released official drivers. http://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/accessories/controller-pc-compati...