Buy an xbox 360 control and it does not work

Do you mean a wireless xbox 360 controller you bought does not work?

Yes that's correct. I was able to buy it on my xbox 360 but I had to drag it out of the closet and update it and find my controller and all that. But it does work on the 360 store.

and what does the connect button do on controller?

The connect button starts the pairing process with a Xbox 360 console or the Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows.

The Xbox 360 controller uses a proprietary wireless protocol, and NOT Bluetooth. So the standard wireless devices in your computer can't work with the Xbox 360 wireless controller.

You absolutely definitely need the Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows if you wish to use your Xbox 360 controller on your PC.

Make sure you do NOT get the Wireless Gaming Receiver for Xbox One controllers, as they won't work with Xbox 360 controllers.

Also if you try to use a Play & Charge USB cable on your Xbox 360 controller, this will also not work, as the Play & Charge cable ONLY carries power, but does NOT transmit controller data.

So if you don't want to buy a wireless receiver, your only options are to buy a dedicated wired Xbox 360 controller (that has a non-removable USB cord attached), or get a Xbox One controller with Bluetooth functionality.

Hi,

The Xbox 360 wireless protocol is not Bluetooth. This is why your 360 controller won't sync to your wireless receiver. PlayStation Dual Shock uses BT, the 360 does not. Only the Xbox One X controller can be connected via Bluetooth.

If you want to use a wireless 360 controller you will need to buy the Xbox 360 wireless gaming receiver. Don't buy the Xbox One receiver as it does not support 360 controllers either.

The USB play and charge kit for xbox 360 does NOT make it a wired controller
- only transfers power, not data. You will see it as a device but there's no driver or any software that will make this work.

The only way to connect a wireless xbox 360 controller to a PC is with the xbox 360 USB wireless adapter for windows. You can also buy a purely wired xbox 360 controller from xbox or a 3rd party manufacturer: they all will work.

I would suggest an xbox one controller as those wireless controllers DO turn into a wired controller when a micro USB cable is used. Bluetooth is also available on newer ones.