Core (Plus) Wired Controller - Not being detected by Windows 11?

Jack Hanna · Aug 6, 2022

Hello. I recently upgraded to Windows 11 and I have a controller that I used to use when I was on Windows 10 for playing games like Smash Melee or any other game that's better with a controller. It is a Gamecube controller which Nintendo specifically created for the Switch console for the purpose of playing Smash Ultimate. Here is a link to the controller, which I bought from Best Buy.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/powera...do-switch-wired-black/6260943.p?skuId=6260943

Now, it is not being detected by my computer as a controller. Right now it is plugged into my computer. I open Device Manager and here is what it labels the device when I plug it in, either to one of the USBs on the front of my computer or the back of my computer (attached Screenshot 1).

Okay, no problem. I open up Windows' joystick settings for setting up wired controllers to see if it's there. Nothing is there. The computer isn't detecting this device as a controller at all (attached Screenshot 2).

I open up Steam in Big Picture Mode to see if it detects the controller there. Nothing either. It says "no controllers are connected," so modifying which driver I use by clicking any of those buttons is futile (attached Screenshot 3).

I have no idea what is going on at this point. I even tried downloading Zadig, which everyone says fixes any controller issues, and that didn't work.

I scoured the internet (perhaps not hard enough, though) and found nothing helpful. I still have this controller I want to use and it isn't usable on my computer. Can someone, anyone, please help me figure this out?

:)

JosefLBohorquez

Hi and thanks for reaching Microsoft Xbox gamer's community. My name is Josef.
I'm an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft Xbox user like you.

Hope you're doing great today despite this Jack

May I know which troubleshooting steps you have done so far to fix this? (Besides the ones described) In that way I can advise you different things or how to proceed

JosefLBohorquez

I found a tutorial that might help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTMq3vARsko

If maybe the issue persists (or you're not able to map correctly the buttons), right now the best option is downgrade to Windows 10 in order to use again your controller

** This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Jack Hanna

Okay. I would like to try Xinput. Can you guide me through the process?

No, I haven't contacted PowerA, nor do I really know how. I can look into that.

Jack Hanna

Hello Josef. Thank you for reaching out to try to help me.

I haven't done many other steps. I downloaded Zadig and updated the driver using this program (as you can see in this screenshot).

This, unfortunately, did not do anything. That's pretty much all I did.

JosefLBohorquez

Thanks for the update, well... I can advise you to use Xinput (is a program) to force the controller recognition...

But I think that the issue lies more in a driver incompatibility with Windows 11

Are you able to double check this with the manufacturer? (PowerA)

Core (Plus) Wired Controller - Not being detected by Windows 11?