Xbox Controller only connects when plugged in

Nick Carpurso · Feb 23, 2024

Hello,

i’ve had my xbox series x for a few months now, but just bought a new elite controller about a month or 2 ago. it was working fine, but today something changed. now i can still turn it on, but it will not connect to my xbox unless it is plugged directly into it. as soon as i unplug it it disconnects. the xbox button on the controller doesn’t flash tho, it just fades out every so often and then comes back on. it won’t go into the connecting mode either. i tried updating the controller and that didn’t work.

:)

Nick Carpurso

UPDATE:

not sure why i didn’t think of this before but i power cycled my xbox and that fixed it lol.

TROLL OF HORROR

It charges and turns the controller into a wired connection when plugged in. The only thing PC users need is the driver from Microsoft.

crazy8canuck

When connected to the xbox there is some additional info going on which results in a little feedback (aka a light) and charges faster I believe as you are using the controller in wired mode.

When plugged into the PC it reads as a battery and only charges and you are using the controllers Bluetooth to connect to the PC. You could effectively plug your controller into a phone wall charger and it would charge while you play, much the same as the PC.

I haven't had my play and charge kit plugged into the actual xbox in years. Just the USB charger beside me. No worries you are good to go

Drackitos123

Not that I can see, not physically at least. It does appear in the bluetooth session but only when connected via that. When I plug it in the controller vibrates to let me know it is charging so I am also sure it is plugged in.

GustyIsCrusty

Hey ! Does the controller power on when you plug it in via USB? Try out the steps on the "How to connect an Xbox One Wireless Controller
to a Windows PC" page and see if you're able to get connected. Post back and let us know!

When I plug the USB into my controller then into the PC, the controller vibrates and I'm able to turn it on. But my PC doesn't tell me that the controller is plugged in. And Xbox Accessories says that I need to plug in a controller, but it is plugged
in. So I don't know what is going on. Have you guys ever had this type of problem posted before? If yes please let me know how it was solved. Thank you.

Xbox Controller only connects when plugged in