Xbox Series X controller won't connect to Windows 11 via Bluetooth

Hi,

I’m Killing Skids

The Answer Is Yes as Long As it has Bluetooth or wireless connection

Hi,

That's not quite right. Apologies for quoting you.

The Xbox 360 controller uses a proprietary wireless technology, it's not Bluetooth and the old adaptors won't work with a modern controller like the Xbox One or Series X|S controllers.

Unlike Xbox 360 wireless controllers, Xbox One and Series controllers can also be connected via USB cable. Old Xbox One controllers use Micro USB, Series Controllers are USB C.

To use an Xbox One/ Series controller via wireless on a PC and get basic functionality, all you need to do is connect the controller via Bluetooth. If your PC doesn't have Bluetooth then you'll need to buy a Bluetooth USB dongle, they're very cheap, less than $10. I'm from the UK and I connect my Series X controller to my PC via BT dongle I purchased from Amazon for about £5.

For extra wireless features you'll need the Xbox One Wireless Adaptor for Windows 10. Unfortunately, the official Microsoft branded adaptors are now quite rare.

I am using a PDP Wired Controller designed for Series X, Xbox Onez and Windows 10/11.

I have not tried cloud gaming with this controller on a different device as I would have no way to connect the controller and device (it is not Bluetooth enabled).

Is your windows 10 or 11?

Try deleting your controller in windows, and then connecting via bluetooth again.

Hi Kimberly,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Xbox Community. I'm sorry to hear that you're having issues with your controller. For us to isolate this issue, allow me to ask some questions.

Did this issue happen after updating your firmware?

Does the controller work normally when connected via USB cable?

The latest Xbox controller firmware update may affect Bluetooth connectivity and performance with some older non-Xbox devices. If your controller is having Bluetooth-related issues after a firmware update, you can choose to revert your controller to an earlier firmware version to correct the problem.

On your Xbox console, press the Xbox button to open the guide, and then go to Profile & system > Xbox Support > Get help > Help topics > Hardware & networking > Controllers > My Xbox controller has connection issues after the last update. Select Check your controller’s firmware to open the controller firmware reversion screen in the Xbox Accessories app, and then follow the instructions in the app.

Note: You can also use this link to revert your controller’s firmware on a Windows device. You will need to have the Xbox Accessories app for Windows installed for the Check your controller’s firmware link to work. If you don’t have the app, get it here: https://aka.ms/xboxaccessoriesupdateapp

Regards,

Alvaro

it uses wifi that the xbox has a receiver and sender for, similar to the microsoft pc wireless adapter but obviously built into the console.

no bluetooth at all. there is not a single bluetooth chip in the console, the modern xbox controller connect via wifi to the console or bluetooth to phones and pc if not using the adapter for pc. only the controller has bluetooth and this is basic at best.

Does the Xbox Series X or Series S support Bluetooth? | Windows Central

No Bluetooth for Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X doesn't have Bluetooth, similarly to the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X. The reason is simple; the Bluetooth signal isn't strong enough to meet Microsoft's specifications for latency. Microsoft uses its proprietary signal, dubbed Xbox Wireless, for connecting controllers and other accessories, like the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 and the SteelSeries 9X wireless headsets.

Microsoft's signal is far stronger than Bluetooth. Since many people typically game while sitting far away from their consoles in the living room or so on, Bluetooth's susceptibility to interference increases exponentially at longer ranges. If you were hoping you could use a USB Bluetooth adapter, it wouldn't work either, as the Xbox Series X and other Xbox One consoles don't have the drivers necessary to power them.