6 Fixes for Xbox Controller not Recognized in Windows 11

Several gamers have reported that their Xbox controllers have stopped working or are no longer recognized. Because of outdated or malfunctioning drivers or power management settings, Windows 11 may not recognize USB drives. Installing the most recent version of the controller drivers is one option for resolving the problem.

Problems and glitches are nothing new for some users, who have been experiencing them regularly since installing Windows 11. However, a large number of gamers have reported a serious problem with the Xbox controller’s connection to the PC.

The error message appears to say that the Xbox Controller is not Recognized. In this case, the most recent driver update is required.

What Xbox Controllers Work with Windows 11 PC?

If you prefer a gamepad to a mouse and keyboard when gaming on your computer, it is possible to use an Xbox One controller to play games on your computer as well.

The Xbox One controller is also natively supported by Windows 11 (as well as Windows 10), making the setup process a breeze.

When it comes to connecting your Xbox One controller to your PC, the method you use will vary depending on the type of controller you have and the method you choose to use.

For those who don’t mind making a wired connection, connecting any Xbox One controller to a PC with a USB cable will be by far the easiest method of getting started.

All Xbox One controllers come with a Micro USB port. As a result, you can use a Micro USB to USB Type-A adapter to connect them directly to a PC without needing a hub (sold separately).

There’s nothing else to it, either, because Windows can detect and recognize connected Xbox One controllers without any additional effort.

How to Fix Xbox Controller Not Recognized in Windows 11?

As it turns out, you already know why you are here. Therefore, without taking any more time, let’s get started to fix Xbox controller not recognized issue in Windows 11.

Further, we have explained different fixes to resolve the issue here. So, in case one method doesn’t help, check out the next fix and you will be back to normal.

1. Unplug and Replug the Xbox Controller

The best and easiest way to fix the Xbox controller issue is to simply unplug and replug the device from your Windows 11 PC.

Several times unplugging and replugging the controller into the computer should suffice. It is recommended that you use this straightforward strategy as your first trial-and-error method because it consistently yields positive results.

However, we would also suggest you try restarting your PC and then trying the above procedure. In case this doesn’t help, follow up with the next fix.

2. Update USB Drivers

Since the Xbox controller is usually connected using the USB port, there might be some fault in it. Therefore, updating the USB drivers can bring an end to this issue. Follow the below steps to easily update your USB drivers.

1. Press Windows Key + X and then click on Device Manager.
2. In the Device Manager window, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
3. After that, double-click on the one that has (Microsoft) written at last, and switch to the Drivers tab.
4. Now click on Update Driver > Search Automatically for Drivers Online.

Now Windows will search for the best available drivers available for your PC, download them, and install them on your PC (If not found, you can try Best Driver Updater Software). A restart may be required for proper functioning.

After that, connect your Xbox controller and check whether it is working correctly or not. If not, the issue was not with your driver, so follow up with the next fix.

3. Disable Third-Party Antivirus (If Any)

If you have installed a third-party antivirus on your PC, it may interfere with the Xbox controller software and cause issues that may result in not recognized issues. Therefore, it is advised to disable third-party antivirus software if you have them installed on your PC. On the flip side, if disabled, that doesn’t help. Follow up with the next fix.

4. Reinstall the Xbox Controller Driver

As we did in our Update USB Driver method, reinstalling Xbox controller driver is no different. Further, it guarantees that it will fix the Xbox issue. So follow these simple steps to reinstall the Xbox controller driver.

1. Press Windows Key + X and then click on Device Manager.
2. In the Device Manager window, expand Microsoft Xbox One Controller
3. Now Right-click on it and click on Uninstall Device.
4. Restart your PC and keep your Xbox controller connected.
5. Once your PC restarts, your PC will automatically detect the controller and load the necessary drivers.

Now go ahead and try to play your favorite games, as now your issue is successfully fixed. If it still does not fix the Xbox controller issue, give it a try to the next one.

5. Reset Windows 

Resetting Windows will solve the Xbox controller issue and several other issues that were bugging you earlier. For instance, suppose you were facing High CPU Usage. A Reset can also fix that issue.

Follow these simple steps to reset Windows:

1. First, click on the Start Button and go to settings.
2. After that, Recovery > Reset this PC. Now Windows will ask you whether you want to keep your files or Delete everything. Choose either option and click on confirm.

If you choose the keep my files option, your files and folders present on C Driver won’t be deleted. However, if you choose to delete everything, it will act like a proper Windows installation and we recommend that.

Once your PC restarts after the reset, you will see everything is working like before and completely fine.

6. Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

As you see, this issue is directly related to hardware, so we can use Windows built-in tool to troubleshoot. Follow the below steps:

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows + R button.
2. After the type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and hit enter.
3. On the next screen, you will see a Hardware and Devices Troubleshoot Window.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to solve this hardware issue.

Conclusion

Well, that’s all we have here about how you can fix Xbox controller not recognized in Windows 11. We hope you found this guide helpful. If you have any other solution that works for you, please let me know.