Question:

How to troubleshoot Xbox series controller intermittent disconnection from PC via wireless adapter?

I am using an Xbox series controller with an Xbox wireless adapter for Windows to play games on my PC. The controller and the adapter are paired successfully, and the controller light is solid white. However, sometimes the controller disconnects from the PC randomly, even though the light remains solid white. The game and the Steam settings do not recognize the controller anymore, and I cannot use it until I unplug and plug the adapter or restart the PC. I have tried updating the adapter driver, disabling the power saving option, and adjusting the nvidia GeForce settings, but none of them solved the problem. What could be the cause of this issue and how can I fix it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:

If you are using an Xbox series controller with an Xbox wireless adapter for Windows to play games on your PC, you may encounter a frustrating issue where the controller disconnects from the PC randomly, even though the controller light remains solid white. This means that the controller and the adapter are still paired, but the PC does not recognize the controller anymore. You may lose all controller functionality and have to unplug and plug the adapter or restart the PC to fix the problem. This can be very annoying, especially if you are in the middle of a game.

There are several possible causes and solutions for this issue, and we will go through them one by one. Before you try any of the following steps, make sure that your controller and adapter are updated to the latest firmware. You can do this by using the Xbox Accessories app on your PC or the Xbox console companion app on your Xbox console. Also, make sure that your PC and your games are updated to the latest version.

Step 1: Check the battery level of your controller

One of the simplest reasons why your controller may disconnect from your PC is that the battery level is low. You can check the battery level of your controller by pressing the Xbox button on the controller and looking at the battery icon on the screen. If the battery level is low, you may want to replace the batteries or use a rechargeable battery pack. You can also use a USB cable to connect your controller to your PC and see if the problem persists.

Step 2: Check the distance and interference between your controller and adapter

Another possible reason why your controller may disconnect from your PC is that the distance or interference between your controller and adapter is too high. The Xbox wireless adapter for Windows has a range of about 9 meters (30 feet), but this may vary depending on the environment and other wireless devices. You may want to reduce the distance between your controller and adapter and make sure that there are no obstacles or sources of interference between them. For example, you may want to avoid placing your adapter near metal objects, wireless routers, microwaves, or other wireless devices that may interfere with the signal. You may also want to try using a different USB port on your PC or using a USB extension cable to move your adapter to a better location.

Step 3: Check the settings of your PC and your games

Another possible reason why your controller may disconnect from your PC is that the settings of your PC or your games are not compatible with the controller. You may want to check the following settings and make sure that they are set correctly:

• Power settings: You may want to change the power settings of your PC to prevent it from going to sleep or turning off the USB ports to save power. You can do this by going to the Control Panel, clicking on Hardware and Sound, and then clicking on Power Options. You may want to choose the High Performance plan or create a custom plan that suits your needs. You may also want to click on Change plan settings, then click on Change advanced power settings, and then expand the USB settings and the Wireless Adapter settings. You may want to set the USB selective suspend setting and the Wireless Adapter power saving mode to Disabled.
• Steam settings: If you are using Steam to play games, you may want to check the Steam settings and make sure that they are configured to work with your controller. You can do this by launching Steam, clicking on Steam in the top left corner, and then clicking on Settings. You may want to click on Controller and then click on General Controller Settings. You may want to enable the Xbox Configuration Support option and the Guide Button Focuses Steam option. You may also want to click on Big Picture Mode and then click on Controller Settings. You may want to enable the Xbox Controller option and the Use Desktop Configuration in Launcher option. You may also want to customize the controller configuration for each game by clicking on Manage Game and then clicking on Controller Options.
• Game settings: If you are playing a game that does not support the Xbox series controller natively, you may want to check the game settings and make sure that they are set to use the controller. You can do this by launching the game, going to the options menu, and then going to the controller settings. You may want to enable the controller option and choose the Xbox controller layout. You may also want to adjust the sensitivity, deadzone, and vibration settings to your preference.

Step 4: Contact Microsoft support or replace your controller or adapter

If none of the above steps solve your problem, you may have a faulty controller or adapter. You may want to contact Microsoft support and see if they can help you troubleshoot the issue further or offer you a replacement or a refund. You can contact Microsoft support by going to this link: https://support.xbox.com/en-GB/contact-us. You may also want to try using a different controller or adapter and see if the problem persists.

We

hope that this article has helped you solve your Xbox series controller intermittent disconnection issue. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading and happy gaming! 🎮