How do you get an Xbox Series X controller to work with the Dock + Steam Deck?

[Katie]

I have it wired in via one of the USB ports in the back of the dock. I press the Home button to turn it on, which usually works on a Windows laptop or PC in about 1 second - flashing off and on until the xbox logo is all white. Unfortunately, On the Steam Deck + Dock, it's just flashing over and over.

How do I address this?

[Cody The Wolfdog]

You can pair the controller to the deck via bluetooth. Just hold down the home & sync button (the small button near the usb port) simultaneously for a few seconds and it should enter pairing mode. Then connect it to the Deck from the bluetooth menu. Hope this helps! ^w^

[Katie]

Publicado originalmente por Cody_The_Wolf_:

You can pair the controller to the deck via bluetooth. Just hold down the home & sync button (the small button near the usb port) simultaneously for a few seconds and it should enter pairing mode. Then connect it to the Deck from the bluetooth menu. Hope this helps! ^w^

I'm actually using it wired. The steam options detects the control just fine too. I can see it in the controllers section in the Steam settings. But the controller itself just keeps flashing.

I guess I can try using bluetooth and batteries, but I really wanted to use it wired.

[Katie]

I also tried using batteries and bluetooth, and I'm not getting anywhere either. This is really bizarre. This controller is extremely new and I know it works.

[PopinFRESH]

By "I press the Home button to turn it on" the "it" you are referring to there is the controller correct? not the Steam Deck?

[Katie]

Publicado originalmente por PopinFRESH:

By "I press the Home button to turn it on" the "it" you are referring to there is the controller correct? not the Steam Deck?

Yes. When I have the xbox controller plugged into a laptop, I can actually press and hold the Xbox home button and it will both turn on the laptop and through the Steam controller desktop configuration, I can use the controller as a mouse right away.

Holding the xbox home button is also what turns on an Xbox console.

Plugging the Xbox Controller in the steam deck without holding the Home Button the Xbox controller does nothing. I hold the home button to essentially turn it on, but it just flashes. I know the usb and controller work. In fact, both are very, very new. This exact controller is actually the OPI custom controller that was released recently - the orange one.

[PopinFRESH]

Publicado originalmente por Katie:

Publicado originalmente por PopinFRESH:

By "I press the Home button to turn it on" the "it" you are referring to there is the controller correct? not the Steam Deck?

Yes. When I have the xbox controller plugged into a laptop, I can actually press and hold the Xbox home button and it will both turn on the laptop and through the Steam controller desktop configuration, I can use the controller as a mouse right away.

Holding the xbox home button is also what turns on an Xbox console.

Plugging the Xbox Controller in the steam deck without holding the Home Button the Xbox controller does nothing. I hold the home button to essentially turn it on, but it just flashes. I know the usb and controller work. In fact, both are very, very new. This exact controller is actually the OPI custom controller that was released recently - the orange one.

That is what I'm trying to clarify; holding the Xbox home button doesn't power on the Steam Deck. Turn your steam deck on with the power button on the Steam Deck with your Xbox controller wired; does the controller connect and work?

[Katie]

Publicado originalmente por PopinFRESH:

Publicado originalmente por Katie:

Yes. When I have the xbox controller plugged into a laptop, I can actually press and hold the Xbox home button and it will both turn on the laptop and through the Steam controller desktop configuration, I can use the controller as a mouse right away.

Holding the xbox home button is also what turns on an Xbox console.

Plugging the Xbox Controller in the steam deck without holding the Home Button the Xbox controller does nothing. I hold the home button to essentially turn it on, but it just flashes. I know the usb and controller work. In fact, both are very, very new. This exact controller is actually the OPI custom controller that was released recently - the orange one.

That is what I'm trying to clarify; holding the Xbox home button doesn't power on the Steam Deck. Turn your steam deck on with the power button on the Steam Deck with your Xbox controller wired; does the controller connect and work?

Exactly, I have already had the Steam Deck on multiple times. I have plugged the Xbox Controller USB Into all 3 ports on the back on the Dock. I have restarted without the USB connected, with the USB connected, etc. I have updated the firmware of the dock. I cannot get the Xbox Controller to work.

The controller doesn't work whether I press the Home Button on the controller or not. It is really bizarre because the Xbox Controller works with Steam on both my PC and Laptop.

[Katie]

I also updated the firmware on the controller via Xbox Accessories app. Still having the same issue.

[Katie]

Ok, I fixed it. I got out an old xbox one controller and it worked. I can confirm that it did not work with 3 separate series x controllers, so that must be a bug on Steam Deck OS or something.

[shadowboy813]

If it's a brand new controller, try updating the firmware on a windows PC, prior to pairing it with a SD.

[PopinFRESH]

Publicado originalmente por shadowboy813:

If it's a brand new controller, try updating the firmware on a windows PC, prior to pairing it with a SD.

2 posts above yours

[eiGod]

same problem here :(
it's really bad - i bought a new xbox series x controller a few days ago...
i hope valve is going to fix it quickly

[ReBoot]

I got 2 of those gamepads working fine with my docked Deck. First, I've updated their firmware from another PC, then I've paired them over BT. Afterwards, works fine.

[eiGod]

I can‘t update the firmware on another PC. I connected the controller with a cable. In the XBox app on PC the three dots for that controller aren‘t „active“. What can I do?

[Kage Goomba]

I had to reconnect mine 3 times before the bloody thing locked in - Wired only.

Microsoft and their shoddy hardware protocols.

Bluetooth is a complete loss - and I'm reading the Wireless Receivers don't work without modding the system code.

I get Microsoft is a P I T A but you'd think Valve would bother to get with the program being as large as they are in the market.