controller not working,

[Ananke]

Hi, I have a problem, which is that whatever controller I use, it doesn't work on DS2, but on all the other games they work fine. I tried them all, I activated the external gamepad settings, but nothing and the only way I found, is to use a mapping of the keyboard on the pad, but as you can guess it is not optimal, in fact in this way you can only have 8 movement directions, limiting the use of the pad.
do you have any solution?

[JellyPuff]

DS2 in particular can be iffy with controllers. Here's a couple things to try, if you have controller-issues in soulsgames:

• Disable all software, related to input devices, that may be running in the background, like Steam Input, x360ce, XBOX Game Bar, companion apps for KB&M or keypads (e.g. "Razer Stream Controller")
  
• If you are not using a XBOX-controller, try using Steam-Input's controller support for your type of controller. DS2 only supports xinput/XBOX controllers out of the box
  
• Make sure only one input device is connected to your computer at a time, excluding KB&M (unless your mouse has a joystick-function, then try unplugging it too)
  
• If a wireless connection is being used for the controller, try using an USB cable instead
  
• Disable 3rd-party controller drivers. Go to "Device Manager" and under "Input Devices", disable all entries of "HID-Compliant Game Controller" or non-generic sounding names (e.g. "vJoy")

[Ananke]

Originally posted by JellyPuff:

DS2 in particular can be iffy with controllers. Here's a couple things to try, if you have controller-issues in soulsgames:

• Disable all software, related to input devices, that may be running in the background, like Steam Input, x360ce, XBOX Game Bar, companion apps for KB&M or keypads (e.g. "Razer Stream Controller")
  
• If you are not using a XBOX-controller, try using Steam-Input's controller support for your type of controller. DS2 only supports xinput/XBOX controllers out of the box
  
• Make sure only one input device is connected to your computer at a time, excluding KB&M (unless your mouse has a joystick-function, then try unplugging it too)
  
• If a wireless connection is being used for the controller, try using an USB cable instead
  
• Disable 3rd-party controller drivers. Go to "Device Manager" and under "Input Devices", disable all entries of "HID-Compliant Game Controller" or non-generic sounding names (e.g. "vJoy")

Hello thanks, I tried all these methods, but none of them worked, I also tried to use another controller of the same brand (EasySMX) with which last September I quietly finished Ds2 without problems, but nothing, this didn't work either. I also tried reinstalling the game, thinking maybe it could be a file error, but that method didn't work either. so I wouldn't know what to do anymore, maybe I just have to leave it alone and use the keyboard mapping, even if it's not a method that drives me crazy...

[JellyPuff]

Have you tried Steam's controller support for generic controllers, yet? If you haven't:
Steam --> Settings --> Controller --> "Enable Steam Input for generic controllers"

Since your controller manufacturer also seems to make lots of 3rd-party Switch controllers, you may also want to try "Enable Steam Input for Switch Pro controllers" instead.

You can try look at your controller's spec-sheet. Maybe it says, wether it uses "dinput" (not supported by DS2) or "xinput" (supported by DS2), when connecting to PC's.

[Ananke]

Originally posted by JellyPuff:

Have you tried Steam's controller support for generic controllers, yet? If you haven't:
Steam --> Settings --> Controller --> "Enable Steam Input for generic controllers"

Since your controller manufacturer also seems to make lots of 3rd-party Switch controllers, you may also want to try "Enable Steam Input for Switch Pro controllers" instead.

You can try look at your controller's spec-sheet. Maybe it says, wether it uses "dinput" (not supported by DS2) or "xinput" (supported by DS2), when connecting to PC's.

I have already tried to enable all entries, but to no avail. I don't know if my controller uses "dinput" or "xinput" I just know that until recently it worked fine.

[JellyPuff]

You can also override Steam-Input on a game-by-game basis. Make sure, it's not disabled for DS2 specifically. Right-click this game in your library --> "Properties..." --> "Controller" and make sure "Disable Steam Input" is not selected.

If that wasn't the issue, can you think of anything relevant, which you may have installed or changed between the time it worked fine and now? If not, then i'm out of ideas, beside trying a clean boot as a last resort, to rule out some conflicting background application. If you do this, you need to keep Steam/VALVe and GPU (AMD/NVIDIA/INTEL) related services enabled, though, since they're required to run DS2.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-da2f9573-6eec-00ad-2f8a-a97a1807f3dd

Once done testing, you can simply revert those changes.

[Amo77888]

Having the same issue. Tried everything but it didnt work. I am using a Dual Sense controller. Steam identifys it and I can even move my buttons in the controller setting menu.

[MadHoek]

This game wasted at least 1 hour of my lifetime in order to get my xbox one controller to work, I was about to refund but got it to work at the end. :(

Here is what worked for me:
1: Windows Device Manager -> Disable the "HID-compilant game controller" feature of my mouse (Roccat Leadr)
2: Steam Settings -> Controller: Install "Xbox Extended Feature Support Driver"
3: Steam Settings -> Controller: "Enable Steam Input for Xbox controllers" (maybe enable Steam input for the other controllers too but xbox-controller alone did the trick for me)
4: Steam Library -> Dark Souls 2 -> Manage -> Properties -> Controller: "Override for Dark Souls 2..." -> Enable Steam Input

Afterwards the game recognised my controller ...finally!
I hope this helps and prevents other people from wasting lifetime ...well more than already wasted for looking this up.

Cheers ...you're welcome!

[Ananke]

Originally posted by MadHoek:

This game wasted at least 1 hour of my lifetime in order to get my xbox one controller to work, I was about to refund but got it to work at the end. :(

Here is what worked for me:
1: Windows Device Manager -> Disable the "HID-compilant game controller" feature of my mouse (Roccat Leadr)
2: Steam Settings -> Controller: Install "Xbox Extended Feature Support Driver"
3: Steam Settings -> Controller: "Enable Steam Input for Xbox controllers" (maybe enable Steam input for the other controllers too but xbox-controller alone did the trick for me)
4: Steam Library -> Dark Souls 2 -> Manage -> Properties -> Controller: "Override for Dark Souls 2..." -> Enable Steam Input

Afterwards the game recognised my controller ...finally!
I hope this helps and prevents other people from wasting lifetime ...well more than already wasted for looking this up.

Cheers ...you're welcome!

thanks, I followed all the steps, but unfortunately I still haven't managed to get the controller to work properly, I want to clarify that my mouse is not among the "HID-compilant game controllers" but only my keyboard and pad, however I deactivated the keyboard, followed the rest of the procedure, but still it doesn't work. I am desperate...

[MadHoek]

Originally posted by Ananke:

Originally posted by MadHoek:

This game wasted at least 1 hour of my lifetime in order to get my xbox one controller to work, I was about to refund but got it to work at the end. :(

Here is what worked for me:
1: Windows Device Manager -> Disable the "HID-compilant game controller" feature of my mouse (Roccat Leadr)
2: Steam Settings -> Controller: Install "Xbox Extended Feature Support Driver"
3: Steam Settings -> Controller: "Enable Steam Input for Xbox controllers" (maybe enable Steam input for the other controllers too but xbox-controller alone did the trick for me)
4: Steam Library -> Dark Souls 2 -> Manage -> Properties -> Controller: "Override for Dark Souls 2..." -> Enable Steam Input

Afterwards the game recognised my controller ...finally!
I hope this helps and prevents other people from wasting lifetime ...well more than already wasted for looking this up.

Cheers ...you're welcome!

thanks, I followed all the steps, but unfortunately I still haven't managed to get the controller to work properly, I want to clarify that my mouse is not among the "HID-compilant game controllers" but only my keyboard and pad, however I deactivated the keyboard, followed the rest of the procedure, but still it doesn't work. I am desperate...

My mouse was not among "HID-compilant game controllers" too -> go to: Device Manager -> Devices and Printers -> Your mouse (ROCCAT Leadr, for me) -> Properties -> Hardware -> should show a list and "HID-compilant game controllers" should be among the entries if your mouse got that feature. You can also try to disable "HID-compilant game controllers" under Windows Settings -> Device Manager -> Human Interface Devices. Good luck mate.

[Ananke]

Originally posted by MadHoek:

Originally posted by Ananke:

thanks, I followed all the steps, but unfortunately I still haven't managed to get the controller to work properly, I want to clarify that my mouse is not among the "HID-compilant game controllers" but only my keyboard and pad, however I deactivated the keyboard, followed the rest of the procedure, but still it doesn't work. I am desperate...

My mouse was not among "HID-compilant game controllers" too -> go to: Device Manager -> Devices and Printers -> Your mouse (ROCCAT Leadr, for me) -> Properties -> Hardware -> should show a list and "HID-compilant game controllers" should be among the entries if your mouse got that feature. You can also try to disable "HID-compilant game controllers" under Windows Settings -> Device Manager -> Human Interface Devices. Good luck mate.

Thank God! I managed to get the pad to work, I simply unplug the keyboard, apparently that was the problem, and once I open the game with the keyboard unplugged, the pad starts working quietly, and then I can easily plug the keyboard back in without a problem. Thanks everyone for the help.

[JellyPuff]

Originally posted by Ananke:

Thank God! I managed to get the pad to work, I simply unplug the keyboard, apparently that was the problem

What kind of keyboard do you use? If it has some kind of function, that makes it behave like a xinput-device (XBOX controller), Windows may have installed a driver for it, which you could just disable instead of having to unplug/replug the KB all the time, if it ever gets annoying for you.

[Ananke]

Originally posted by JellyPuff:

Originally posted by Ananke:

Thank God! I managed to get the pad to work, I simply unplug the keyboard, apparently that was the problem

What kind of keyboard do you use? If it has some kind of function, that makes it behave like a xinput-device (XBOX controller), Windows may have installed a driver for it, which you could just disable instead of having to unplug/replug the KB all the time, if it ever gets annoying for you.

I have the anne pro 2, and I also solved the problem without having to disconnect the keyboard every time, simply from the "device manager" I also had to deactivate the "HID compatible consumption control device" item and now only the pad works quietly.

[onizuka81]

Same... always works XBOX 360 / XBOX One controller but now doesn't work :/

[nosuke]

When you connect logitech(or some gaming) devices to your PC, the controller may not be recognised. That was my case. I think this game only recognises one controller.

[Couchbeer69]

for anyone here, what worked for me was unplugging my flight sim joystick and throttle. I still have the HIS-compliant device and stuff going on in device manager. Windows 11, xbox controller. "enable steam input for xbox controllers" is the only one i've got toggled in settings -> controllers.

hope this helps