New Xbox series controller not working properly

[Xerazal]

So I just received an Xbox series controller (the new one with the dedicated share button and improved dpad) and it won't work properly with the steam Link. I made sure to update the firmware.

It connects fine during pairing, but after putting the steam Link to sleep, the controller can't wake up the steam Link. It also doesn't reconnect unless I re-pair it every time.

Steam Hardware build 851

[_I_]

plug it into a xbox or pc with windows 10/11
let it update the firmware on the controller

even the new shipped ones have outdated or orig firmware

[Xerazal]

Originally posted by _I_:

plug it into a xbox or pc with windows 10/11
let it update the firmware on the controller

even the new shipped ones have outdated or orig firmware

That was the first thing I did unfortunately.

[_I_]

are you using steam client beta on the host?
that has an issue with button mappings

[Xerazal]

Originally posted by _I_:

are you using steam client beta on the host?
that has an issue with button mappings

No, latest stable build.

Sorry for replying late btw

Also, should have mentioned but its running on steam link hardware. The box they used to sell.

[slouken]

Is this an official Microsoft controller or a third party one? Can you get the USB VID/PID for it?

[SauteedGrenade]

I sounds like you need a firmware update for your Steam Link. The Xbox Series S|X controller use bluetooth low-energy, and Valve updated the firmware to account for it sometime last year. What firmware version are you using?

[Xerazal]

Originally posted by slouken:

Is this an official Microsoft controller or a third party one? Can you get the USB VID/PID for it?

Official. Specifically, this one.
https://a.co/d/5GuGHE2

USB VID/PID (according to device manager) is
USB\VID_045E&PID_0B12&REV_050?
USB\VID_045E&PID_0B12

[Xerazal]

Originally posted by SauteedGrenade:

I sounds like you need a firmware update for your Steam Link. The Xbox Series S|X controller use bluetooth low-energy, and Valve updated the firmware to account for it sometime last year. What firmware version are you using?

First thing I did when i got the controller.

Also, running build 851 on the steam link hardware.

[TechnoFlawgic]

I intermittently have this issue, have you tried resetting the Bluetooth settings?

[Xerazal]

Originally posted by Untz64:

I intermittently have this issue, have you tried resetting the Bluetooth settings?

Yep. Did it twice, actually.

[Xerazal]

So I tried pairing an Xbox one s controller (official Microsoft via Bluetooth, model 1708) and that one works perfectly.

Seems like the Bluetooth connection to the Xbox series controller is a problem, probably due to the switch to a Bluetooth LE module whereas the Xbox one s controller has standard Bluetooth.

[Kung Fussolini]

Originally posted by Xerazal:

So I just received an Xbox series controller (the new one with the dedicated share button and improved dpad) and it won't work properly with the steam Link. I made sure to update the firmware.

It connects fine during pairing, but after putting the steam Link to sleep, the controller can't wake up the steam Link. It also doesn't reconnect unless I re-pair it every time.

Steam Hardware build 851

Hey I also have this issue, although I do not have to re-pair every time. The only problem I'm having is that it will not wake up the steam link without another input device, or being plugged in. My steam link, and controller firmware were updated the day of this post 11/19/2022. Blue tooth pairings were reset on the steam link, restarted, and relinked to no avail.

This issue persists in Build 861
The controller is "Xbox Wireless Controller" Model: 1914. On the steam link shows up as "Xbox Series X Controller"
firmware version for the controller is 5.15.3168.0

Is there potential for this controller to be fully supported, or will this likely be a limitation of the hardware between the steam link and controller model?

[Kung Fussolini]

MORE DEVELOPMENTS!!!!

I returned the 1914 model controller today, and bought a 1708 to replace it since I already had a 1708 that didn't have any issues with waking up/pairing with the steam link. for simplicity lets refer to my existing 1708 as black, and the new one as blue (that is their colors).

At first I could not pair the new blue controller via bluetooth, so I updated the firmware on it to 5.15.3168.0 (the 1914, and 1708 use the same firmware apparently). once I did that the blue controller will pair with the steam link, but has the same issues with waking up the steam link.

I have found in the time it took me to write this review that on 5.15.3168.0 the controller will wake up the steam link in about 3-5 minutes which is painfully slow.

Meanwhile my black controller had no issues waking up the steam link in a timely manor until today when I updated it to 5.15.3168.0 (I was updating the blue one, so I decided to update the black one as well), and it now has the same problem.

To me this looks to be an issue with the controller firmware on the MS side of things. I'm not sure what the firmware version was on my black controller before the update unfortunately.

From one computer engineer to another, I hope this information helps find a solution.

[Xerazal]

Originally posted by Xerazal:

So I tried pairing an Xbox one s controller (official Microsoft via Bluetooth, model 1708) and that one works perfectly.

Seems like the Bluetooth connection to the Xbox series controller is a problem, probably due to the switch to a Bluetooth LE module whereas the Xbox one s controller has standard Bluetooth.

update: ok, so this controller (model 1708) is also having issues connecting and waking the steam link.

I think its the firmware on the controller. I think whatever microsoft did broke something, because it doesn't seem to want to connect to the steam link sometimes. I thought it was working at first, but after not using the steam link for a few days then picking it back up again, i wasn't able to get the controller to connect without hard-resetting the steam link (pulling the plug for 10 seconds then plugging it back in). After that it would connect to the steam link, but it took a bit to do so. Also, it doesn't seem to wake the steam link anymore. I mean it technically does, but its picky about it. sometimes it will, sometimes it won't.

Not sure if it's something valve can fix on their end through a software update or if its something microsoft has to fix via a controller firmware update.