Controller stuck on player 2

[philosoraptorgames]

Hi! I've got a generic game controller that seems to be permanently stuck on player 2, and thus unusable. I've googled for a solution and tried a few things but nothing is working, in fact quite a bit of what I'm finding is not even applicable to my situation.

To be clear this is a generic, wireless controller. It is also my only controller. This means, for example:

* It's not a cable problem because there's no cable for it to be a problem with.
* I can't do anything in the driver software because there isn't any, just a very generic controller showing in Windows that gives me very few options. For example, the advice I see in lots of threads about restarting the computer and "searching for the controller" doesn't apply to me because as far as I can tell, I have no way of doing that.
* There is no other controller involved. There is NO device currently set to be player 1.

Things I've tried:
* Moving to a different USB port
* Just about every plausible button or combination thereof on the controller itself
* Turning the controller on and off
* Restarting the computer
* Uninstalling the controller from Windows and plugging it back in to let it reinstall.
* Going through the Device Manager, uninstalling all the items that could plausibly be duplicates of the controller, and plugging it back in to let it reinstall.
* Going through the controller settings in Steam in search of something relevant. (Steam recognizes the controller exists but does not respond to any input from it, for example I can't try to calibrate it, presumably because it's set to player 2 and it's looking for player 1).

I can't find any troubleshooting steps anywhere that are applicable to my situation that I haven't already tried. What could possibly be going on here?

[RPG Gamer Man]

What os are you on? Depending on it, i can suggest some other steps..but i need to know your os version. Thank you.

[philosoraptorgames]

Windows 10, sadly.

(And from your username we likely have similar tastes in games, so cool. Bit more likely the problem is something we'd have in common, if nothing else. Not that I can see any way a game could cause this issue, but I've been wrong about such things before.)

[RPG Gamer Man]

Ok. You already did this, but i suggest trying again:

#1. Uninstall any controller you ever installed on your pc. This includes ones you do not longer use, or only use with your friend. Make sure all controllers are uninstalled off your pc. NOTE: You may also have to uninstall any peripherals you use like a VR headset. This can sometimes can be considered a controller too in some games.

#2. Restart your pc. Wait until it fully loads up. Load your controller in. Go into device manager to make sure it is only controller on your pc and that is it recognized. Also be aware, some controllers require firmware updates. Make sure to check your controller developers; website for firmware. Most do not, but some do.

#3. Start steam after making sure only controller shown in device manager is the controller you just plugged in. Then start the game you want to play. See if it is now on the game as controller one. If it is not, i still have some things we can try. Let me know if it works or not please. Thank you.

NOTE: If you have any controller still installed on your pc (other than the one you installed), it might make this issue still present. On windows 10 make sure you double check under device manager. If this issue still happens even after deleting every controller on your pc, get back to me.

[philosoraptorgames]

Thanks, I'll be back in a few if this doesn't work. I did try those things individually but not in that particular sequence.

[RPG Gamer Man]

Originally posted by philosoraptorgames:

Thanks, I'll be back in a few if this doesn't work. I did try those things individually but not in that particular sequence.

Do you own a VR headset btw? This also sometimes get considered a controller too in some games. Make sure it is disconnected before starting steam also. Some games for example like No Mans Sky auto starts the game in VR mode if a VR headset is detected. This would be considered player 1 on some games. Basically this would make your VR headset player 1, and any other controller you connect as player 2.

[RPG Gamer Man]

Did you get it to work? Im guessing you did since your playing a game now.

[philosoraptorgames]

LOL, yeah, mostly. It works in game but is still stuck on player 2 outside of it - for example I still can't calibrate it in Windows (fortunately I'm not having any calibration issues that would require me to).

[RPG Gamer Man]

Originally posted by philosoraptorgames:

LOL, yeah, mostly. It works in game but is still stuck on player 2 outside of it - for example I still can't calibrate it in Windows (fortunately I'm not having any calibration issues that would require me to).

That is definetly weird one. This sounds like a bug with windows itself. At this point, if you want to fix it, you can either contact your controller's developer's page and ask them for help, or contact microsoft support. This is about how far i can take you to help you. Sorry.

The only other thing i can recommend is going into big picture mode, uncheckmark all the controller options, close steam, restart pc, start steam, and try it then. That is all i can help you with. Good luck!