Steam doesn't detect my controller

[Liufang_Monster]

Hello,

I've wanted to play a game with a controller (custom arcade stick), but I wasn't able to make it work. From what I tested, the controller works and is recognized by Windows (W10, 0ested throught "Set up USB game controllers"), but not recognized by Steam when going in Steam > Settings > Controller, there is message showing no controller detected.
I know it is not a controller issue since I am able to make it work on my laptop (controller displayed in Steam > Settings > Controller).

Any advice for troobleshooting ? I've already searched on the internet but could not find anything that worked.

[tintingaroo]

Are you using anything like HidHide or taking the stick through an input mapper?

The stick's DirectInput or Xinput or other?

Are you on Steam stable or beta? (The path you mentioned didn't include General Controller Settings so it sounds like you're on the beta)

Can check things like this for either Steam client:
- Quit Steam,
- Navigate to and open with notepad: [Steam Installation]\config\config.vdf
- Do a search for: controller_blacklist

If it's present and hiding the stick, it'll have the stick's VID/PID (e.g. "controller_blacklist" "45e/28e"), you can just clear it so you have:
"controller_blacklist" ""
- Save and close file
- start Steam


If no controller_blacklist, look for: SDL_GamepadBind

Clear the mappings there so you have: "SDL_GamepadBind" ""
- save and close file
- start Steam and see if it helped



If using stable Steam client try via Big Picture mode:
Menu > Settings > Controller. See if you get the option Setup Device Inputs [Begin Setup]
(Not sure about this one being the case though, am thinking once it's detected and set-up on the laptop, the settings would be stored with your Steam account...)

[Liufang_Monster]

>
> Are you using anything like HidHide or taking the stick through an input mapper?
>

No I was planning to not use an input mapper to prevent additional input delay

>
> The stick's DirectInput or Xinput or other?
>

From what I have searched, the controller looks to be a DirectInput, but can't be certain about that. In Windows device manager it appears as "HID-compliant game controller" under Humer Interface Devices (and "HID" is related to DirectInput from what I've seen).

>
> Do a search for: controller_blacklist
>

No controller_blacklist in config.vdf

>
> If no controller_blacklist, look for: SDL_GamepadBind
>

I've found this property, he is what looks like. For information, I already used in the past a third party xbox controller and Nintendo Switch Pro controller

======
"SDL_GamepadBind" "030000007e0500000920000000000000,Nintendo Switch Pro Controller,a:b1,b:b0,back:b8,dpdown:h0.4,dpleft:h0.8,dpright:h0.2,dpup:h0.1,guide:b12,leftshoulder:b4,leftstick:b10,lefttrigger:b6,leftx:a0,lefty:a1,rightshoulder:b5,rightstick:b11,righttrigger:b7,rightx:a2,righty:a3,start:b9,x:b3,y:b2,hint:SDL_GAMECONTROLLER_USE_BUTTON_LABELS:=1,platform:Windows
03000000de280000ff11000001000000,Steam Virtual Gamepad,a:b0,b:b1,back:b6,dpdown:h0.4,dpleft:h0.8,dpright:h0.2,dpup:h0.1,leftshoulder:b4,leftstick:b8,lefttrigger:+a2,leftx:a0,lefty:a1,rightshoulder:b5,rightstick:b9,righttrigger:-a2,rightx:a3,righty:a4,start:b7,x:b2,y:b3,platform:Windows
03000000de280000ff11000000000000,Steam Virtual Gamepad,a:b0,b:b1,back:b6,dpdown:h0.4,dpleft:h0.8,dpright:h0.2,dpup:h0.1,leftshoulder:b4,leftstick:b8,lefttrigger:+a2,leftx:a0,lefty:a1,rightshoulder:b5,rightstick:b9,righttrigger:-a2,rightx:a3,righty:a4,start:b7,x:b2,y:b3,platform:Windows
03000000de280000ff11000000007701,Steam Virtual Gamepad,a:b0,b:b1,x:b2,y:b3,back:b6,start:b7,leftstick:b8,rightstick:b9,leftshoulder:b4,rightshoulder:b5,dpup:b10,dpdown:b12,dpleft:b13,dpright:b11,leftx:a1,lefty:a0~,rightx:a3,righty:a2~,lefttrigger:a4,righttrigger:a5,"
======

>
> If using stable Steam client try via Big Picture mode:
> Menu > Settings > Controller. See if you get the option Setup Device Inputs [Begin Setup]
>

So it works, and I will probably use this if there is no other alternative.

[tintingaroo]

Thanks for the info. So unless something else was going on, looks like I was wrong and the settings are stored locally...

[TamiyaGuy]

Just thought I'd drop in from the future and say that finding "controller_blacklist" in [Steam Installation]\config\config.vdf and deleting the entries worked like a charm for me - controller's now detected, buttons are working, fantastic. Thanks tintingaroo!

[Matty]

this is a bunch of cap

[the-chief]

My ch flightstick pro worked fine until i had to fresh install windows which says joystick is good,and, then steam! now steam says no controller detected, tried setting in normal and big picture mode nothing, what do i do now???