Controller Not Detected

If your controller isn’t showing up in Playback at all, the issue is usually with your operating system’s detection — not Playback itself. Here’s how to diagnose and fix it.

Step 1: Verify your OS detects the controller

Before troubleshooting Playback, confirm your operating system recognizes the controller.

Windows®

1. Press Win + R, type joy.cpl, and press Enter
2. The “Game Controllers” window opens
3. Your controller should appear in the list
4. Click Properties to test button presses

Alternative method:

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices
2. Look for your controller in the list

If your controller doesn’t appear here, the problem is with Windows, not Playback.

macOS®

1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences)
2. Go to Bluetooth (for wireless controllers) or check System Information > USB (for wired controllers)
3. Your controller should appear in the appropriate list

For more details:

1. Open Applications > Utilities > System Information
2. Click USB in the sidebar
3. Look for your controller in the device tree

Linux

1. Open a terminal
2. Run: cat /proc/bus/input/devices
3. Look for your controller in the output

Alternative methods:

# List all input devices
ls /dev/input/

# Test with evtest (install if needed)
sudo apt install evtest
sudo evtest

For Steam Deck®, controllers should appear automatically in Desktop Mode.

Step 2: Basic troubleshooting

If your OS doesn’t detect the controller:

Check the connection

• Wired controllers: Try a different USB port. Use ports directly on your computer, not through a hub.
• Wireless controllers: Make sure the controller is in pairing mode and properly paired.
• Bluetooth: Ensure Bluetooth is enabled and the controller isn’t connected to another device.

Try a different cable

For wired controllers, the cable may be faulty. Test with another USB cable if available.

Restart everything

1. Disconnect the controller
2. Close Playback
3. Restart your computer
4. Connect the controller
5. Launch Playback

Check for driver issues

Windows:

1. Open Device Manager
2. Look for unknown devices or devices with warning icons
3. Right-click and select “Update driver”

macOS: Most controllers work without drivers. If yours doesn’t, check the manufacturer’s website.

Linux: Some controllers need the xboxdrv or xpad driver:

sudo apt install xboxdrv

Step 3: Controller-specific issues

Xbox controllers

• Xbox Wireless: Requires Xbox Wireless Adapter or Bluetooth
• Xbox 360: May need drivers on Windows
• Works natively on most systems

PlayStation controllers

• DualShock 4 / DualSense: Connect via USB or Bluetooth
• May need DS4Windows on Windows for full compatibility

Nintendo controllers

• Switch Pro Controller: Works via USB or Bluetooth
• May be detected as a different controller type

8BitDo and other third-party controllers

• Check which mode the controller is in (XInput, DInput, Switch, etc.)
• Try switching modes — see your controller’s manual
• XInput mode generally has the best compatibility

Step 4: Once your OS detects it

After your operating system recognizes the controller:

1. Launch Playback
2. Go to Settings > Controls
3. Select your controller from the dropdown
4. Test button presses to verify detection

If buttons don’t respond correctly, see Controller Rebinding Issues.

Still not working?

If your operating system detects the controller but Playback doesn’t:

1. Make sure you connected the controller before launching Playback
2. Try closing and reopening Playback
3. Check if the controller works in other games or applications
4. Your controller may need a custom mapping — see Adding Unsupported Controllers

If nothing works, contact us with:

• Your controller make and model
• Your operating system
• Whether your OS detects the controller
• Steps you’ve already tried