Xbox One Controller not connecting via Bluetooth after being plugged in with USB

Anonymous
2019-09-20T00:45:11+00:00

I have a Xbox One Wireless Controller without the PC adapter so I use Bluetooth to connect directly to my PC.  After charging the controller through one of my PC's USB ports while the PC is on, once the USB to the controller is disconnected it can no longer connect via Bluetooth.  It will still work while the USB is connected but won't work via bluetooth.

Trying to un-pair the controller or uninstall it through devices or device manager often doesn't uninstall.  The most successful method of getting it to work again is to un-pair in the Bluetooth devices and uninstall in both the devices and printers and device manger, then restarting the PC and attempting to pair via Bluetooth again.  This works most of the time but occasionally won't work.

I assume this problem is related to Windows or driver as the device still works perfectly when it is connected via USB. It is like it is flipping a switch to say that it is USB only when it detects the USB connection.

A solution to this problem would be appreciated as I only have 1 USB cable long enough to reach my gaming position and if my headset goes flat while my controller is charging, I have to spend 20+ minutes trying to get the controller to work again via Bluetooth.

Thanks.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2020-05-16T21:29:34+00:00

Hi everyone,

Improved Solution:

  1. Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & Other Devices

Find Xbox Wireless Controller and Remove Device.

  1. Windows Search > Device Manager > View > Show Hidden Devices

Find "Human Interface Devices" and uninstall HID-compliant game controller.

*Important to "Show hidden" or you won't find it as the device is disconnected*

  1. Go through the normal pairing process. *Turn on Bluetooth*

Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & Other Devices > "Add Bluetooth or other device" > Bluetooth.   Don't use "Everything else" even though it says Xbox controllers.

  1. Turn on your Xbox controller and press the sync button. You should now be able to pair AND connect to your computer.

I really hope this was the main and only issue. If it isn't, go into my last post for the clean slateidea. Upvote if this worked!

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Anonymous
2020-01-04T13:05:04+00:00

I had a similar problem (although I could repair controller without PC restart)

I found a workaround:

  1. Connect controller via USB
  2. Go to win+X -> device manager and disable (not delete) Xbox one controller here
  3. After that repair controller via Bluetooth

Thus when you connect controller via USB it will only charge but will not connect as a device - and Bluetooth connection will remain connected

I have win 10 1909

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-02-08T22:58:42+00:00

    Found a solution, unfortunately it required spending an extra £20 on a USB Xbox wireless adapter. It now works perfectly and controller profiles etc can now be updated over wireless.

    Will be seeking a refund for the £20 from Microsoft for false advertising.  The device is not at all usable over bluetooth. For a £160 controller they should have included the dongle...

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-06T12:50:18+00:00

    If I recall correctly, the extra wireless adapter uses something other than bluetooth to communicate to the controller. This would explain why it works even after connecting to usb.  Bluetooth is often flaky.

    In theory the wireless adapter is supposed to allow for higher bandwidth and less latency to the controller. So maybe it's worth getting for those reasons alone?  

    I personally don't have one, but I've considered it to be rid of the same problems everyone else has been having.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-23T23:43:08+00:00

    consider yourselves lucky.  (to be fair, i used to deal w/ the same behavior - charging automatically required a re-pair afterwards)

    now if i re-pair it works.  the minute i turn it off and try to turn it back on, it wont re-connect unless i forget and re-pair it.

    absolutely absurd.

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