How to Connect an Xbox Series X or S Controller to PC With USB
If you’re most comfortable with a wired connection, here’s how to use your controller with your computer via USB:
How to Connect an Xbox Series X or S controller to PC With Bluetooth
If you prefer a wireless connection, that’s also an option. You’ll need to make sure that your computer supports Bluetooth, and add a Bluetooth card or dongle if it doesn’t. If your computer supports Bluetooth, here’s how to connect your Xbox Series X or S wirelessly:
Using an Xbox Series X or S Controller on a PC
Like the Xbox One controller before it, the Xbox Series X or S controller is fully compatible with Windows. That means you can plug your Xbox Series X or S controller into your Windows 10 PC with a USB-C cable or pair it with Bluetooth and start playing right away. The process is no more difficult than connecting a controller to your Xbox Series X or S, and the controller works natively without the need to download any additional software. The Xbox Series X or S controller supports two connection formats: USB-C and Bluetooth. Unlike the Xbox One controller that it resembles, it doesn’t work with or require a special USB dongle. If your computer has a USB port or supports Bluetooth, you can connect your controller. Here are the benefits and drawbacks of each connection method:
USB-C: This method requires a physical USB-C cable. One end needs to be USB-C, and the other end can have a USB-A or USB-C connector depending on what type of port is available on your PC. You get a solid connection and your controller doesn’t need batteries, but you need to deal with a physical cable the whole time.Bluetooth: This method requires your PC to support Bluetooth. If it doesn’t, you can add a Bluetooth dongle and connect that way. Bluetooth is convenient since it’s wireless, but the connection may drop if there’s a lot of interference. You also need to put batteries in your controller.
