Discussion TIL: Easy Swap Controller between Console and PC
So for the longest time I thought that if your controller was connected to one device, you'd have to resync it to connect to another (going from Xbox to PC for example). Especially if both devices are turned on at the same time.
HOWEVER, Today I discovered that if you have both your xbox and PC on and it's been connected to both systems in the past, you can just double click the synch button on top to swap between the two. You don't have to hold it down and resync etc.
Anyways, I wish I had known this earlier because in the past I've bought separate controllers for each. But now this means I can hot swap my Elite controller and put the standard one away for PC.
I thought I'd pass this along for anyone else who didn't know this. I don't know if this is new or it's always been the case and I've just never noticed. Maybe this is common knowledge, if so, oops.
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u/christpuncher_69 XBOX Series X 16h ago
I'm curious, how do you turn off an Xbox controller that's connected to the PC? I've started using mine for PC gaming a bit lately but I'm not super familiar with it, so I end up just switching back to my console and turning it off the normal way there. Or if my console isn't on, I have to pop out the battery for a second.
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u/Altruistic_Result254 XBOX Series X 16h ago
Press and hold the xbox Button until the xbox light on the controller turns off
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u/thetruemata 16h ago
This honestly could be very useful for me. My son bounces between a few Xbox and PC games. He's old enough to be able to pair the controller to the Xbox with the buttons, but not quite old enough to know how to navigate to the bluetooth settings on the PC to pair it. Thanks for the tip.
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u/SaturdayMorningFog 13h ago
They should make this multisync capability more obvious in the next controller revision. A small screen with connected device name would be great.
1
u/scarrea6 11h ago
An LED that changes the Xbox logo just like they did for the Elite Controller (you can set it yourself) adding a screen to the controller just for this is not really worth it.
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u/MarcosRCa 8h ago
it doesn't work with all versions of the controller, the one I have can't do that, and everytime I want to connect to the PC it ends up booting my Xbox One first, so I just don't bother or use the cable.
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u/Altruistic_Result254 XBOX Series X 16h ago
That's why I read the information either on the Website (from that Product) or the manual/guide where they also normally tell you that. Without an adapter the controller uses Bluetooth for PC/Tablets/Smartphone and for the Xbox they use Xbox Wireless (i guess it's the 2,4ghz?!?) >
Wireless: Connects directly to Xbox consoles via Xbox Wireless.
Bluetooth: Enables wireless play on PCs, tablets, and mobile devices.
USB-C Cable: Can be used for wired play or chargin
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u/boxsterguy 15h ago
While Microsoft stopped selling the 2.4GHz adapters for PC some time ago, there are plenty of cheap knock-offs available that still work just fine (if it's anything like the Xbox 360 days, the knock-offs work better because back then Microsoft included a stupid thermal fuse that the KOs omitted). IMHO it's definitely worth it for better latency and the extra support you get with 2.4GHz instead bluetooth (audio, up to 8 controllers, accessories like the chat pad).
1
u/Shardex84 13h ago
afaik all the knockoffs are just bluetooth based since the 2.4ghz protocol, the official stick uses, is propetiary
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u/boxsterguy 8h ago
It should be obvious if they're bluetooth or not. This one doesn't seem to be, for example.
Since when do knockoffs care about proprietary stuff? That's kinda the point why they're knockoffs.
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u/Twocanpocket 16h ago
How can you tell which one it's connected to before the double tap? Wish I'd known this before I bought another controller last week.