This article explains how to connect an Xbox 360 USB Controller to a computer running Windows 8. For this procedure to work, you must use a USB controller. Unfortunately, the USB cable from the "play & charge" kit cannot be used to connect a wireless controller to your computer.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Download the Drivers
Step 1. Visit this website to download Xbox 360 controller drivers
Download the drivers from the "Download" section of the page. These specific drivers allow you to use the Xbox 360 controller paired with a computer running Windows 8.
Step 2. Click on the "Software and Drivers" drop-down menu
You will see the list of Windows drivers available for the Xbox 360 controller. Within the menu there are two options related to Windows 7: one "32-bit" and one "64-bit".
If the indicated section does not appear automatically, scroll down the page to skip the banners at the top, then click on the link Download located on the right side of the page.
Step 3. Click one of the options related to Windows 7
Since the Xbox 360 controller does not have official drivers for Windows 8, you will need to use those created for Windows 7 that are suitable for the hardware architecture of your computer (32-bit or 64-bit).
If you are unsure which version of Windows is installed on your computer (32 or 64-bit), please refer to this article for more information
Step 4. Click on the download link
It is displayed in the section featuring the operating system version you selected in the "Software and Drivers" menu and should look similar to the following "Xbox 360 Accessories Software 1.2". After selecting the link, the drivers will be automatically downloaded to your computer.
Depending on your browser settings, you may need to select the folder in which to save the driver installation file
Step 5. Right click on the file you just downloaded
You can find it inside your computer's default folder for web downloads (for example, your desktop). The file in question should have the following name "Xbox360_ [number_bit] Ita", where the parameter "[number_bit]" will be equal to "32" or "64" depending on the version of Windows installed on your computer.
Step 6. Click on the Properties item
It is the last item of the context menu that appeared.
Step 7. Click on the Compatibility tab
It is located at the top of the "Properties" window.
Step 8. Select the checkbox "Run this program in compatibility mode for:
".
It is located within the "Compatibility Mode" section.
Step 9. Click on the drop-down menu that contains the list of operating systems
It is displayed below the "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" check button.
If you have never used this option before, "Window XP (service pack 2)" should appear in the indicated menu
Step 10. Click on the Windows 7 entry
It is one of the options listed at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 11. Click the OK button
At this point, you should be able to install the controller drivers without any problems.
Step 12. Double-click the driver installation file
The installation wizard window will appear.
Step 13. Follow the instructions that will appear on the screen
Most likely you will have to click on the button Yup, when prompted, to allow driver installation. At this point, you simply need to click on the "I accept the agreement" check button displayed in the "Terms and Conditions" screen and finally on the button Come on to start the software installation.
Step 14. Wait for the drivers to be installed on your computer
This step will take a few minutes to complete.
Step 15. Click the Finish button
It is located in the lower right corner of the installation window. This way, the driver installation will be complete. However, you will need to restart your computer for the controller to function properly.
Step 16. Click the Yes button to restart your computer
It is placed inside a pop-up. By clicking on the indicated button, the computer will be restarted automatically. After the reboot is complete, the drivers for the Xbox 360 controller will be correctly installed on your computer.
Before rebooting your system, make sure you have saved all documents and files that are still open
Part 2 of 2: Connect the Controller
Step 1. Connect the controller USB cable to your computer
Insert the smaller connector of the connection cable into the communication port on the controller, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB port on the computer.
The location of the USB ports varies according to the type of computer being used. If you can't find a USB port, check the front and back of the case (in the case of a desktop computer) or along the sides of the case (in the case of a laptop)
Step 2. Press the "Xbox" button
It is the large circular button located in the center of the controller where the Xbox 360 logo is depicted. This will turn on the device.
If prompted, click the button Yup to authorize the use of the controller.
Step 3. Place the mouse cursor in the upper right corner of the screen
After a second, the Windows 8 charms bar will appear.
Step 4. Click the Settings icon
It is the last icon in the list visible at the bottom right of the screen.
Step 5. Click on the PC Information item
It is displayed at the bottom of the "Settings" menu.
Step 6. Click the Device Management link
It is displayed in the upper left corner of the "About PC" page.
Step 7. Scroll down the list, then double-click the Xbox 360 Peripherals option
It is located at the bottom of the list. Double-click the name of the section indicated to expand it and be able to examine its contents. "Xbox 360 Controller for Windows" should appear in the "Xbox 360 Peripherals" section.
Step 8. Select the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows option with the right mouse button
If the indicated item is not visible, try unplugging the controller from the current USB port and plugging it into a different port.
Step 9. Click the Update Driver option
It is displayed at the top of the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 10. Click on the item Automatically search for an updated driver
The operating system will automatically search for an updated driver for the controller. Since you just installed the drivers, the message "The best drivers for your device are already installed" should appear on the screen. In this case, the controller is ready for use.
If you are asked to update the drivers, simply follow the instructions that will appear on the screen. Once the update process is complete, your Xbox 360 controller will be ready to use with Windows 8
Advice
- If after installing the new drivers the controller does not work properly, try uninstalling and reinstalling the ScpToolkit program after connecting the device to a different USB port. At this point, install the drivers by selecting the "Force Install" option.
- In the case of video games and programs that do not support the use of the Xbox 360 controller, you can solve the problem by installing a special software whose function is to convert the signals sent by the controller into the corresponding ones generated by pressing the keys on the keyboard. or by mouse movements.
