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Controller:Xbox 360 Controller

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Xbox 360 Controller
Xbox 360 Controller cover
XInput support
Connection method
USB-A, Wireless dongle
Predecessor
Xbox Controller
Xbox Controller S
Successor
Xbox Wireless Controller
Hyperkin Xenon Controller
Xbox 360 Controller on Wikipedia

The Xbox 360 Controller is a game controller released by Microsoft on November 22, 2005. It was released alongside the Xbox 360.

The controller is similar to the Xbox Controller S, but some of buttons have been moved to the more standardized positions, with the white and black buttons present on its predecessor being removed and replaced with two new shoulder buttons. Unlike its predecessor which has the proprietary connector, the Xbox 360 Controller has the standardized USB Type-A connector. It also has a 3.5mm audio jack for audio passthrough.

There are wired and wireless model of the same controller available, with the latter supporting wireless connection through Microsoft Wireless Gaming Receiver.

The Xbox 360 Controller is a native XInput controller, meaning it is supported in games that use the XInput API. While it is supported it DirectInput games, it is not without problem, so a third-party wrapper is needed to transcode the XInput inputs into DirectInput to work. For the Wireless model, it only support wireless connection and requires the use of proprietary Microsoft Wireless Gaming Receiver.

Key points

Microsoft driver maps triggers to the same axis in DirectInput games.
The Play & Charge Cable does not work for connecting a wireless controller via USB; it is only used for charging.
The Xbox 360 Chatpad is not natively supported; use the Chatpad Super Driver (wired controllers) or Xbox360wirelesschatpad Driver (wireless controllers). Custom application Controller Companion has experimental support for Chatpad.

General information

Official Xbox website
"Xbox on other devices" at Xbox Support (Archived)

Inputs

  • 2 × clickable analog sticks: LS, RS
  • 2 × analog triggers: LT, RT
  • 2 × digital shoulder buttons: LB, RB
  • 7 × digital action buttons: 𝐀, 𝐁, 𝐗, 𝗬, ▶ sᴛᴀʀᴛ, ◀ ʙᴀᴄᴋ, ɢᴜɪᴅᴇ
  • 4 × digital directional buttons (D-pad): , , ,

Availability

No longer available through Microsoft or Amazon; has been succeeded by the availability of the Xbox Wireless Controller.

Controller variations

Xbox 360 Transforming D-Pad Controller.
Xbox 360 Transforming D-Pad Controller.
The Transforming D-pad "Special Edition" controller was released on November 9, 2010. Another variant of the Special Edition controller, the "Chrome Series" controller, was released on May 15, 2012.[1] These controllers features a "transforming" D-pad that changes from a semi-flush disc to a pop-out plus sign by twisting the D-pad clockwise. The thumbsticks have also been tweaked and feature a more significantly indented center, making it easier to depress either inward. While previous iterations have used concave thumbsticks, the newest variation has a distinct center pivot and a sharper edge along the rim. Third-party modifications for standard Xbox 360 controllers can deliver a transforming D-pad, but will require modifying the controller's shell for installation.

Use with PC platforms

Windows

The controller/receiver should be automatically detected on Windows Vista and later. If it is not detected or encountering compatibility issues on Windows XP, install the Xbox 360 Accessories Software for both wired and wireless controllers.
Supported features reWASD Steam Gamepad Phoenix Controller Companion
Vibrations
LEDs control [2]
Dead-zone adjustment
Multiple controllers
Chatpad
Headphones
Keyboard & Mouse input emulation
Virtual Xbox controller emulation
Virtual DualShock emulation [N 1]
Virtual Nintendo controller emulation [N 2]
Retro DInput/WinMM compatibility ~ [N 3] ~ [N 3] ~ [N 3]
Battery status
Motion controls attachments [N 4] [N 5]
  1. Allows using controller as DualShock 3 and DualShock 4 virtual controllers.
  2. Allows using controller as virtual Switch Pro Controller.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Requires Xidi wrapper.
  4. ReWASD allows to use Mobile gyroscope as mouse or emulated DualShock 3, DualShock 4 or Switch Pro Controller gyro.
  5. Steam Link mobile application allows to remap phone gyro to mouse or sticks inputs.

reWASD

Guide button can be remapped.
Can emulate the DualShock 4 to play PS4 Remote Play, PS Now or Dualshock 4 compatible games.
Custom configs for Xbox 360 controller can be found in official Community Configs Library maintained by reWASD users.

OS X

Use the 360Controller driver or TattieBogle OS X Driver.

Linux

This controller is "Plug and Play" on most distributions of Linux.
Xboxdrv is an alternative to the stock driver and allows many configuration options.

Steam

Controller can be found in Supported Controller Database and it's correctly recognizable as Xbox 360 controller.

Steam Link compatibility

Works natively over USB and Wireless Xbox 360 Adapter. All buttons are mapped correctly.
Works without any drivers on any operating system that supports Steam.
Can be used just to send input from a controller to a PC. Go into Streaming options, hit 𝗬 and disable video and audio streaming.
May not work great unless the streaming device is connected to LAN or a low latency Wi-Fi.

Hardware

Expansions

Messenger Kit

XIM APEX

XIM APEX provides the highest precision mouse and keyboard (and more) experience on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 (PS3). Software emulates Keyboard+Mouse inputs into signals from controllers connected to third USB port.
Simple real-time smartphone and tablet-based configuration. Real-time feedback to users for optimal settings.
Supports existing Xbox headsets and chatpads.
Firmware upgradable.
Active community forum.
Requires controller to plugged into USB port #3 on the XIM HUB at all times to function.
Supports official wired Xbox 360 controller but wireless with play-and-charge kit is not supported.

Support in games

Support for some controller features may be only available on certain systems. Refer to game-specific articles for details.

Games with XInput button prompts

List of games with Xbox button prompts

Issues fixed

The Xbox Support website has multiple support pages on using the Xbox 360 Controller with Windows.

"Using the Xbox 360 controller for Windows" (Archived)
"Troubleshoot your Xbox 360 controller for Windows" (Archived)
"Set up your Xbox 360 controller for Windows" (Archived)
"Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows" (Archived)
"Configure your Xbox 360 controller for Windows" (Archived)

No force feedback vibration in DirectInput games

See XInput wrappers. Some games may still not support vibration even with an XInput wrapper installed.

Guide button doesn't turn off controller

The Xbox 360 Controller for Windows can't be turned it off with the GUIDE button, except in Games for Windows Live games.
Use Xbox 360 Controller Manager[citation needed]

Wireless Gaming Receiver randomly disconnects

The receiver doesn't work in a USB 3.0 or 1.1 port, only use it in a USB 2.0 port.

Broken Wireless Gaming Receiver

A very common issue where the Microsoft Wireless Receiver suddenly fails and stops working.
Bridge bad fuse by soldering[3][4]
Follow these instructions for this procedure.

Inaccurate D-pad

If the D-pad is producing inaccurate inputs, following this procedure may fix it.

Wireless Gaming Receiver appears as an unknown device

This is usually caused by using an aftermarket wireless receiver; the official Wireless Gaming Receiver was never sold separately.
Manually update the Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver drivers[5]
  1. Download the and install the Xbox 360 Accessories Software that matches the computer's CPU architecture and operating system. For Windows 8 or later users, install the Windows 7 version of Xbox 360 Accessories Software.
  2. Plug the Wireless Gaming Receiver into a USB 2.0 port.
  3. Open the Device Manager:
    • Windows 8 or later: Right click the Start button or press Win+X, choose Device Manager.
    • Vista and 7: Open the Start menu or press Win+R, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
  4. Right click on the Unidentified Device and choose Properties.
  5. On the Driver tab click Update driver.
  6. Click Browse my computer for driver software, then choose Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer from the menu.
  7. Choose Microsoft Common Controller for Windows ClassXbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows Version: 2.1.0.1349 [8/13/2009] from the list of device drivers. For Windows 8 or later users, the device driver may appear under the Xbox 360 Peripherals section as simply Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows.
  8. If a warning message about device driver incompatibility appears appears, ignore this message and choose Yes to continue with the driver installation. A computer reboot may be necessary to complete the installation.
  9. Turn on the wireless Xbox 360 Wireless Controller(s) by pressing the center ɢᴜɪᴅᴇ button on the controller and it should pair with the wireless receiver. If the controller does not immediately pair with the receiver when powering on the controller, press the Sync button on the device and on the controller until the lights start flashing, then wait for the computer to pair the controller with the wireless receiver.

Other information

Related accessories

Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows.
Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows.
  • Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows - Required for use of a wireless Xbox 360 controller on PC.
  • Headset accessories - Both wired and wireless headsets should work with Windows.
  • Xbox 360 Chatpad - Usable with the Chatpad Super Driver (wired controllers only) or Controller Companion (wireless controller supported).

Technical information

Device name: Controller (XBOX 360 For Windows), HWID: 045E:028E (wired), 045E:0719 (wireless adapter)
Controller button Button label and axis
A Button 1
B Button 2
X Button 3
Y Button 4
LB Button 5
RB Button 6
LT Z-axis positive
RT Z-axis negative
Back Button 7
Start Button 8
Left stick Button 9, X-axis, Y-axis
Right stick Button 10, X-rotation, Z-rotation
Guide button
D-pad up POV up
D-pad down POV down
D-pad left POV left
D-pad right POV right

Input lag

Wired connection input lag: 8.5 ms for button press and 8.3 ms for joystick move.[6]
Wireless connection input lag: 10.2 ms for button press and 12.6 ms for joystick move.[6]
Connection Input lag
USB (button press) 8.5 ms (± 2.3 ms)
USB (joystick move) 8.3 ms (± 2.3 ms)
2.4GHz Dongle (button press) 10.2 ms (± 2.0 ms)
2.4GHz Dongle (joystick move) 12.6 ms (± 2.3 ms)

XInput Battery Meter

Displays a battery meter for connected XInput controller devices in the Windows taskbar.

DualShock4 emulator

Application emulates the Sony DualShock 4 gamepad using an Xbox controller.
Allows to use Xbox controller for Sony Playstation Now or Playstation Remote Play applications.

Gyro Support: X360Advance

External Arduino gyroscope for any Xbox or compatible gamepads. Gyroscope emulates mouse movement.
Some games are incompatible since they are not designed to use a mouse and a gamepad at the same time.
Some games can constantly change button icons (from keyboard to gamepad and vice versa).


References