How To Set Up Switch Pro Controller

How to use a Nintendo Switch Pro controller on PC

Nintendo didn't take PC gamers in heed when it congenital the Switch Pro controller, but that won't stop us from using it anyway. Information technology's a fantastic controller with very long battery life, great analog sticks and face up buttons much larger than the puny ones on the Switch joy-cons. If y'all have ane around and are set up to upgrade from an ancient Xbox 360 pad, information technology's a strong contender for your next PC controller.

Thanks to Steam's controller configurator, which has official support for the Nintendo Switch Pro controller, using it for the bulk of your PC games is a cakewalk. It'due south basically plug-and-play. But if yous want to play games that aren't on Steam, you're going to need this guide.

Hither's how to go your Nintendo Switch Pro controller working in Steam or Windows, via a wired connection or Bluetooth. To start, you'll need a Nintendo Switch Pro controller (evidently) and a USB-C cablevision.

Steam setup

How to utilize the Switch Pro Controller in Steam

Steam'due south built-in controller back up has included the Switch Pro controller since 2018, which makes using the controller a breeze in Steam games. Enabling information technology is extremely simple. Beginning by plugging the controller into your PC.

1. Open up Steam and the settings menu. Discover the Controller tab and open General Controller Settings. Y'all should meet a few configuration support options on the left. Naturally, we want to enable Switch Pro Configuration Back up.

If you similar your Pro controller with flip-flopped X/Y and A/B buttons, you can too enable the Nintendo button layout and so games default to it. If this pick is not enabled, your Pro controller volition be treated like an Xbox controller. Y'all tin can also alter your controls game-by-game by correct-clicking that game in your library, selecting Edit Steam Controller Configuration, and remapping each button.

3. While you're hither, take the time to personalize your Switch controller by selecting information technology under Detected Controllers. If your controller isn't registering properly, start by clicking Identify, then open the controller's preferences. Yous can change the name, the brightness of the dwelling button'southward light ring, and whether to use the gyro motion sensor.

From the controller settings page, you lot can also calibrate your controller'due south gyro sensor and joysticks by clicking Calibrate, but yous should only calibrate your controller if you meet latency problems. If it ain't broke, don't fix it: if yous calibrate earlier trying your controller in-game, you lot may actually create a latency problem. If y'all ever feel the need to calibrate your controller, click Calibrate, ready information technology on a flat surface, and follow the button prompts.

So, if everything feels right, just save your profile and voila, yous're ready to go. Whenever y'all want to use your controller, be sure to plug it in earlier opening Steam or whatsoever Steam games to prevent any connexion problems.

Non-Steam games

Setting up the Switch Pro Controller for non-Steam games

Using Steam is the really piece of cake mode to get this controller working. If you aren't playing games via Steam, using a Switch Pro controller is still an pick but it requires a fiddling extra work, specially for a Bluetooth connexion. But the good news is that information technology's now natively recognized in Windows, which helps speed things up.

The easiest solution for not-Steam games is to actually bring Steam back into the moving picture. Steam has an "Add to library" feature for Windows executables that allows you to add other programs to your Steam library, and and so make use of the Steam overlay. This even works for the Nintendo GameCube/Wii emulator Dolphin!

As you can meet in the image above, click the "Games" menu in Steam, then choose the "Add a Non-Steam game to my library..." choice to pull up a list of programs on your PC. In near cases, this should allow y'all to add a game and use a controller with Steam as an intermediary. Hooray!

Bluetooth

How to become Bluetooth working on PC

Here's what you need to beginning:

Hardware

Nintendo Switch Pro controller
Bluetooth dongle (optional)
8Bitdo wireless Bluetooth adapter (optional)

Software

x360ce (if you lot don't apply the 8Bitdo dongle)

8Bitdo adapter: Easy Bluetooth and XInput back up

The $20 8Bitdo Bluetooth adapter helps you bypass most of the choosy setup below by handling the Bluetooth connection and making Windows play squeamish with the controller without any hobbyist software. It'll make Windows meet the controller like it would an Xbox gamepad, and supports the button/joystick inputs and motion controls (but not vibration). Equally a bonus, this volition piece of work on multiple consoles and with tons of other controllers, likewise, including the Switch Joy Cons, PS4 controller, Wii remotes, and more.

If y'all don't desire to spend the $20, follow the guide below.

The hard way: Windows installation guide

You only need to follow these steps if you're not using the Switch Pro Controller through Steam.

one. Plug your Switch Pro controller into the PC with a USB cable. You should be able to employ the USB-A to USB-C cable that came with the controller, or yous tin use a USB-C to USB-C cable, if your PC has the appropriate port. Within a few seconds, Windows 10 should popular upward with a new connected device: Pro Controller.

You're most of the way at that place! But because this is a DirectInput controller (like nigh gamepads other than the Xbox's), if you aren't using Steam'due south built-in controller interface, some games won't recognize the controller without some extra software.

2. Download both the 32-fleck and 64-bit versions of x360ce and save their .zip files to a fresh binder. I'm running a 64-bit arrangement, and you probably are as well, simply some games require the 32-scrap version, then go them both now to save time later. Thankfully, x360ce will tell you which version you lot need.

3. You have to install x360ce individually for every new game, and this process can vary slightly between games. Luckily, the beginning step is always the same: find your game's executable (or application) file. You lot'll find information technology in the game's local files—sometimes it's buried in a folder, sometimes it'south right up front.

iv. Once you've plant the correct binder, copy and paste the x360ce .zip file into it. At present extract its contents. This will give yous an awarding file with a little controller icon. Open information technology. If you lot need the 32-fleck version of x360ce, a prompt volition tell y'all at this time. Otherwise, you'll become a prompt saying you demand to create a .dll file. Click Create.

5. After you create your base of operations .dll file, another prompt will inquire you to search for controller settings. Click Search automatically for settings and make sure the Search the Net box is checked. This will pull a button layout for your Switch Pro controller to use, and lucky for united states of america, the default layout is perfect for most games. Click Adjacent and and so Stop.

6. Test the buttons and analogue sticks on your controller. If everything went according to plan, they should line upwards with the virtual Xbox 360 controller displayed in x360ce. If everything looks good, click Save, and close x360ce. It volition kicking on in the groundwork once y'all offset your game. If your controller nevertheless isn't registering, effort deleting the default .dll in your game's local files (steam_api.dll), but be certain to salvage a copy first.

seven. Yous have to repeat these steps for every game you lot desire to play with your Switch Pro controller. So, to reiterate: find local files, paste the x360ce .naught, extract and run, create and salve a profile, then save and close x360ce before opening your game.

Using your Switch Pro controller

x360ce works past reading DirectInput commands equally XInput commands, which is what most modern games support. At present that it's installed, your Switch Pro controller should behave similar an Xbox 360 controller in most games. However, some games flat-out will not work with DirectInput gamepads. The Witcher iii, for case, cannot be played with a Switch Pro controller using this method. With any luck, some whiz will piece of work out a workaround for that in the coming months.

Compared to other controllers, I had to remap my in-game buttons more than frequently while using a Switch Pro controller. My x360ce layout was right, merely the game wasn't registering it correctly. Even so, afterward remapping the gamepad controls in the in-game settings, it worked perfectly for every game I tried.

You lot shouldn't need to remap any buttons in x360ce, only if you practise need or want to, merely click the drop-down menu on the button you want to remap, click Tape, and press the desired button on your controller. Be certain to save your contour after making whatsoever changes.

The hard mode: Windows Bluetooth setup

You only need to follow these steps if you want to play wirelessly and chose not to buy the 8Bitdo adapter for Bluetooth connectivity.

Note that if you determine to connect via Bluetooth, without using the 8Bitdo adapter method above, y'all cannot charge the controller while it'southward connected, so brand sure its battery is topped off before you start.

Beginning, disconnect it from your Switch past holding the modest circular button on the superlative of the controller to the left of the USB-C port. (If your Switch is in the same room every bit your PC, I recommend turning it off, simply to proceed your Bluetooth environment clear. We besides don't want it to know we're 2-timin' it. You lot can easily reconnect your Pro controller to your Switch via cable.)

Pull upward your Bluetooth settings and start a search for new devices, and so press the same small button on the top of your controller 1 more time. Information technology should automatically pair after thirty seconds to a infinitesimal. Note: the lights on the bottom of the controller will keep flashing even after it's paired.

From this point, follow the same instructions to a higher place to use x360ce with your controller. Yous may have to re-pair your controller each time depending on what Bluetooth dongle you lot're using and your Bluetooth settings.

WiinUPro and WiinUSoft are as well longstanding favorites for using Bluetooth to play Nintendo controllers on PC, and they added Switch Pro controller support also. Even so, to use a Switch Pro controller with these programs you accept to jump through several more Bluetooth hoops. x360ce is a simpler alternative which can also be used with other DirectInput gamepads. For now, nosotros call back it's the best way to apply your Switch Pro controller on PC, other than via Steam.

Not a controller person? Here's a round-upward of the best gaming keyboards , and best gaming mouse .

Wes has been covering games and hardware for more than than 10 years, get-go at tech sites similar The Wirecutter and Tested before joining the PC Gamer team in 2014. Wes plays a picayune fleck of everything, but he'll e'er jump at the chance to cover emulation and Japanese games.

When he's not obsessively optimizing and re-optimizing a tangle of conveyor belts in Satisfactory (it's actually condign a problem), he's probably playing a 20-year-one-time Concluding Fantasy or some opaque ASCII roguelike. With a focus on writing and editing features, he seeks out personal stories and in-depth histories from the corners of PC gaming and its niche communities. 50% pizza by volume (deep dish, to be specific).