With Steam being the biggest platform for gamers online, it’s unsurprising that many users face the issue of it not detecting a controller. There are many possible reasons for that, including outdated or missing drivers, interference from other programs, or the controller being unplugged while the Steam is running. According to user reports, the problem is frequently caused by incorrect game settings. Additionally, some faulty device drivers, hardware glitches, and outdated clients are to blame. If you have all the checks at your end and still face the concern, you might want to try out the methods below.
There are many Steam users who have reported that their device is not operating as intended. The good news is that there are several solutions to this problem. Thus, let’s get down to business, and show you what you need to do:
1. Ensure the Controller is Working Properly
Before working on your PC, it’s a good idea to double-check that everything is in working order with your controller. If you’re connected over Wi-Fi, ensure your controller is fully charged. If not, connect it via the USB cable or charge it. Also, if possible, test your controller on a separate console or PC. When you’re sure the problem isn’t coming from the controller, check out the instructions below to diagnose PC settings.
2. Restart Your PC
Before making radical changes, don’t forget to restart your PC to see if that makes a difference. Then, after rebooting, relaunch Steam and check if the problem has been resolved. You should also do this after using the techniques above to double-check they worked.
3. Update Your Controller Driver
If you have a wired controller, connect it to your PC and follow the on-screen prompts to update the driver. For wireless controllers, you’ll need to connect them to your PC with a micro-USB cable and download the controller driver from Microsoft. You may require mapping software for usual controllers.
4. Verify the Integrity of Game Files via Steam
If you continue to experience issues with a controller not detecting in Steam, the problem might be related to a corrupted or outdated game file. In this case, you can try verifying the integrity of your game files by:
- Open the Steam client and go to “Library.”
- Right-click the game that gives you trouble and select Properties from the context menu.
- In the Properties window, go to the “Local Files” tab and select “Verify Integrity of Game Files”.
5. Turn Off Big Picture Mode
The controller not detected error may be caused by Big Picture Mode. This mode is designed to provide a better gaming experience on big-screen TVs. You may have to look for it on your TV. In the Steam client, you can:
- Go to “Library”.
- Right-click the game that gives you trouble and select Properties from the context menu.
- In the “Properties” window, go to the General tab and uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay While in-Game”.
6. Reinstall Steam
If none of the solutions above worked, you might have to uninstall Steam and then reinstall it. To do that, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
- Type ‘appwiz.cpl’ and press Enter to open the Programs and Features window.
- Locate Steam in the list, right-click it and select Uninstall.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to remove Steam from your PC.
- Once the process is complete, restart your PC.
- Visit Steam’s official website and press the “Install Steam Now” button to download the latest version of the client.
- When prompted, choose the location where you want Steam to be installed. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Steam on your PC.
- Launch the client and log in with your credentials.
7. Check for Hardware Issues
If you’ve tried all the solutions above and nothing worked, there might be a hardware issue with your controller or console. In this case, it’s recommended to take your device to a professional for further diagnosis.