You can use an Xbox controller to control your Xbox console. Sounds logical. But there is more. You can also use the same controller on a mobile phone, tablet or computer. This hardware support combined with the Xbox Remote Play feature on the Xbox consoles, opens a range of gameplay possibilities. However, you need to follow a few steps to connect the controller to other devices.

After research, Xbox already supports a remote play feature where you can stream games from your console and play them on another device. Handy if someone uses the television and you want to continue your adventure or story.

To control the game with Xbox Remote Play, you need to connect the Xbox controller to the device on which you want to stream the game. This is often a computer, tablet or phone. There are multiple ways to have the controller connected. Below you find a short tutorial.

Connect a controller to your laptop or desktop

Windows 10 offers native support for the Xbox controller. To use an Xbox controller on a Windows computer, you use a standard cable to connect the controller to the laptop or desktop. This may be the easiest option in the list.

Microsoft also offers an additional wireless dongle to connect the Xbox controllers to a Windows 10 computer. The dongle also makes it possible to use more advanced features on the controller such as the audio jack.

Connect a controller to your phone or tablet

To connect your Xbox controller to a phone, Bluetooth support is required. However, not every controller has these capabilities. As a gamer, you need to ensure the Xbox controller you have supports Bluetooth.

As a rule of thumb, the more recent Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles are delivered with more advanced Xbox controllers to support Bluetooth by default.

A wireless Bluetooth connection

To connect the Xbox controller to your phone, you turn on the Xbox controller by holding the Xbox button. After the controller is turned on, you press and hold the sync button on the front of the controller for a few seconds.

On your mobile phone, you open the Bluetooth settings and search for new devices. As long as the Xbox button is blinking, the controller can be detected by a Bluetooth supported device. If you see the controller appear in the list, select it to pair it to your phone.

Connect a controller to your computer over Bluetooth

If your computer supports Bluetooth devices, you can also connect the Xhox controller and play wireless. To connect the controller over Bluetooth, you open the Windows settings and select devices. Click on the Bluetooth option to detect other devices.

Press and hold the Xbox button on your controller to turn it on. Hold the sync button on your controller to put the controller into pairing mode. After the Xbox controller appears in the list on your computer, you click on the device to pair.

Please note, the Bluetooth connection will not allow any audio to be streamed yo the controller. The official wireless dongle does support this feature.

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Disclaimer. This post contains copyrighted images from the Xbox Series X controller, a controller developed and produced by Microsoft. The fair use of copyrighted works for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting or research is not considered as an infringement of copyright.

2 thoughts on “How to connect an Xbox controller to your phone, tablet or computer | Tutorial

  1. The app will guide you through the entire setup on your enrolled console. This includes a test to ensure your home network, console and controller are ready for Xbox remote play.

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