Xbox by Microsoft is a popular gaming device that seamlessly pairs with the Microsoft computers and is also user-friendly. It’s designed in such a way that it can be easily handled and set up by anyone, without any technical knowledge. If you already own an Xbox device, it would be a better idea to use the Xbox Controller for your PC than looking for another controller for your gaming PC.
But, sometimes, when you try to connect the Xbox controller to your gaming PC, it may ask you to enter a PIN to complete the set up and strangely, you may not have any information related to the PIN anywhere. This can be a frustrating for gamers as it prevents you to play your favorite Xbox games. There can be many reasons why the Xbox One controller requires a PIN on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC which includes, if the the device driver, Bluetooth driver or the Windows version is outdated, or when you are trying to connect it to your regular Bluetooth adapter instead of the Xbox adapter.
Here we have some of the possible solutions that may help you fix the issue. Let’s see how.
Method 1: Reset the XBOX Controller
This is one of the most popular methods, widely discussed across the internet. This solution seems to have helped many gamers fix the PIN issue. In this method, we have to reset the Xbox controller to fix the PIN prompt issue. Let’s see how:
Step 1: Press the Xbox controller button and keep it pressed for 6 seconds to power it off completely.
Step 2: Press the button of the Xbox controller once again to turn it on.
Step 3: Now, get hold of a USB wire or the Xbox wireless adapter (that’s compatible with Windows) and connect the Xbox controller to your PC using the same.
Step 4: After that , Right-click on Start and select Run to open the Run command window.
Step 5: In the Run command window, type devmgmt.msc in the search box and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
Step 6: In the Device Manager window, go to Bluetooth and expand the section.
Right-click on your Bluetooth device and select Update driver.
Step 7: In the Update Drivers window, click on Search automatically for drivers.
Windows will start looking up for any latest drivers and if available, it will automatically update the Bluetooth driver.
Once the update process is over, exit the Device Manager.
In most cases this method resolves the issue, however, if it does not, the problem could be with outdated drivers.
Method 2: Try using an external usb dongle
If your built in bluetooth is an older version bluetooth such as V 2.0, then you may consider buying an external USB Bluetooth dongle version 4.0 or above, and it will work. Just buy USB bluetooth dongle from any ecommerce websites.
Method 3: Choose Bluetooth Option in Add a device
Step 1: Search bluetooth settings in windows 10 search box
Step 6: In the Bluetooth settings window, go to the right side and click on Add Bluetooth or other device.
Step 7: In the Add a device window, click on first option Bluetooth and it will come up with Xbox controller as an option and will pair it.
Method 4: Try Updating the Bluetooth Dongle/Wireless Adapter Drivers
Sometimes, the Xbox controller may ask for the PIN because the Bluetooth drivers may be outdated. In such a case, it would best to update the Bluetooth device driver. Follow the below steps:
Step 1: Right-click on Start and select Run to open the Run command window.
Step 2: In the Run command window, type devmgmt.msc in the search box and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
Step 3: In the Device Manager window, go to Bluetooth and expand the section.
Right-click on your Bluetooth device and select Update driver.
Step 4: In the Update Drivers window, click on Search automatically for drivers.
Windows will start looking up for any latest drivers and if available, it will automatically update the Bluetooth driver.
Once the update process is over, exit the Device Manager.
Step 5: Now, go to the Bluetooth icon on your Taskbar (on the bottom right), right-click on it and select Open Settings.
Step 6: In the Bluetooth settings window, go to the right side and click on Add Bluetooth or other device.
Step 7: In the Add a device window, click on Everything else and it will start looking up for the Xbox controller.
Once detected, select the Xbox Wireless Controller to start connecting to your PC. Wait till it gets connected completely.
*Note – Make sure the Xbox Wireless Controller is switched on and discoverable.
The Xbox Controller should be connected smoothly and it should not ask for PIN anymore. However, sometimes the issue can be persistent if your are using a standard dongle. This method usually solves the issue if you are using the native Xbox wireless adapter.
Method 5: Try connecting to a different PC
Some users have reported that when they tried to connect it to a different PC, it paired on the other PC. Now, when they tried to connect with the PC with which they are facing the issue, it successfully connects. You can also try this.
Method 6: Try Updating Your Xbox Controller’s Firmware
Sometimes, the Xbox controller asks for PIN, if it’s still running on outdated firmware. You can update the controller’s firmware in three different ways as shown below:
Try Updating Through Micro USB Cable
Step 1: Press and hold the Xbox controller button to switch it off.
Once it’s switched off, let it stay in that state for a couple of minutes.
Additionally, you can take off the battery and then let it stay like that for a few minutes.
Step 2: Now, switch on the Xbox controller again.
Step 3: To update the drivers, you can use a USB cable, connect it to the Xbox Wireless Controller and then connect the controller to the Xbox device.
Step 4: Next, go to the Xbox Settings, then go to Kinect and devices, click on Devices & accessories and select your controller and to update.
Reboot your PC and connect your Xbox controller using Bluetooth. Now when you connect the controller to your PC, it should not ask for the PIN anymore.
Try Updating Through Store
Step 1: Visit the below official Microsoft link to get the Xbox Accessories App:
Step 2: Launch the Xbox Accessories app and then, connect your Xbox Controller with the help of a USB wire or the Xbox Wireless Adapter.
Step 3: Once the app is downloaded, finish installing the update.
Now, connect the Xbox controller and see if it still asks for the PIN.
Try Updating Wireless
Step 1: Press the Xbox button to turn it on and then open the guide.
Step 2: Now, click on Profile & System.
Next, click on Settings, select Devices & streaming, and then click on Accessories.
Step 3: Click on the Xbox One Wireless Controller device that you wish to update.
Step 4: Now, look for the firmware version of your Xbox Controller.
Step 5: Click on the Update option to get the latest firmware version.
Now that you have installed he latest firmware version, you should be able to connect to the Xbox controller without noticing the PIN request.
Method 7: Use Xbox Wireless Adapter
Sometimes, the issue can simply arise because you are using a regular Bluetooth dongle that may be outdated or belongs to an older version. The Xbox controller currently supports a Bluetooth adapter of version 4.0 and above and hence, if the Bluetooth adapter does not meet the requirement, it may ask for the PIN. In such a case, it’s recommended to use the native Xbox wireless controller adapter for Windows 10 so that it could work seamlessly. You should also not see the PIN request and the issue should be fixed.
Alternatively, you can also try connecting the Xbox wireless controller with another PC and see if it’s working without the PIN request. Many users have reported that it works.
Method 8: Update Windows 10
When none of the above method works, then the issue could come up due to something else. In such a case, you can check if there’s any latest Windows update available to be installed. If it is, download and install the update and it may help you to get rid of the issue.
Step 1: Press the Win + R keys together on your keyboard to open the Run command window.
Step 2: In the Run command search box, type control update and hit Enter to open the Windows Update settings pane.
Step 3: Now, go to the right side of the Windows Update settings pane and click on Check for updates.
Step 4: Windows will display the update/s available if any found.
Click on the Download button to start downloading the update.
Once downloaded, the latest version will be installed automatically.
Restart your PC and try connecting your game. It should be fixed now.