Is your Series X controller randomly disconnecting from your console? Do you find you are losing control of the game at crucial moments because your pad has simply stopped working?
If so, you may be one of the growing number of Xbox Series X owners whose joypads are falling foul of a controller disconnection error. If so, here are several ways you may be able to solve the problem.
What Is the Series X Controller Issue?
It has become apparent that a sizeable group of Xbox Series X owners are experiencing connectivity issues.
According to users on the Microsoft help forum, as well as the wider internet, Xbox Series X pads are suddenly and randomly dropping connection when connected wirelessly.
Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix which it will issue via a future update. So, what can you do while you await the update?
1. Try Backward-Compatibility
Did you know you can connect an Xbox One controller to your Xbox Series X? Thanks to backward-compatibility, the Xbox One joypad functions almost exactly the same way as a Series X pad.
Currently, we don’t know if the issue is with the controllers themselves or the Series X console. But you can find out easily.
If your Series X pad disconnects and you have an Xbox One pad, grab it and connect it to your Series X console.
If it connects, and you can play, you’re good to carry on gaming. If the connectivity problem is exclusive to the Xbox Series X controller, then the Xbox One controller should work without a hitch.
This way, you can continue gaming while you await Microsoft’s Series X controller update.
2. Reset and Re-Sync Your Series X Control Pad
One potential workaround for the connectivity issue is resetting your Xbox Series X control pad.
You can achieve this without being connected to the console so, if your pad and console have lost connection, this is a way to re-sync the two.
To turn off your Series X controller, you simply need to press and hold the Xbox button in the center of your control pad for 5-6 seconds. You will see that the button is no longer illuminated when this operation has been successful.
You can then switch it on again via the same method and see if that solves the connection issue.
3. Use a Wired Connection
At the top of the Xbox Series X controller, you will notice it has a USB-C power port. You can use this to try to solve any disconnection problems.
The process couldn’t be easier; just use the official connection cable that came with your Xbox and use it to connect the two together.
You can plug the USB-C cable into any of the USB ports at the front and back of your console (presumably the front port will be easiest for you to access).
Physically connecting your joypad and console will immediately overcome the wireless connectivity issue. Once the two devices are talking to each other again, you can remove the wired connection and check whether your controller works wirelessly again.
If it doesn’t, you could always stay wired if it is convenient to do so.
4. Hard Restart Your Xbox Series X Console
If all else fails, you can always exercise the IT expert’s golden rule… try turning it off and on again.
Obviously this is an operation you’re only going to want to carry out as a last resort. Especially if you are in the middle of a game and you haven’t saved recently. Try all of the other steps here first or you risk losing your game progress.
If you must restart your Series X, do so via the console itself, given that your pad and Xbox have no connection.
To perform a hard restart, you need to press and hold the power button on the front of your console (the Xbox logo button above the optical drive). It is important that you don’t just tap the button, as this will simply put the console to sleep and won’t reset anything at all.
Once you have switched the console off, just press the power button again to start it up. If you have performed the action correctly, the console should initialize with the logo screen before loading up your dashboard.
You Can Now Start Gaming Again (Hopefully)
There are several simple workarounds here that you can use while Microsoft works on its controller update.
As we don’t know when that will be arriving , we suggest making use of the excellent backward-compatibility that the Series X boasts and game with your Xbox One controller. This means you can potentially game without interruption.
