This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a wireless Xbox 360 controller to an Xbox 360 console, to a Windows computer, and to a Mac.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Connecting the Controller to Xbox 360
Step 1. Turn on the Xbox 360 console
Press the Power button on the right side of the front of the console.
Make sure the console is plugged into a power source
Step 2. Turn on the controller
Press and hold the Guide button, which is the Xbox logo in the center of the controller. The controller will start flashing.
Step 3. Press the connect button on the Xbox 360 console
There is an icon >>> next to the button. Once you press it, the light on the Xbox 360's Power button will swirl. The connection button is located in one of these three locations (depending on console model):
- Original Xbox 360 - To the right of the memory card slot.
- Xbox 360 S - To the left of the USB slot (on the lower right side of the front of the Xbox 360 console).
- Xbox 360 E - Bottom right corner of Xbox 360 front.
Step 4. Press the connection button on the controller
The button has an icon >>> on the front of the controller, between the shoulder buttons (LB/left button and RB/right button). You have 20 seconds to press the connection button on the controller after you press the console connection button.
Step 5. Wait for the controller to connect
If the controller's Guide light is constantly on and the Power light on the Xbox 360 is no longer spinning, it means that the controller is in sync with the console.
Method 2 of 3: Connecting the Controller to Windows
Step 1. Purchase a USB Wireless Receiver for Xbox 360
You can buy them online or at electronics and computer stores.
Make sure you buy an officially licensed receiver from Microsoft, not a product from a third party because this product cannot be used
Step 2. Connect the receiver to the PC
Plug the device into one of the computer's USB ports. After you plug it in, the computer will ask for a driver to be installed.
If the computer does not install the driver automatically, insert the disc that came with the receiver to install it
Step 3. Unplug the Xbox 360 console from the power source
If you have an Xbox 360 console in your home, unplug the device from the power source before you continue. Otherwise, the controller will attempt to connect to the Xbox 360.
Step 4. Turn on the controller
Press and hold the Guide button, which is the Xbox logo in the center of the controller. The controller will start flashing.
Step 5. Press the connection button on the receiver
The button is a circle located in the center of the receiver. The receiver light will turn on.
Step 6. Press the connection button on the controller
The button has an icon >>> on the front of the controller, between the shoulder buttons (LB/left button and RB/right button). If the Guide light on the controller is no longer blinking, the controller is connected to the computer's wireless receiver.
Step 7. Test the controller by playing the game (game)
Controller settings will vary depending on the game being played. So, you may have to adjust the settings first before you can use the controller.
Method 3 of 3: Connecting the Controller to Mac
Step 1. Purchase a USB Wireless Receiver for Xbox 360
You can buy them online or at electronics and computer stores.
Make sure you buy an officially licensed receiver from Microsoft, not a third-party product because this product cannot be used
Step 2. Visit the Xbox 360 Driver for Mac computer webpage
Visit https://github.com/360Controller/360Controller/releases/tag/v0.16.5 using a web browser.
Step 3. Click the “360ControllerInstall” link
This is a.dmg file located under the "Downloads" heading. The file will be downloaded to your Mac computer.
Step 4. Install the Xbox 360 driver
Double-click the.dmg file, and then click and drag the driver icon to the Applications folder. If you experience an error when running this process, perform the following steps:
- open Apple menu.
- choose System Preferences.
- Click Security & Privacy.
- Click the lock icon and enter the password when prompted.
- Click Open Anyway next to the file name.
- Click Open when requested.
Step 5. Restart the Mac computer
Click the Apple menu
then click Restart, and click Restart when requested. This is to ensure that the.dmg file driver is integrated with the computer.
Step 6. Connect the receiver to the Mac computer
Plug the receiver into one of the USB ports on the computer case.
Purchase a USB-C to USB adapter if your computer doesn't have a USB port
Step 7. Unplug the Xbox 360 from the power source
If you have an Xbox 360 console in your home, unplug the device from the power source before you continue. Otherwise, the controller will attempt to connect to the Xbox 360.
Step 8. Turn on the controller
Press and hold the Guide button, which is the Xbox logo in the center of the controller. The controller will start flashing.
Step 9. Press the connection button on the receiver
The button is a circle located in the center of the receiver. The receiver light will turn on.
Step 10. Press the connection button on the controller
The button has an icon >>> on the front of the controller, between the shoulder buttons (LB/left button and RB/right button). If the Guide light on the controller is no longer blinking, it means that the controller is connected to the computer's wireless receiver.
Step 11. Open Apple menu
which is located in the upper left corner.
Step 12. Click the System Preferences option at the top of the drop-down menu
Once you do that, the System Preferences window will open.
Step 13. Click the Xbox 360 Controllers icon which looks like an Xbox 360 controller
A controller window will open, showing your controller in the box at the top of the window. This means that the Xbox 360 controller is connected to the Mac computer.
Step 14. Test the controller by playing the game
Controller settings will vary depending on the game being played. So, you may have to adjust the settings first before you can use the controller.
