To connect a Switch Pro Controller to a PC with Bluetooth, hold its SYNC button until the player LEDs cycle, then select Pro Controller in Windows Bluetooth pairing. After pairing, enable Steam Input for games that need it to handle the controller’s inputs.
These steps use Windows 11 menus and apply to the original Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, model HAC-013, including its special editions. Bluetooth pairing connects the controller to your PC, while game compatibility depends on the game and its controller settings.
The short version
- Prepare: Charge the original Switch Pro Controller and make sure your PC has Bluetooth.
- Pair: Hold SYNC beside the USB-C port until the LEDs cycle, then add Pro Controller in Windows.
- Play: Turn on Enable Steam Input for Switch Pro controllers in Steam when your game needs input translation.
- Retry: Remove a failed saved pairing and pair again before moving on to Bluetooth driver troubleshooting.
| Setup option | When to use it | Main action |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Settings | Your PC has compatible Bluetooth | Select Add device in Bluetooth & devices |
| Windows Quick Settings | You want to pair from the taskbar | Select Pro Controller under New devices |
| USB Bluetooth adapter | Your PC lacks built-in Bluetooth | Install the adapter, then use Windows pairing |
| Steam Input | Your paired controller needs game input support | Enable Enable Steam Input for Switch Pro controllers |
| 8BitDo USB Wireless Adapter 2 | You want a dedicated controller adapter | Press the adapter’s Pair button, then hold the controller’s SYNC button |
Prepare the controller and your PC
Charge your controller before starting, then locate the small SYNC button beside its USB-C port. Hold it until the player LEDs begin cycling to put the controller into pairing mode.
Your PC needs a compatible Bluetooth radio for Windows pairing. If it has no built-in Bluetooth, plug in a Windows-compatible USB Bluetooth adapter and complete the manufacturer’s installation when required. A general Bluetooth adapter adds Bluetooth to Windows; a controller-conversion adapter such as the 8BitDo USB Wireless Adapter 2 has its own pairing procedure.
Pair through Windows Bluetooth settings
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices, then turn on Bluetooth. Select Add device, then choose Bluetooth to start discovery.
With the controller’s player LEDs cycling, select Pro Controller from the device list. Select Done when pairing completes, then move on to your game’s controller setup.
You can also pair directly from Windows 11 Quick Settings by selecting the taskbar Network, Sound, or Battery icon while the controller is in pairing mode. Turn on Bluetooth, then select the Manage Bluetooth devices chevron beside it. Under New devices, select Pro Controller, then select Done.
Enable Steam Input for your games
Once Windows has paired the controller, open Steam to configure game input. If you need the client, get it from the official Steam download page, select Install Steam, and install it before continuing.
Open Steam > Settings > Controller and turn on Enable Steam Input for Switch Pro controllers. Launch your game through Steam so it can use that input handling. If you have older instructions naming Nintendo Switch Configuration Support or General Controller Settings, use the current Controller settings instead.
If one game still ignores the controller, right-click that game in your Steam Library and open Properties > Controller. Select Enable Steam Input for that game, then launch it again. A game with native controller support may instead require Disable Steam Input, so follow its developer’s instructions when they specify an override.
For a non-Steam desktop game, open Steam > Games and select Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library. Select the game’s listed entry or browse to its executable, then select Add Selected Programs. Launch that shortcut through Steam with Switch Pro Steam Input enabled; compatibility depends on the game working with Steam’s overlay and input integration.
Check the inputs and button layout
Open Steam > Settings > Controller, then select Begin Test beside Test Device Inputs to check the controller’s inputs. If Steam recognizes your inputs but the game does not respond, check that game’s Steam Input override.
In Steam > Settings > Controller, turn on Use Nintendo Button Layout to preserve Nintendo-style button-label mapping. Turn off Use Nintendo Button Layout to use Xbox-style physical button positions instead. The button symbols and prompts shown inside a game still depend on that game.
For a game-specific layout in Steam Big Picture, open the game’s Library page and select its gamepad icon. Select the current template to browse other layouts, including Community Layouts.
Reconnect or replace a failed pairing
For later sessions, keep Bluetooth enabled and your controller within range of the PC, then press a controller button to wake it. Reconnection can depend on your Bluetooth adapter and whether you have paired the controller with a console since using it on the PC.
If it fails to reconnect, on Windows 11 open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices. Beside Pro Controller, select More options > Remove device, then select Yes. Hold SYNC until the LEDs cycle and repeat the Windows pairing steps.
You can also try Nintendo’s controller reset procedure before another pairing attempt. Press SYNC once, then press another controller button to reactivate it. Enter pairing mode again and retry the PC connection.
Fix Bluetooth discovery and connection problems
If the controller is missing from the pairing list, first charge it and put it back into pairing mode. On Windows 11 versions that expose the discovery setting, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices > Device settings > Bluetooth devices discovery. Select Advanced, then repeat pairing.
When Bluetooth itself is not working, turn on your PC’s physical Bluetooth switch if it has one. Open Windows 11 Quick Settings and turn off Airplane mode. On Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices, turn off Bluetooth briefly, then turn it on again.
Next, on Windows 11 open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Beside Bluetooth, select Run. Microsoft recommends the Bluetooth diagnostic in Get Help, which this flow opens.
If pairing still fails, open Device Manager and expand Bluetooth. Right-click your Bluetooth adapter and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. Alternatively, on Windows 11 open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Restart after installation.
If the problem began after a Bluetooth driver update and your PC retains the previous driver, open Device Manager > Bluetooth. Right-click the adapter and select Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver, if available.
For a malfunctioning adapter that still needs recovery, right-click it under Device Manager > Bluetooth and select Uninstall device, then Uninstall. Shut down the PC and power it on again. If necessary, open Device Manager > Action > Scan for hardware changes.
Connect through a dedicated controller adapter
If you choose a dedicated adapter, use the 8BitDo USB Wireless Adapter 2 product page to identify the model before buying it. It supports the original Switch Pro Controller on Windows 11 and handles one controller per adapter. You pair the controller directly with the adapter using hardware buttons.
Plug the adapter into your PC and press its Pair button. Hold the controller’s SYNC button for three seconds, then wait for the adapter LED to stay steady. For later connections, press a controller button to reconnect.
The adapter supports automatic mode selection on Windows. To select Xinput manually after pairing, hold Minus + D-pad Up for three seconds; the adapter LED blinks twice. For Dinput, hold Minus + D-pad Left for three seconds instead.
To cancel a manually selected mode, hold the adapter’s Pair button until its LED turns off, then pair again. 8BitDo excludes motion control, NFC, HD rumble, and certain indicators from this adapter’s Windows support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these Bluetooth steps work with the Switch 2 Pro Controller?
These steps apply to the original HAC-013 Switch Pro Controller. Check compatibility separately before using a Switch 2 Pro Controller; reWASD lists that newer model as wired only.
Do you need to enable Pro Controller Wired Communication on the Switch?
No, you do not need to turn on Pro Controller Wired Communication for PC Bluetooth pairing. Nintendo’s setting concerns USB use on the console.
How do you update the original Switch Pro Controller’s firmware?
Pair and power on the controller with an updated Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED console. From the HOME Menu, open System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Update Controllers. Pair the controller with your PC again afterward.
Can you pair the controller using a screen reader?
Yes, Microsoft documents Windows 11 Bluetooth pairing with Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA. Put the controller into pairing mode, then press Windows + I and navigate to Bluetooth & devices to turn on Bluetooth. In taskbar Quick Settings, focus Bluetooth, press Tab to reach Manage Bluetooth devices, and press Enter. Use the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to select Pro Controller, press Enter, then navigate to Done and press Enter.
Should you install BetterJoy and ViGEmBus from an older tutorial?
Avoid choosing that older workflow for a new setup: its documented ViGEmBus dependency is retired, and the driver vendor says it will receive no further updates. Use Steam Input for compatible games, or consider reWASD when you need Xbox-controller emulation on a supported Windows PC.