To update an Xbox controller on PC, connect it with a USB data cable, open Xbox Accessories, select your controller, and install the available firmware update. You can also use the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows, but Bluetooth firmware updates are unsupported.
Xbox Accessories supports Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Elite, and Xbox Adaptive controllers on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Start with USB, and keep the controller connected until the update finishes.
The short version
- Updater: Install Xbox Accessories from Microsoft Store.
- Connection: Use a USB data cable or the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows.
- Manual check: Select More options (…), then Firmware version in Xbox Accessories.
- Failed update: Restart the controller, update Xbox Accessories, and retry before moving to app or driver recovery.
| Option | When to use it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Accessories download | Before your first update | Installs the updater |
| USB connection | Standard PC update | Connects the controller for firmware installation |
| Xbox Wireless Adapter | Wireless PC update | Connects through an external adapter |
| Adaptive Controller update | Updating an Xbox Adaptive Controller | Uses USB-C or Xbox Wireless |
| Adaptive Joystick update | Windows 11 x64 PC | Uses a direct USB connection |
| Controller restart | Firmware update fails | Restarts the controller before retrying |
| Xbox Accessories app update | Updater needs maintenance | Updates the companion app |
| App repair or reset | Xbox Accessories malfunctions | Recovers the app when controls are available |
| App reinstall | App recovery fails | Installs Xbox Accessories again |
| Windows Update | Driver or recognition trouble | Installs offered Windows drivers |
| Device Manager update | Controller or adapter driver trouble | Searches for or installs a Windows driver |
| Device driver reinstall | Recognition problems persist | Lets Windows attempt driver reinstallation |
| Microsoft Store access policy | Store is blocked on a supported managed PC | Lets an administrator restore Store access |
| Console update over USB | PC update fails | Installs firmware through an Xbox console |
| Console wireless update | Controller supports wireless updates | Installs firmware without USB |
| Console app library | Opening the Adaptive Controller updater on Xbox | Provides another route to Xbox Accessories |
| Firmware reversion | Connection trouble begins after an update | Offers rollback on supported models |
Install Xbox Accessories and connect by USB
Open the official Xbox Accessories listing and install the app through Microsoft Store. Open Start and launch Xbox Accessories. Installing the app prepares the updater; it does not install firmware on your controller.
Connect the controller to your PC with a USB data cable. Xbox Series X|S controllers, Elite Series 2 controllers, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller use USB-C, while older Xbox One controllers use micro-USB. Your cable must support data for the app to connect to the controller.
Check and install the controller firmware
Select your controller in Xbox Accessories. If Update Required appears, install the update and follow the prompts. Keep the controller connected until the process completes.
For a manual check, select More options (…), then select Firmware version. Follow the prompts to install an offered update. Use this check when the app does not present an update immediately.
Update using an Xbox Wireless connection
If you have an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows, connect it to your PC, then press the controller’s Xbox button to turn it on. Hold the adapter’s Pair button, then hold the controller’s Pair button until they connect. Open Xbox Accessories, select the controller, and install the available firmware update.
Bluetooth cannot replace Xbox Wireless for firmware updates, even when you already use Bluetooth for gaming. For help establishing the connection, follow the steps to pair an Xbox controller.
Update adaptive controllers and joysticks
For an Xbox Adaptive Controller, connect it by USB-C or Xbox Wireless. Open Start, type Xbox Accessories, open the app, and sign in. Select Xbox Adaptive Controller > More options (…), then select Firmware version and follow the prompts. The app will not detect this controller through Bluetooth, so switch to a supported connection if it does not appear.
The Xbox Adaptive Joystick is wired only and requires a direct USB connection to a Windows 11 x64 PC for this update. If it is connected through an Xbox Adaptive Controller, disconnect it from that controller first, then connect it directly to a USB port on your PC. Open Xbox Accessories and select Xbox Adaptive Joystick > More options (…) > Update now.
Retry an update that fails
Restart the controller before making broader changes to Windows. Hold the Xbox button for 5 to 10 seconds until the controller turns off, wait a few seconds, then hold the Xbox button again to turn it on. Retry the firmware update in Xbox Accessories.
Next, update Xbox Accessories itself. Open Microsoft Store and select Check for Updates, then allow any Xbox Accessories update to install. Reopen Xbox Accessories and try the controller update again.
If the app malfunctions, Windows may offer repair controls. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Xbox Accessories, and select More > Advanced options. Select Repair if available, then select Reset if repair does not resolve the problem.
On Windows 10, find those controls under Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Xbox Accessories > Advanced options. After repairing or resetting the app, reopen it and retry the firmware update.
If recovery controls are absent or do not help, find Xbox Accessories in Start, right-click it, and select Uninstall if available. Alternatively, on Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Xbox Accessories, and select More > Uninstall. Reinstall it from its Microsoft Store listing, reconnect the controller, and retry the firmware update.
Fix Windows driver and recognition problems
If Windows has trouble recognizing your controller or adapter, check its drivers. On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. For optional drivers, open Advanced options, turn on Receive updates for other Microsoft products, then select Optional updates.
Select relevant driver updates, choose Download and install, and restart your PC. Windows 10 uses Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, with offered optional drivers under View optional updates. These steps update Windows drivers; you still install controller firmware through Xbox Accessories.
For another driver check, right-click Start and select Device Manager. Locate and right-click the affected controller or adapter, then select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. The device name and category depend on your controller and its connection.
If you already have a matching driver from the device manufacturer, right-click the device and select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers. Select Browse..., choose the extracted driver folder, then select OK > Next > Close.
For persistent recognition trouble, save your work, right-click Start, and open Device Manager again. Locate and right-click the affected controller or adapter, select Uninstall device, then select Uninstall. Restart Windows so it attempts to reinstall the driver, then reopen Xbox Accessories and retry the update.
Restore Microsoft Store access on a managed PC
If Microsoft Store is blocked on a managed PC, your administrator can restore access through the applicable Store policy. This policy applies to supported Windows Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions; it is not supported on Home or Pro. It restores access to the app store rather than deploying controller firmware.
If you administer the PC, open Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Store > Turn off the Store application, then select Disabled or Not Configured. The corresponding device-management policy is ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsStore/RemoveWindowsStore_2. Once Store access is available, install Xbox Accessories and update the controller in that app.
Use an Xbox console when the PC update fails
You can update a compatible controller through an Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S console before returning it to your PC. Connect the controller directly to the console with a USB data cable and follow the update prompt. Use USB when you are unsure which controller model you have.
To check manually, press the Xbox button and select Profile & system > Settings > Devices & connections > Controllers & headsets. Select … under the controller, then select Update when offered. Follow the prompts and return the controller to your PC after completion.
If your controller supports wireless firmware updates, connect it wirelessly to the console and use the same settings path. Use USB for the original Xbox One controller. If no update is available, its firmware is current.
For the Xbox Adaptive Controller, you can also reach the updater through the console’s app library. Press the Xbox button and select My games & apps > See all > Apps > Xbox Accessories. Select the controller and More options (…), then select Firmware version > Update now when Update available appears.
Fix connection problems after an update
If your controller develops frequent connection problems with non-Xbox devices after an update, Microsoft offers firmware reversion on supported models. Install Xbox Accessories, then open Microsoft’s controller firmware reversion page on your Windows PC. Select Check your controller’s firmware and follow the instructions in Xbox Accessories.
Some older controller models do not offer reversion. Reinstalling Xbox Accessories does not roll back controller firmware, so use the reversion option for this problem when your model supports it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Xbox Accessories update an Xbox 360 controller?
No, Xbox 360 controllers are excluded from Xbox Accessories support. You cannot use this app to update their firmware.
Does this work with a licensed third-party Xbox controller?
For a third-party controller, follow its manufacturer’s model-specific update instructions. Check your exact model rather than assuming Xbox Accessories supports it.
Can Steam, Game Bar, or the Xbox PC app install controller firmware?
Microsoft’s official PC instructions update controller firmware through Xbox Accessories, so use that app for the PC firmware update.
Can a button combination update the controller without an app?
Microsoft documents controller firmware updates through Xbox Accessories or an Xbox console. You can use controller buttons for power and pairing, but use one of those documented routes for the firmware update.
Can you still use Windows 10 to update an Xbox controller?
Yes, Microsoft still lists Windows 10 in its Xbox Accessories update instructions. Windows 10’s general support ended on October 14, 2025, which is separate from the controller updater’s documented compatibility.
Does uninstalling the controller in Device Manager erase its firmware?
No, uninstalling the device in Device Manager does not update or erase your controller’s firmware. It uninstalls the device from Windows, and Windows attempts to reinstall its driver after you restart the PC.