How to Calibrate Xbox One Controller?

How to Calibrate Xbox One Controller on Windows PC [3 Methods]

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If you are a gamer you know how important it is to have a well-functioning controller. A poorly calibrated controller can ruin your gaming experience by affecting your accuracy movement and responsiveness. That is why you need to calibrate your Xbox One controller on Windows PC regularly.

Calibrating your Xbox One controller will ensure that it works as intended and responds to your inputs correctly. It will also fix any problems with your controller’s axis drift or sensitivity. In this article we will show you how to calibrate your Xbox One controller on Windows PC with three easy methods.

Quick answer

To calibrate your Xbox One controller on Windows PC you can use the built-in calibration tool the Steam client or a third-party software. Here are the steps for each method:

  • Built-in calibration tool: Connect your controller to your PC via a USB cable open the Control Panel go to Devices and Printers right-click on your controller select Properties go to the Settings tab and click on Calibrate. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the calibration process.
  • Steam client: Launch Steam and go to Settings select Controller click on General Controller Settings check the box for Xbox Configuration Support select your controller from the list click on Calibrate and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the calibration process.
  • Third-party software: Download and install a software that allows you to calibrate your controller such as DS4Windows or reWASD. Connect your controller to your PC via a USB cable or Bluetooth launch the software and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the calibration process.
Contents

Method 1: Built-in calibration tool

Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs have a built-in program for calibrating controllers called the Calibration Tool. This works with any controller you plug via a USB cable including any PlayStation Xbox One Xbox Series Nintendo Switch or any generic controller1. So our instructions can help you calibrate any controller you have.

Here are the steps for using the built-in calibration tool:

  1. Plug your controller into the PC via a USB cable. These steps don’t work wireless or via Bluetooth. Only by connecting a controller to the PC can Windows engage the Calibration tool1.
  2. Open the Control Panel by typing “Control Panel” on your Windows search bar and clicking on it.
  3. Go to Devices and Printers by clicking on it.
  4. Find your Game Controller and right-click on it. Select Properties from the menu that appears.
  5. In the Properties window go to the Settings tab and click on Calibrate.
  6. A new window will open with instructions for calibrating your controller. Click on Next to start the process.
  7. The first step in calibrating your controller is the calibration of your D-Pad. Press all of your D-Pad buttons one at a time as instructed on the screen. After you are done pressing your D-Pad buttons click on Next to proceed with the calibration2.
  8. The next step is calibrating your Z-Axis which is your left trigger. Pull the left trigger all the way down as instructed on the screen. You should see a blue bar filling up on the screen. Click on Next when you are done2.
  9. The next step is calibrating your X Rotation which is your right joystick. Move your right joystick left and right as instructed on the screen. You should see a cross moving along a horizontal line on the screen. Click on Next when you are done2.
  10. The next step is calibrating your Y Rotation which is also your right joystick. Move your right joystick up and down as instructed on the screen. You should see a cross moving along a vertical line on the screen. Click on Next when you are done2.
  11. The next step is calibrating your X Axis which is your left joystick. Move your left joystick left and right as instructed on the screen. You should see a cross moving along a horizontal line on the screen. Click on Next when you are done2.
  12. The final step is calibrating your Y Axis which is also your left joystick. Move your left joystick up and down as instructed on the screen. You should see a cross moving along a vertical line on the screen. Click on Finish when you are done2.

You have successfully calibrated your Xbox One controller using the built-in calibration tool.

Method 2: Steam client

If you are using Steam to play games on your PC you can also use the Steam client to calibrate your Xbox One controller. Steam has a feature called Xbox Configuration Support which allows you to customize and calibrate your controller for any game on Steam3.

Here are the steps for using the Steam client to calibrate your Xbox One controller:

  1. Launch Steam and go to Settings by clicking on the Steam menu on the top left corner and selecting Settings.
  2. Select Controller from the left sidebar and click on General Controller Settings.
  3. Check the box for Xbox Configuration Support. This will enable Steam to recognize and configure your Xbox One controller.
  4. Select your controller from the list of detected controllers. You should see a green icon next to your controller’s name indicating that it is connected and active.
  5. Click on Calibrate to open the calibration window. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the calibration process.
  6. You can also adjust other settings for your controller such as deadzone sensitivity vibration and button mapping by clicking on Preferences or Edit Controller Configuration.
  7. Click on Done when you are satisfied with your settings.

You have successfully calibrated your Xbox One controller using the Steam client.

Method 3: Third-party software

Another way to calibrate your Xbox One controller on Windows PC is to use a third-party software that allows you to customize and calibrate your controller. There are many software available online that can help you with this task such as DS4Windows or reWASD. These software can also enable you to use your controller with games that do not support it natively.

Here are the steps for using a third-party software to calibrate your Xbox One controller:

  1. Download and install a software that allows you to calibrate your controller such as DS4Windows or reWASD. You can find these software on their official websites or other trusted sources.
  2. Connect your controller to your PC via a USB cable or Bluetooth depending on the software you are using and your preference.
  3. Launch the software and follow the instructions on the screen to set up and calibrate your controller.
  4. You can also adjust other settings for your controller such as deadzone sensitivity vibration and button mapping by using the software’s interface.
  5. Save your settings and exit the software.

You have successfully calibrated your Xbox One controller using a third-party software.

Can the Methods for Using an Xbox Controller on a PS4 be Applied to Calibrating a Xbox One Controller on Windows PC?

Yes, the methods for using an xbox controller on ps4 can be applied to calibrating an Xbox One controller on a Windows PC. By using third-party software or adapters, you can map the buttons and adjust settings to make the Xbox One controller compatible with your PC gaming setup.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about calibrating Xbox One controllers on Windows PC:

How do I know if my Xbox One controller is calibrated correctly?

You can test your Xbox One controller’s calibration by using the Test tab in the Properties window of the built-in calibration tool or by using the Test Controller option in the Steam client or the third-party software you are using. You can also try playing a game that requires precise inputs and see if your controller responds as expected.

How often should I calibrate my Xbox One controller?

You should calibrate your Xbox One controller whenever you notice any issues with its performance such as drift lag or inconsistency. You should also calibrate it if you switch between different devices or games that may have different settings for your controller.

What causes my Xbox One controller to lose its calibration?

A: There are many factors that can cause your Xbox One controller to lose its calibration such as physical damage wear and tear dust or dirt firmware updates driver updates or changes in game settings.

Can I calibrate my Xbox One controller wirelessly?

No you cannot calibrate your Xbox One controller wirelessly using the built-in calibration tool or the Steam client. You need to connect it via a USB cable for these methods to work. However some third-party software may allow you to calibrate your Xbox One controller wirelessly via Bluetooth.

Can I use my Xbox One controller with any game on Windows PC?

Yes you can use your Xbox One controller with any game on Windows PC that supports controllers or has an option to enable them in the game settings. However some games may not recognize or configure your controller correctly in which case you may need to use a third-party software to make it work.

Calibrating your Xbox One controller on Windows PC is a simple and effective way to improve your gaming experience and fix any issues with your controller’s performance. You can use any of the three methods we have shown you in this article: the built-in calibration tool the Steam client or a third-party software. We hope this guide was helpful and informative for you.

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