The process of connecting a joystick includes three stages: installation, testing (calibration) and configuring the game to work with the joystick. This article contains information on how to enable the joystick in the game, as well as what to do if it does not work or is not detected by the computer.
Check out the game
Installation and calibration procedures are described in the controller manuals, but there are some points regarding configuring the joystick in the game that need clarification. Most games initially provide keyboard control, because the keyboard is one of the main devices, unlike the joystick. By installing a joystick, you inform the system that it is there, but this does not mean that the joystick will automatically start working in the game.
In order for the joystick to work in the game, it must first be configured. This can usually be done within the game itself. It should be noted that if the joystick has its own programming software, then this software does not perform the function of informing the game about the presence of the joystick. Such programs exist so that you can assign the execution of certain commands to the joystick buttons at your discretion. Therefore, you usually have to tell the game yourself that it will use a joystick.
The process of configuring a joystick in a game cannot be fully described here due to the differences between the games. Generally, most games have a customization screen that provides an option to customize the joystick in the game. Accordingly, it has the ability to change the control method from the keyboard to the joystick (even if you have a steering wheel, it belongs to the category of joysticks) or the ability to tick the connection of the joystick. Some games also require assigning individual joystick controls to perform the desired actions in the game. Typically, instructions for setting up the joystick in a game are contained in the game description.
Note also that if the joystick does not work in the game even after this, you should try to configure it in other games in order to make sure that this problem is not specific to this game. If it turns out that the joystick does not work in only one game, you should contact the service technical support game developers.
Check the joystick
If you still do not receive a response from the joystick in any game, you should check the functionality of the joystick. In Windows, this can be done by opening the control panel (Start - Settings - Control Panel - Game Devices).
The joystick status in the Gaming Devices window should be OK. If this is the case, click the Properties button and open the Scanning tab. In the window that opens, check whether the joystick controls are working correctly. If you receive strange or jittery signals in response to the joystick, the joystick may be defective. In this case, you should contact Saitek representatives to diagnose the joystick.
If everything is fine with the joystick, but it still does not work in the game, return to the main Game Devices window. Open the second tab (device ID table). Look at what ID your joystick is registered under in this table, i.e. what number is next to its name? If this is not 1, then many games are not able to see your joystick. In this case, select its name in the table, click the Change button and change the ID number to 1. If there is already a joystick numbered 1 in the table, then you need to assign a different number to it so that you can assign number 1 to that joystick , the problem you are solving. For Windows XP, this procedure is slightly different. Click the Advanced button in the main Gaming Devices window and make sure that the preferred device is the joystick you want to use. If not, select your joystick from the drop-down menu.
If the joystick still does not work in the game, you should contact the game’s technical support, as everything is fine with the joystick.
Joystick not connected/missing
If in the main window of Game Devices the status of the joystick is Not Connected (usually happens with those joysticks that are connected to the Game port) or the joystick is not in this window at all (this happens with joysticks that are connected to USB), then the reason may be either the joystick or in the software that Windows uses when working with joysticks.
Joysticks on Game port
If the joystick status is Not Connected, make sure that it is the only joystick mentioned in the table of the main Game Devices window. If there are other joysticks on this list, they need to be removed. If the status after this is still Not connected, you need to check if the Game port is working correctly.
Before describing this procedure, let us mention two points that definitely indicate that there is an error in the Game port driver. If you install a joystick using the Add button, then click OK, return to the main Game Devices window, and after that the joystick you selected does not appear in this window at all, then the problem lies in the Game port driver. And the second situation is if, having selected the joystick, you clicked on OK and received the message “The game port or its drivers are not configured correctly. Please see Device Manager."
For Windows 98/ME/2000: go to Control Panel and double-click on the System icon. In 98 and ME, click on the Device Manager tab in the system properties window. In 2000, click on the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button. One of the categories in Device Manager is called Audio, Video, and Game Devices. By clicking on the small plus sign next to this category, you will see a list of devices installed in the system. One of these devices must be called a Gameport Joystick, Standard Gameport, or Joystick. Depending on type sound card The name may be different, but the three options above are the most common.
But if there is no mention of a game port, the game port is disabled, or there is an error message, in any of these cases you need to contact the computer manufacturer. If the number of game ports is more than one, you need to remove them all and reinstall one of them by searching for new equipment. After this, check the status of your joystick. If the status is still Not Connected, the joystick may be faulty. Then you should check it on another computer to make sure that the joystick is faulty. If this is confirmed, you need to contact the warranty service.
Joysticks with USB interface
As a rule, USB controller They are automatically added to the list of gaming devices the moment they are connected to the computer, provided that the computer detects them correctly. If the joystick does not appear in the list of gaming devices, then you need to check whether the computer sees it at all, and if it does, then why it doesn’t install it.
You need to go to Device Manager, the joystick must be connected. In the Device Manager window, first of all, make sure that the USB controller is installed in the list of devices. If it is not there, then it is disabled and you need to enable it. This can be done in the BIOS, but you must first look at the instructions from your computer or motherboard.
If the USB controller is in the list of devices, click on the plus sign next to it. You must have at least two entries: a host controller (for example, VIAtech 3038 PCI-to-USB Open Host Controller) and a root hub. Depending on the computer configuration, there will be more such entries based on the number of ports. Both of these entries should not have conflict messages, which appear when the port is not working correctly. If you receive these messages, contact your computer's technical support team. If there is an unknown device in this category, remove it, then unplug the controller, and plug it in again, making sure the device is detected correctly this time.
If everything is fine with USB, go back to Sound, Video and Game Devices. Click on the plus sign and look in the Handheld Input Devices category to see if your controller or HID compatible gaming device is there. If any of these options is present, remove it. After this, unplug the controller and plug it in again, making sure that this time the device is detected correctly.
Finally, check if there are any devices in the Other Devices category. This is where Windows puts those devices that it has identified, but it doesn't know what to do with them. If there is such a category and there are any devices in it, remove them, then disconnect the controller and connect again, making sure that this time the device is detected correctly.
When Sony first announced that the DualShock 4 would be compatible with Windows, gamers all over the Internet cheered the news. Unfortunately, you won't always be able to simply connect it to your computer and start playing. Although the PS4 controller is recognized by Windows, existing games may glitch or not work automatically with it.
Windows supports the use of the PS4 gamepad for PC, but since Microsoft has its own console, they officially only support their controllers, and dual shockers will have to dance a little with a tambourine.
What do you need to connect?
- Actually the controller itself.
- Standard USB cable.
After connecting the gamepad, it will be recognized by the system and you may even be able to use it in some applications and games (for example, Steam and some toys).
If you simply connect the device to your computer, then some of the joystick’s functions will not work, such as:
- touchpad (but works like a button),
- gyroscope,
- vibration,
- built-in microphone and speaker,
- headset jack.
How to make the gamepad work correctly?
Here you have only one option - to use special software, namely:
- drivers;
- joystick emulator (Xpadder).
It is worth understanding that when connecting a PS4 joystick to a PC, you only need to use one of two options; which one is up to you. Let's talk about everything in order.
1) Dualshock 4 drivers for computer
In most cases, using a modern operating system such as Windows 10, no drivers will be required and the joystick will be recognized automatically.
However, this may not always be so smooth, and for such cases when the gamepad will not be recognized or will be recognized with errors, there are at least two drivers:
Moreover, the second grew out of the first, when it was still at the testing stage. You can download the drivers using the links above, or by visiting the official support threads: one, two.
In addition to the drivers themselves, you need to check if the following components are installed on your system and install (or update) them if necessary:
- Latest version of DirectX;
- Latest official version of Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller Driver;
- Administrator rights.
Before installing all components, you should close all applications and games that may be using the controller. Also, if you previously installed a driver for Dualshock 3, you should remove it. If you want to use the gamepad via Bluetooth, you need to install the appropriate drivers for it too.
Installation procedure for DS4Tool:
- In the archive there is a Virtual Bus Driver folder, in which we install the ScpDriver.exe file (this is the driver itself).
- After installing the driver, run the ScpServer.exe file (located in the root of the archive).
Once the installation is complete, connect your DualShock 4 to your computer via USB or Bluetooth. Keep in mind, USB is a much more reliable choice as some Bluetooth chipsets do not support it software. The controller is recognized in the application (ScpServer), and in most cases functions identically to the Xbox 360 device. However, some games have compatibility issues, so you may need to check the "Hide DS4 Controller" checkbox.
By clicking on the “Settings” button, you can open a window with several sliders. Here you can change the color and intensity of the DS4's light bar, switch it to a battery indicator, set vibration, and enable the touchpad to control the mouse pointer.
You can watch this video to make it clearer:
At the time of creating the video, earlier versions of drivers were available, which is why there is such a discrepancy in size - the author talks about ~700kb, when current version already more than one megabyte. Please remember that the application is a work in progress. Currently, you need to manually launch the program every time you want to launch the game. This may be fixed in future updates.
2) Using the joystick using the Xpadder program
First, let's figure out what kind of software this is. Xpadder is a joystick emulator program for your computer. On at the moment supports several hundred controllers from different manufacturers, which makes it absolutely universal in terms of use. And of course it’s suitable for our dual shock from PS4.
This method has two undeniable advantages:
- no drivers needed;
- You can customize each joystick button to suit your needs.
But there are also disadvantages:
- it will take a lot of time to understand the essence of the application and configure everything as it should;
- The program is officially paid (but you can very easily find a free version).
Setting up Xpadder for Dualshock 4
The video below shows the setup for an Xbox joystick, but since the program is universal, the steps described are also suitable for your DS4.
It's no secret that a large number of gamers will prefer consoles to computers. But it is the computer that can boast better performance and opportunities. But what do you do if you're looking for performance but don't respect the keyboard? Why not connect your gamepad directly to your computer? Now you can understand all the nuances and answer all your questions about how to connect a joystick to a PC.
Xbox 360 device
Any self-respecting gamer should try out a gamepad at least once in their life. Haven't you tried it yet? Then run for the device! Do you already have one, but don't know how to connect the joystick to your PC? There are two main ways to connect the control to a personal computer.
Wireless
First, you will have to get a receiver that will help you pair two devices without using wires. You will also need to install drivers, but do not be afraid, since it happens automatically. To connect you need:
- Connect the Bluetooth adapter to your personal computer.
- Launch the receiver and gamepad.
- Press and hold the connect button on the receiver and gadget.
- Wait for the connection and drivers to be installed.
Important! This scheme connection is relevant for gamepads from Xbox 360 and newer.
Wired method
Everything is very simple here. To establish a connection between devices you must:
- Connect the gamepad using a USB cable.
- Download and install the necessary drivers if the installation does not start automatically.
- Restart the computer if the system displays a corresponding alert.
How to set up a gamepad on a PC if it is from newer models? Read on!
Xbox One device
Working with new devices is much easier:
- We take a suitable wire from the gadget and insert it into a free USB port.
- The drivers will start installing automatically, and you won't have to search for anything.
- Working with wireless devices is based on the same principles as the previous generation gadget, if only you had a receiver at hand.
Important! It's hard to say anything bad about Microsoft here, since they have put a lot of effort into making PCs and their products work together. The functionality of Xbox gamepads is quite wide, but does not meet the requirements of all users.
Let's talk a little about Sony. No, there won’t be a word about the war between giant companies, we’ll just pay a little attention to working with products from another manufacturer.
Connecting a PlayStation 3 device to a personal computer
Here things are more complicated than in previous cases. The main problems are related to the fact that when working with gamepads from the PlayStation 3 console, you will have to install special drivers so that the Windows operating system can recognize the device and work with it correctly.
But here, too, its own “easy path” has long been trodden:
- Download a small archive with drivers, which you can find at search query in any of the well-known services.
- We connect the device to the computer.
- Using the device manager, we find the device and open its properties by calling the context menu.
- Go to the “Drivers” menu and click the “Update” or “Install Drivers” buttons, indicating the path to the drivers that you downloaded in advance.
- After correct installation You will have a fully working device in your hands.
Important! Are the sounds of the game disturbing your household? Plug in your headphones! Our separate post will help you
But is it so easy to work with next-generation devices? How to set up a gamepad on PC? Let's figure it out.
Connecting a PlayStation 4 gadget to a personal computer
You can safely breathe out, because connecting a PlayStation 4 device occurs in the most ordinary way and is recognized by the Windows operating system without any unnecessary procedures or manipulations. With equal ease, you can connect the gamepad either using wires or using a Bluetooth wireless signal transmitter. Windows won’t even argue and will install drivers automatically. Now no one will stop you from using console controls on your personal computer in any games.
Settings
Now let's talk about how to set up a joystick on a PC? Is it difficult to set up key assignments? Not at all! Setting up any device is done directly through the settings running game, and the standard key assignments will be installed at the first launch. It is recommended to change the controls only if they do not satisfy your comfort.
Which is better for gaming? Computer or console? No one will give a definite answer: the camps of “pkashniks” and “prefixers” are unlikely to come to a common opinion. Have a good game a lot for both the computer and various consoles.
The advantages of a computer are versatility: you can work and play on one device. The advantages of the console are its specialization: it is designed for games (and other entertainment like movies or music), but developers will take a long time to ensure that their games work even on not the newest consoles. And the quality of their graphics is also usually high. But now we are concerned about ease of control.
Why not combine the best of both worlds? Sony gamepads are wonderfully good, both Xbox fans and PC game lovers admit this. Few things in the gaming world are as cool as connecting a PS3 joystick to your computer and enjoying convenient keys and crosses instead of a regular keyboard and mouse! This is especially important for action games, where you need to constantly keep your fingers, as they say, on the pulse of fast-paced events.
First, let's see if this can be done in principle. Generally speaking, modern computers(with Windows 7 or later) support joysticks as an input device class. We will not consider OS X and Linux: they are not considered “gaming” systems.
Note: although the words “gamepad”, “controller” and “joystick”, in general, are not completely synonymous, here we will refer to the same device with them.
Do you need adapters or other hardware?
If we consider the standard bundled DualShock joystick from the PS3, then it supports two types of connection: wired (via USB) and wireless (Bluetooth). 
The second is more convenient for many reasons, but the gamepad must be constantly charged. Therefore, a wired connection is also worth considering. Especially if we assume that the player is not going to move far from the computer.
Fortunately, the developers from Sony decided to use the port not only to charge the device, but also to transfer data. This gives us a choice of two ways to connect the joystick to the PC:
As you can see, in neither case nor in the second is it necessary to dig up any secret warehouses to find the necessary equipment. The main thing is that the cable is in good condition.
However, in the question of how to connect a PS3 joystick to a PC, there is one more snag, perhaps the key one - the driver.
How to configure a connected joystick
According to the logic of updates, if you connect a new device to a computer with a relatively recent Windows on board, the system will contact the network databases, recognize the device and automatically download its driver. After this, you will be able to use it just as conveniently and without any limitation of functions.
However, in the case of game controllers the situation is somewhat different. Before you connect your PS3 joystick directly to your PC, you will need to install a specialized utility called MotionInJoy. Which can be downloaded at .
Proceed according to the following scenario:
- Connect your gamepad with a cable to your computer. Select the port you will connect it to permanently. When changing the port, you will have to repeat the procedure from the beginning.
- Launch MotionInJoy and go to the Driver Manager menu.
- Select the one to which the game controller is connected from the list of USB ports and check the box.
- Click the Load Driver button.
- Wait for the installation to complete.
- If the controller is not recognized immediately, restart your computer.
The wired connection should now work.
Before connecting the joystick to your computer via Bluetooth, make sure that the Bluetooth adapter is connected and working correctly. To do this, check how some other device is connected (smartphone, tablet, mouse, etc.). The procedure for installing a driver for working via Bluetooth looks like this:
- Download and install the MotionInJoy program.
- Turn on your gamepad in mode wireless connection and pair it with your computer.
- Launch MotionInJoy and open the BluetoothPair tab
- Find your joystick in the list
- Click the PairNow button
- Wait for the controller to vibrate. This will mean readiness.
It is worth noting that the old gamepads that came with the PS3 in the first year of release did not have a vibration motor. If your controller is from these batches, then, of course, there will be no vibration. You will just have to wait for the installation to finish and test it in a real game.
How to connect DualShock 3
This modification of the gamepad from Sony has some differences from the “classic” DualShock. Therefore, the algorithm for connecting it will be significantly different. Before connecting the joystick to a PC from PS3 (if it is a DualShock 3), you need to download not MotionInJoy, but a driver package for Sixaxis (that’s the name of this family of controllers). When looking for a driver, be sure to take into account the bitness of your system: only the 64-bit version of the driver is suitable for Windows x64.
The algorithm is like this:
- Download the archive with the driver, unpack and install it. During the process, applications that usually come in the same archive with it - PPJOY and LibUSB - will be initialized.
- Find the attached BtSix archive file in the same archive and unpack it to a location convenient for you (the easiest way is to the Desktop)
- Connect bluetooth adapter(unless you have it built-in), and update the driver for it if necessary.
- Run the program
- From PPJOY run Config Joysticks
- Add a new object and give it a name - for example, Sixaxis or Joystick PS3
- Close Config Joysticks
- Turn on your gamepad and connect your computer to it via Bluetooth.
- Check the functionality of the game
However, after installation, additional synchronization may be needed, which will save you from incorrect recognition of actions and disconnections. This is done like this:
- Connect your controller to your PC with via USB-cable and wait until the drivers are updated
- Launch the already unpacked BtSix
- Click the Address button
After this synchronization, it is necessary to ensure its operation in Bluetooth mode. To do this:
- Make sure that the Bluetooth adapter is connected to the computer
- Launch BtSix again
- Press the center button on the gamepad
- Check its behavior in games
All! Now your joystick is off Sony PlayStation able to work with a computer. After the procedures described above, all gestures and clicks should be recognized correctly. We recommend that you compare the sensations of a wired and wireless connection and use the one you like best.
Using a gamepad can simplify and make this process much more interesting and realistic, but not everyone knows how to properly configure a joystick for a computer.
How to properly debug your device - read in our material.
Contents:
If you need to connect a gamepad from a console to a PC or are just thinking about purchasing a joystick, you should remember that not all games will “see” the connected gadget.
If it does not provide the ability to control one-dimensional or multidimensional, you can configure the operation of the device only using third party programs, which correspond to each press of a specific button on the keyboard.
Types
You can connect to it completely different types manipulators. They can be of the following types:
- One-dimensional– capable of controlling objects only in the “up-down” or “left-right” direction;
- Multidimensional– working with an object in two or three planes;
They also differ in the type of connection to the console and computer: wired and wireless.
All connection instructions below are suitable for operating systems Windows versions 7, 8 and 10, as well as for Mac OS.
Connecting a gamepad - instructions for Windows
With its help, you can configure the smooth operation of your gadget and enjoy support in almost any game.
The Xbox device has a simplified connection scheme with a PC.
The user only needs to turn on the manipulator, and then go to the “Settings” - “Devices” window - "Add device"-"Xbox Wireless Controller":
Wait for it to be detected and automatically linked to your PC. Now the gadget will start automatically as soon as you establish a connection with it via Bluetooth.
You don't need to make any settings.
Pay attention! The Xbox Adapter feature may not be available in some regions. Before linking a gadget, developers recommend checking the availability latest updates services on the Xbox website and install them.
If you don’t have a gamepad from , you can take absolutely any other one. Before debugging, select a connection option.
Below are instructions that are suitable for wireless and wired methods:
- Connect it to your PC using a USB cable or click on the Share button to activate the wireless connection mode. Please note that using USB you can connect a maximum of 8 controllers (or 4 with a headset) to one PC. Devices can only be connected in quantities of two;
- If everything is installed on your PC necessary updates and drivers connected wired way the gadget will start working on its own without any settings. You can download drivers using the manager window. Just select the item you want. Right-click on it and update the configuration. Then reboot it and everything will work;
- For wireless connection you should go to the Bluetooth window. This must be done immediately after activating the Share key;
- On Windows, click on "Notification Center" and at the bottom click on the “All parameters” tile. In the window that opens, click on the “Devices” logo;
Controller for MAC OS
Despite the common belief among iMac users that a gamepad from another manufacturer cannot be combined with such a computer, the PC works perfectly with devices from Sony, SpeedLink, and other manufacturers.
There are several connection methods.
First way consists of a wired connection.
There should be a mini USB port on the back panel, which can be used not only for the console, but also for a regular Apple computer.
Take USB cable and connect it to your PC. Everything should work without any settings. MAC OS automatically detects the gadget and updates the driver software if necessary.
Remember, for most modern shooters it is not always convenient to use, because this type of connection can slightly slow down the response to key presses.
If possible, it is better to use second way – for wireless controllers.
Wireless gamepads operate using a Bluetooth connection. Follow the instructions:
- Go to system options;
- Click on the item “Bluetooth”;
- Now hold down the Share key while LED indicator connection will not start blinking intermittently;
- Now check if it found wireless device. Its name should be displayed in the Devices tab;
- Click on the name of the detected gadget, and then on the “Pair” or “Create a pair” button.
Now you can safely launch it and use it in gameplay.
If the game detects a joystick, but it is impossible to control it, we can say that the software developer simply did not provide for the possibility of supporting external devices for controlling the character.
As on Windows, users can use special utilities to configure the joystick. Best example for MAC OS this is the Joystick Mapper application.
Download official version programs are possible.
To use Joystick Mapper, just launch the program and check whether the model of the gadget you are using is compatible with the utility.
Then you need to reassign the control keys to buttons. Among the advantages of Joystick Mapper are minimal interruptions and a simple user interface.
