While PC gamers beloved to talk about how much they dear the keyboard and mouse command scheme, sometimes you but desire the feel of a controller in your hands.

When information technology comes to Steam, Valve has luckily fabricated it easy to get about any controller working with most games.

So, no matter what controller you're using, read on to find how to get gaming on your PC with it.

How to Set Upwardly and Use Console Controllers With Steam

The first thing y'all'll need to do is connect your controller to your PC. The easiest option, no matter which controller yous're using, is to take hold of a USB cable and connect information technology straight to your figurer.

If yous want a wireless connection, you lot'll need a Bluetooth adapter or card to get your controllers continued. Once you accept Bluetooth enabled, go toBluetooth & other devices in your reckoner's settings menu.

Windows 10 Bluetooth Add Devices Window

When you lot're on the screen above, clickAdd Bluetooth or other device. Then, chooseBluetooth.

At this phase, yous'll need to become your controller into pairing mode. On an Xbox One, Series S, Series X, or Switch Pro controller, you tin press the pairing button on the top of the controller for a few seconds.

For the DualShock four or DualSense, concord the PlayStation, Create, and Share buttons at the same time for a few seconds.

Once in pairing mode, your controller should appear in the Bluetooth pairing menu. Click on your controller in the connexion bill of fare to automatically connect to your device.

The Xbox and Switch controllers should accept clear related names, but Sony ones may appear as generic wireless controllers.

Big Film Way Is Your Controller'southward Best Friend

At present we come to the part where nosotros actually go your controller working with the games. Luckily, Steam has a built-in characteristic that allows you to easily get any controller working with the majority of games.

Big Picture is a special mode available in Steam, intended to facilitate using the platform with a TV. The fashion has both large user interface (UI) elements and controller navigation to brand use from a altitude every bit like shooting fish in a barrel as possible.

The best part nearly Big Motion-picture show is that y'all tin can also apply it to hands prepare up whatever controller with your various games.

Big Picture Controller Settings Screen

Once in Steam, click thewhite rectangle icon at the top right of the screen to open Big Picture manner. In Big Picture, click the gear icon to open settings. And then, clickController Settings.

Later that, click the checkmark box for whatever controller you're trying to use. For case, to use a Switch Pro Controller, cull the checkmark box labeledSwitch Pro Configuration Back up.

If you're merely planning on playing games with built-in controller support, you're already good to go. Steam automatically maps your controller to the correct buttons, so it should work even if you boot your games outside of Big Pic.

How to Remap Your Controls

Another great characteristic of Steam's Big Picture is the ability to remap your controls. If you lot take a Switch Pro Controller, yous may want to bandy the face buttons effectually a bit, as Steam automatically maps the typical due south face push button to A on the east face up button.

You can also map keyboard commands to a controller, meaning you lot tin can even play games without controller support at all.

Back in Big Picture, navigate to the game y'all want to play, and curlicue down toManage Game. On the correct, clickController Configuration.

In many cases, Steam may have practical a default mapping layout for your buttons. Simply y'all can change these to any y'all similar past selecting the push button yous desire to map, and then using the UI to select a keyboard or mouse control to map it to.

Big Picture Controller Mapping Screen

If y'all don't want to exercise any of that, you lot have the option to download community controller layouts. Press 10 on your controller and you'll find a menu of pre-made templates, plus community-created layouts.

Not every game will accept community layouts. However, most should work easily with the built-in templates. And if not, you tin always create and upload your own layout instead.

That's How to Set up and Use Console Controllers With Steam

That should be everything you need to know to go whatever controller working with Steam, fifty-fifty generic ones. All you lot've got to do now is determine which of your controllers you should exist using.

Once you lot've followed these tips and chosen your desired controller, you'll be able to play your favorite games on Steam without whatsoever issues.

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