How to Use a Xbox 360 Controller with Windows

If you bought a Windows-compatible Xbox 360 controller, you may experience some difficulty connecting it to a home console. If so, read on to learn how to properly install it so that you can use your Xbox 360 controller with Windows.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Open the carton the controller came in. Take care not to cut your hands on the edges of the plastic packaging.
2. Install the software that comes with the controller. Plug the controller into your PC – you will typically do this via a standard USB port. Your computer will recognize the new device thanks to the software that you just installed. The controller will not come with a controller mapping program, but this is no cause for concern.
3. Launch the game that you want to use the controller on. Locate the Control Set Up options, which most games will have. Once you find it, use the Set Up options to set up the controller for the PC game.

Set-up Your Controller Using the Pinnacle Game Profiler

4. Visit the home page of the Pinnacle Game Profiler and download the 30-day free-trial version of this program. (See Resources Below). This application works by making Windows treat the buttons on your Xbox 360 controller like they were keyboard and mouse buttons.
5. Install and launch the program. Windows will automatically recognize the Xbox controller as new hardware and will install any needed updates to your controller device information.
6. During the update process, it may recognize some of the pre-mapped configurations of some of the games that are installed on your PC. If it does not recognize any of the installed games, you will have to manually create your own controller map. In this case, you will need need to find out which mouse and keyboard buttons you'll use for the game. Here's how:*Launch the game and then write down the controls. Once you have noted all the mouse and keyboard buttons for your game, you will need to use Pinnacle to configure the game controls. *Open Pinnacle Game Profiler. Click on "Game Profiles." Next, click on the "New… " button. Locate the game’s executable file (*.exe) and then click OK. You will now be able map the buttons of the game. *Highlight the game from the list. Click "Edit Configurations." An icon of a Xbox 360 controller will appear. Now assign the mouse and keyboard buttons that correspond with the controls that you noted down earlier. Click on "Save" when you are done. You can now use your Xbox 360 controller with Windows