It's easy to play your favorite Steam games with a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. This controller also allows you to play other PC games. But how do you connect a Switch Pro Controller to your PC? It requires a bit of work. So, if you're looking for the right technical information on the subject, you'll find out how in this article.
A quick look at the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is one of the most expensive "basic" controllers of the current generation of consoles. But it's also sturdy, comfortable to use, and has an excellent directional pad. This controller also features impressive motion sensors and vibration technology. On top of that, the gamepad uses Bluetooth, so you don't need an adapter to connect it to your PC.
The Pro Controller appears to Windows as a DirectInput controller rather than an XInput controller , so it can be a bit tricky to use it with your PC games. Fortunately, Steam has added full Switch Pro Controller support. This likely covers a good portion of your game library. Non-Steam games require additional steps, which we'll walk you through.
Connecting a Switch Pro Controller to a PC is a bit tricky. Of course, you can't use your Switch Pro Controller with your PC for the first time until you connect it to your PC. To do this, you have two options: wired and wireless. Wired is the easiest. But wireless requires a bit of work. Please, in the next session, we'll walk you through the procedures.
How to connect a Switch Pro controller to PC with a wired connection?
To connect a Switch Pro controller to PC using a wired connection, the following tip would be helpful. Here's how:
- Plug your Pro Controller cable (or any USB-A-to-USB-C data cable, or USB-C-to-USB-C data cable if your PC has a USB-C port) into the controller.
- Then plug the other end of the cable into your PC.
The controller will be detected by Windows 10 as a "Pro Controller." You can now proceed to the Steam setup steps. We've explained this in the next section.
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How to connect a Switch Pro controller to PC with a wireless connection
To connect a Switch Pro controller to your PC, you'll need a Bluetooth adapter —or built-in Bluetooth for that matter. But it's also easy if you follow these steps:
- With the Pro Controller charged, press and hold the Sync button on the top of the gamepad. You do this for a few seconds until the lights start flashing,
- Open the system tray and right-click on the Bluetooth icon,
- Click on "Add a Bluetooth device",
- Click "Add Bluetooth or other device". Click "Bluetooth" (because Windows 10 needs to be reassured that you want to use Bluetooth),
- The Pro Controller should appear on the list of available devices (if not, make sure the lights are still flashing back and forth). Click on it and pair the controller,
- Now you can move on to Steam setup.
How do I switch to Steam setup?
If you're connecting a Switch Pro controller to PC, it's important to use Steam's Big Picture mode . This is the user-friendly menu system that works well with a gamepad. With this, you can ensure that everything between your Pro Controller and the PC game works as it should.
Alternatively, if Steam does not automatically open in Big Picture when you connect the Pro Controller, follow these instructions:
- Open Steam - and go to the Settings menu,
- Click on General Controller Settings, which opens a full-screen overview window,
- Click on “Switch Pro Configuration Support”.
If the Pro Controller is connected, the mouse cursor should disappear and you can navigate Big Picture with the gamepad. You can switch using the Nintendo button layout depending on whether you prefer the A/B/X/Y buttons mapped - as they are on the Pro Controller. Or as they are mapped on an Xbox controller (clockwise Y, B, A, X from the top).
Proceed to setting after configuration
When set up through Steam, the Pro Controller should work like an Xbox gamepad with any Steam game. This way, you can turn vibration on and off. To do this, click on the controller under "Detected Controllers" in the same setup screen as before.
Additionally, if the analog sticks appear to be off, you can manually calibrate them by clicking Calibrate. You can also set how long the controller stays connected before disconnecting, so it goes to sleep.
How to better navigate Big Picture mode?
After connecting a Switch Pro controller to your PC, using Big Picture mode ensures Steam controller support and remapping options. Also, your in-game configuration will appear as it should. However, this probably won't be the case if you open a game from the desktop.
With the game in Big Picture mode, you need to enter the controller options to display the Steam Switch Pro controller overlay. This allows you to check the controller mappings for different situations and correct them if necessary.
You can manually map each controller input to any typing or gamepad input. But the default configuration should be compatible for most games. This is useful if any controls seem slightly off with the default settings.
Conclusion
Connecting a Switch Pro controller to your PC is no longer a problem, especially since you've learned how to do it in this guide. The most important thing is to put it into practice to truly benefit from these tips. Furthermore, to benefit from more advice and a better gaming experience, Dépôt Électronique would be happy to help you. We have sales experts who can advise you on this. You can also purchase several ranges of controllers and gaming accessories in our store.
We are located at 3335 Jean Talon Street East, Montreal, QC, H2A 1W6, Canada. Our offices are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
