Connecting a Switch Pro controller to a PC is a major problem for many people. Fortunately, thanks to this unique guide available on ledepotelectronique , you can put an end to this scourge.
Indeed, the Switch Pro Controller is one of the most remarkable "basic" controllers of the current generation of consoles. It's durable, pleasant to the touch, has an excellent control panel and impressive motion sensors and vibration systems. Plus, it uses Bluetooth, so you don't need an adapter to use it with your computer.
Now, let's move on to the essential things for connecting the controller to a PC.
What are the two options for connecting a Switch Pro controller to PC?
You can't use the Pro Controller with a computer until you connect it to it. So, you have two options for doing this: wireless and wired. Wired is the easiest way, but wireless is also ideal. Below you'll see the details.
How to connect a Switch Pro controller to PC via wired connection?
To connect a Switch Pro controller to PC via wired connection, connect the Switch Pro controller cable (or USB-C to USB-C data cable if your PC has a USB-C port or any USB-A to USB-C data cable) to the computer and the controller. That's it. The controller will be detected by your Windows system as "Controller Pro". You can now proceed to Steam settings to continue with the settings.
You can also read: PS4 Controller: Best Alternative Gaming Controller
How to connect a Switch Pro controller to PC via wireless connection?
To do this, you will need a Bluetooth adapter or a built-in Bluetooth. However, it is not complicated at all.
Once the Pro Controller is charged, press and hold the sync button on the top of the controller for a few seconds until the lights start flashing. Then, open the taskbar and right-click the Bluetooth icon. Click Add a Bluetooth device, then click Add a Bluetooth or other device.
Next, click on "Bluetooth" because your Windows system must be certified to use Bluetooth to connect. The Pro Controller should appear in the list of available devices (if not, make sure the lights are still flashing back and forth). Click on it and connect the controller.
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How to configure steam to connect a switch pro controller to pc?
If Steam doesn't automatically open in Big Picture mode when the Pro Controller is connected, open Steam and go to the settings menu. Click General Controller Options to open the Big Picture window in full screen. Click Switch Pro Configuration Support. If a Pro Controller is connected, the mouse cursor should disappear and you should be able to navigate the overview with your gamepad .
Additionally, when the Pro Controller is set up through Steam, it should work like an Xbox One controller with any Steam game. If the analog sticks seem off, you can manually calibrate them by clicking "Calibrate," and you can set how long the controller stays connected before disconnecting to put it to sleep.
To ensure everything works properly between the Pro Controller and the game on your PC, you should use Steam's Big Picture Mode , a couch-friendly drop-down menu system that works well with a gamepad. If Steam doesn't ask if you want to switch to Big Picture Mode when you turn on your controller , you can manually enable it by checking the box next to your username in the top-right corner of the Steam window.
As a result, using Big Picture Mode ensures that Steam Controller support, as well as in-game remapping and configuration options, are displayed correctly.
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How to connect a Switch Pro controller to PC with alternative hardware?
Steam Pro Controller support is welcome and should meet most gaming needs. But you're out of luck if you want to play non-Steam games with a controller because of the way Windows detects it. However, you can solve this problem in two ways: by using a Bluetooth hardware adapter specifically designed for several types of gamepads or by using the XInput Shell .
Connect a Switch Pro Controller to PC with an 8BitDo Wireless USB Adapter
The 8BitDo Wireless USB Adapter is a Bluetooth adapter that makes it easy to connect a Switch Pro Controller, Switch Joy-Cons, or even a Wii U Pro Controller to your computer. It handles all the XInput details itself, so by connecting the Switch Pro Controller to it using the physical sync button rather than through your PC's Bluetooth menu, it will work just like an Xbox 360 controller, which can easily play most PC games.
Read also: How to program a universal remote control?
Connect a Switch Pro controller to PC with alternative software
This is the most powerful and complex option. Instead of relying on a USB adapter or Steam to connect, you use a shell program to translate the Pro Controller input into a format that Windows can better work with.
Indeed, X360ce is an open source program that allows you to control how Windows views your non-XInput controller. It's a very robust shell that mimics the Xbox 360 controller by mapping almost all other inputs to the controller's inputs.
Conclusion
The Switch Pro Controller looks like a DirectInput controller on Windows, not an XInput controller like the Xbox One and Xbox 360 game controllers. So getting it to connect to games on your PC can be quite tricky. Luckily, Steam has added full support for the Switch Pro Controller, so it's probably not as difficult as you might think.
For more information on how to connect a Switch Pro controller to a PC that isn't covered in this article , please contact us here . If you're looking to connect a PS4 or Xbox controller, for example, please let us know in the comments. This will be the topic for our next article.
