How to Connect and Use a Steam Controller on a PC

PDF download Download Article
Update, setup, and customize a Steam controller in 2025
PDF download Download Article

Steam designed the Steam controller to bridge the gap between PC keyboard-and-mouse players and game controller players. It features two trackpads as well as an analog thumbstick. The Steam controller was officially discontinued by Steam in 2019. However, they have since become a bit of a collector's item with some Steam controllers fetching $200 or more online. Some players prefer the trackpads over the analog thumbstick. This wikiHow article teaches you how to set up a Steam controller in 2025.

How to Set Up a Steam Controller

  1. Download the firmware update package and extract it.
  2. Connect the controller via a USB cable and run the "ble.bat" file.
  3. Open Steam and click Steam > Settings > Controller .
  4. Insert the wireless dongle and click Start next to "Pair a Steam Controller."
  5. Press the Steam button + X to boot the controller in Bluetooth LE mode.
  6. Press the Steam button + Y to put the controller in pairing mode.
  7. Pair the controller with a device via Bluetooth.
Part 1
Part 1 of 5:

Updating the Controller Firmware

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Download the update file. Since the Steam controller was discontinued, the firmware can no longer be updated via Steam. In order to update the firmware, you need to download the update file. You can do so by clicking this link .
    • This update will enable Bluetooth mode on the controller. However, it will clear any previous pairings with the USB wireless dongle. You will need to re-pair the controller with the dongle to use the controller in dongle mode.
    • This will only work on a Windows computer. You can't run a batch file on a Mac or Linux computer.
  2. 2
    Extract the ZIP file. The update tool comes in a ZIP file. Use File Explorer on Windows to extract the ZIP file . To do so, click the zip file in your Downloads folder and click Extract All at the top.
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    Close Steam. If you happen to have Steam open on your computer, go ahead and close it. Steam needs to be closed to use the Firmware Update tool.
  4. 4
    Connect the Steam controller to your PC. Use the micro-USB cable that comes with the Steam controller to connect it to your PC. If you didn't get a USB cable with your Steam controller, you can use any micro-USB cable.
  5. 5
    Run the "ble.bat" file. It's in the folder you just extracted. This runs two batch files that update the Bluetooth firmware on the Steam controller and the Steam controller firmware.
    • You may get a notification from Windows Defender informing you this is an unrecognized app that might put your PC at risk. To run the program, click More info in the notification, and then click Run anyway .
    6. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 5:

Pairing with the Wireless Dongle

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Insert the wireless dongle. You can insert the wireless dongle into any free USB port on your computer.
  2. 2
    Open Steam and navigate to the controller settings menu. To do so, click Steam in the menu bar at the top, then click Settings , followed by Controller .
  3. 3
    Click Start next to "Pair a Steam Controller." This will start looking for the controller.
  4. 4
    Press the Steam button on the controller. It's the large button with the Steam logo in the center. This should pair the controller with the dongle. You can now use the Steam controller with the wireless dongle.
    • You can pair up to four Steam controllers on a single dongle.
    5. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 5:

Connecting via Bluetooth

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open the Bluetooth menu. You can pair your Steam controller to any device that supports Bluetooth. Use the following steps to open the Bluetooth menu on Windows:
    • Click the Windows Start menu.
    • Type Bluetooth .
    • Click Bluetooth and other device settings .
  2. 2
    Click Add device . This allows you to pair a new Bluetooth device with your computer.
  3. 3
    Click Bluetooth . This allows you to pair a Bluetooth device.
  4. 4
    Press the Steam button and B on the controller. This launches the controller in Bluetooth LE mode and puts the controller in pairing mode.
    • You must have the latest firmware to use Bluetooth mode on the controller.
    • If the controller doesn't enter Bluetooth pairing mode, press the Steam button and Y button to put it in Bluetooth pairing mode.
  5. 5
    Click the Steam controller. When your computer detects the Steam controller, it should appear in the list of devices. Click the Steam controller to pair it with Bluetooth. You can now use the Steam controller using Bluetooth. [1]
    • To switch to dongle mode, press the Steam button and A button at the same time.
    • Press the Steam button and Y button to put the controller in Bluetooth pairing mode. This allows you to pair the controller with other devices.
    • Steam recommends you use dongle mode when playing games on your PC with the Steam controller. The dongle has a faster connection with lower latency.
    6. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 5:

Setting Your Key Functions Manually

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open Steam and select a game. Click any game in the menu bar to the left or in your library to select it. This displays the game page.
  2. 2
    Click View Controller Settings . It's on the right side below "Controller."
  3. 3
    Click Edit Layout . This opens a menu that allows you to change the layout and remap the buttons.
  4. 4
    Set the key function for the left touchpad. To do so, click the left touchpad option in the menu to the left. Use the drop-down menu to select a behavior function. Select one of the click functions and then click an alternate button to reassign the click function, or use the tabs at the top to select an alternate keyboard, mouse, or accessory function.
    • There are several functions of input that can be changed. For example, you might change the touchpad to a directional pad. However, instead of pressing the bottom, you just need to touch it. You can also set the haptic intensity and the dead zone of the touchpad on the right of the settings list.
  5. 5
    Set the key function for the right touchpad. To do so, click the right touchpad option in the menu to the left. Use the drop-down menu to select a behavior function. Select one of the click functions and then click an alternate button to reassign the click function, or use the tabs at the top to select an alternate keyboard, mouse, or accessory function.
    • This works almost the same as the left touchpad. Most of the time you can set the input style as the mouse. When you use it to move the viewing angle on FPS or RPG games, you can feel the touchpad advantage over an analog thumbstick. Also, you can set a click action on the pad.
  6. 6
    Set the key function for the Joystick if desired. To do so, click Joystick in the menu to the left. Use the drop-down menu to select an alternate behavior. Click the button next to "Click" to select a different click function.
  7. 7
    Set the key functions for your A B X Y buttons. To do so, click Buttons in the menu to the left. Then click the button next to one of the face button options. Select an alternate input.
    • This is the same design as the traditional game controller. Just leave it as default.
  8. 8
    Set the key function for the left and right bumper buttons LB RB . You can also change the bumper button functions in the Buttons menu. Click Left Bumper or Right Bumper and select an alternate input.
    • The bumper buttons are a single-click buttons. Most of the time, you can leave them as LB and RB. You can link to a keyboard key, mouse button click, or one of the face buttons.
  9. 9
    Set the key function for the Back button. There are two back buttons that can be assigned a single-click action. You can change these two buttons to any key function you like. To do so, click the button next to one of the back buttons in the Buttons menu and select the function you want to assign.
    • You can assign one of the back buttons a function that one of the face buttons has. For example, if you are playing a first-person shooter, you can assign "Reload" to one of the back buttons.
    • By the way, you can give the button the name of the key that helps you to remember the button function. For example, you might name the right back button “Use item”, and link to the “R” on the keyboard. Then, you can use the controller to control the keyboard keys, and the “R” on the keyboard is to use an item in my game.
    • You can jump out of the setting of controller keys and set any keys linked to the keyboard.
  10. 10
    Set the key functions for the two menu buttons. You can change the input for the two menu buttons on the Buttons page. To do so, click the button next to the button you want to change and select a new input function.
    • These are the same as the traditional controller. In most cases, it's best to leave these at their default settings.
    • Don't try to change the function of the Steam button. The middle Steam button can help you transfer between the game and Steam. This one is unchangeable.
  11. 11
    Set the key function for the left and right triggers. To do so, click Triggers in the menu to the left. Then, use the drop-down menus next to "Left Trigger Behavior" and "Right Trigger Behavior." You can also click the button next to "Full Trigger" and "Soft Trigger" to assign a command for a full or half trigger pull.
    • Most of the time, the default setting is the better choice.
    12. Advertisement
Part 5
Part 5 of 5:

Importing and Exporting a Button Layout

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Export your controller layout. You can export your button layout to share with friends or use on another computer. Use the following steps to export your button layout:
    • Open Steam .
    • Select the game with the button layout you want to export.
    • Click View controller settings .
    • Click the gear icon next to "Edit Layout".
    • Click Export Layout .
    • Enter a title for your layout.
    • Enter a description for your layout.
    • Select a layout type (i.e., New Personal Save, New Sharable Personal Save, New Template).
    • Click Confirm .
  2. 2
    Import a layout. You can import and apply a pre-saved button layout in the Controller settings menu. Use the following steps to do so:
    • Open Steam .
    • Select the game with the button layout you want to export.
    • Click View controller settings .
    • Click the button with your current layout below "Current Button Layout."
    • Click Your Layouts , Templates , or Community Layouts .
    • Click a layout.
    • Review the layout.
    • Press X on the controller to apply the layout.
    3. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      6 Easy Ways to Use Shortcut Keys to Shut Down a Windows PC
      How to
      Check Your Mouse DPI on Windows & Mac
      6 Simple Ways to Create a .ZIP File from Files or Folders
      How to
      Bring an Off Screen Window Back on Windows
      4 Easy Ways to Paste Text Using Keyboard Shortcuts
      How to
      Copy and Paste on Any Device
      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      How to
      Unzip a File on Any Device: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
      3 Easy Ways to Customize EXE Program Icons in Windows
      3 Easy Ways to Merge Objects in Blender: Step-by-Step
      5 Quick Ways to Change Your Desktop Wallpaper on Windows
      How to
      Open XML
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1796-5FC3-88B3-C85F

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 56,453 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement