Nintendo Pro Controller experiencing issues with PC

[Alestrius]

Posted 5 days ago elsewhere:
I’ve been using a Pro Controller [on Steam] for about a week now, and previously, all I had to do was connect it via USB cable and I was good to go. I was playing as recently as this morning without any issues.
This evening, however, it’s not working.
[ul]
[li]The USB port functions fine; I checked with the same port and cord and was able to use other devices.[/li][li]The Pro Controller is also functioning fine outside the PC; I was able to connect it to my Switch and use it directly there.[/li][li]It’s not a ‘that port’ issue, because I also tried connecting the Pro Controller to a couple different USB ports, none worked.[/li][/ul]
So all the individual components are working, but not together, even though they were working 12 hours ago. Any suggestions? (Have already tried factory resetting the Pro Controller, restarting the computer, unplugging everything and plugging it back in, etc.)

Current updates:
Using a different cord (I’m short on USB-C cords, unfortunately…), I was able to get it to connect and maybe seem fine, but the moment I went to go start up a game, it started a constant wave of the connect-disconnect-connect-disconnect chimes, never staying connected for more than about a second or two. Link to a Gyazo replay I took of the issue. This happens with both games that I tried; Moonglow Bay just happens to be the one I had open at the time to record it. It’s also useful because you can see the inputs displayed by the game never even briefly switch over to the controller inputs (would show as a hamburger menu icon instead of the chunky enter button), staying on KB+M the whole time, so clearly the controller is never fully connecting.

Update 2: As I was writing this up, I was able to grab another USB-C cord. Same problem with the disconnects/reconnects even though I don’t have a game going, and previously it was able to be at least somewhat stable. Gyazo link, again.

[Bruce]

let’s see what our resident pro controller master has to say.
@Bastet (old wise controller expert)

[Bastet]

Check to see if there’s any fluff or dust in the USB port.
Check for any damage to the port or cables.
Have you removed the controller from Steam & setting it up again?
Is this a Switch Pro controller?
Are you using a Nintendo official cable?
Have you tried using the controller wireless/via Bluetooth?

[Alestrius]

Check to see if there’s any fluff or dust in the USB port.

No dust nor fluff, and no other devices have this problem (including other controllers).

Check for any damage to the port or cables.

No damage to either, have also tried multiple ports/cables with the same problem on all.

Have you removed the controller from Steam & setting it up again

Yes, as well as buying an entire second Pro Controller which had the same problems after about an hour or two of use – worked fine initially but then had the disconnect-reconnect spam issue. (I have since returned it, so back down to only one.)

Is this a Switch Pro controller?

Yes.

Are you using a Nintendo official cable?

I have tried using the official provided cable, but it returns the same problems. Since it’s a stubby, tiny little cable, it’s not the one I default to compared to longer cables where I don’t have to sit right up next to my tower. On trying it again just now, it’s returning a constant connect spam which lasted about 60-90s, then stopped but the controller is not responding to inputs (nor is the little blue ring of light around the home button lit up).

Have you tried using the controller wireless/via Bluetooth?

I… actually have not. I’ll look into getting one and reply back once I’ve tested that, but figured I’d answer the rest of your questions in the mean time.

[Bastet]

Thanks. Afaik all Switch Pro controllers are wireless. However I use a DS4 controller with Steam so not 100% sure.
Is the rumble feature enabled? If yes then please try disabling this.

[Alestrius]

The Pro Controller doesn’t show up at all when trying to connect via Bluetooth. Several of my other controllers show up fine, but noooo, not the Pro Controller. @_@ The person who’d recommended the Pro Controller to me said it should be able to plug-and-play with Steam open (as do multiple “how to use pro controller on PC” guides, none of which seem to run into the problem I’m having), so I don’t think it’s an ‘only wireless’ problem, but considering it can’t find the Pro Controller at all with wireless, I don’t think that’s going to solve my problem sadly. ><

Rumble is/was disabled. I hate Rumble anyway, so turning it off is the first thing I do for any controller anywhere.

[Bastet]

Is there any button to press to place the controller in pairing mode? Did any USB dongle come with the controller?
Are you using Steam’s Big Picture option when connected to the controller?
Is Xinput game controller driver installed? It seems the switch doesn’t play well if it is.

[Alestrius]

Yes, you hold the Home button for several seconds. However, it wasn’t detecting the PC and after 10 or so seconds (the window it tries to pair in), it just stopped attempting. The same thing normally happens with a Switch, except that the Switch usually detects it right away, while the PC didn’t detect it at all. No USB dongle came with it.

I’ve tried both with and without Big Picture, neither work any better than the other.

I have no idea what an Xinput game controller driver is, so I would assume not, but if you tell me how to figure that out, I’ll happily check.

[Bastet]

XInput Game Controller APIs - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn it’s a driver for xBox controllers but it may prevent other controllers from being used judging by posts on gaming forums.
Steam Community :: Guide :: XInput (Xbox Controller) Support Fix forum on Steam about it.
More here:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353370/discussions/0/135510669595047472/

[Alestrius]

[ATTACH type=“full” alt=“1658436707681.png”]10285[/ATTACH]
This is the closest thing I can find in Steam’s controller settings (and it’s unchecked/disabled), and I don’t know how to check if the driver is installed manually (which I know I’ve never done as I’ve never owned an xbox controller, but I also can’t be certain MS didn’t install it by default at some point). That was more what I was asking with the “if you tell me how to figure that out” – if you tell me where to find out whether it’s installed or not.

[Bastet]

If one of those sites doesn’t say where this driver is then check under device manager although I wouldn’t know what to look for.

[Bruce]

@Alestrius - any update?

[Alestrius]

I poked at a couple techy friends trying to ask them how to tell whether the driver is installed, still waiting on their answers. As far as I can tell it’s not, but the absence of evidence isn’t the same as evidence of absence, so I can’t say for certain whether that’s screwing it up or not. ><

[Bruce]

@Alestrius - still need help?

[Alestrius]

I do, however I’m unfortunately being put through the ringer by life atm. Would it be possible to temporarily suspend the thread, then return to it when I have reliable access again in probably a few months?