How to Install an Xbox Controller in a PC

Install Your Wireless Controller

• 1

  Turn on your Windows computer and connect the USB cable on the wireless gaming receiver to a free USB port on the back of the PC. A green LED will turn on, indicating that it is connected and ready.

• 2

  Install the receiver software. If prompted by the "Add New Hardware" pop-up when you insert the USB cable, choose the "Install the software automatically" option, click "Next," and then click "Finish" when the process is complete. If you aren't prompted, continue reading.

• 3

  Install the receiver software using the CD or downloadable file. Insert the software CD that came with the receiver or, if no software CD came with the receiver, visit the "Download Gaming Software" Microsoft Web page, select "Controller" as the type of product, choose "Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows," click on your operating system, click your language, and then click "Go." Follow the prompts to download and save the installation file, and then double-click on the file to begin the installation. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation of your Xbox controller.

Wired Controller

• 4

  Turn on your Windows computer and connect the USB cable on your Xbox 360 wired controller to a free USB port in the back.

• 5

  Install the software. If you have the Xbox 360 Windows controller software CD, insert it into your CD/DVD drive and follow the onscreen prompts to install the software. If you don't have the CD, visit the "Download Gaming Software" Microsoft Web page, select "Controller," choose "Xbox 360 Controller for Windows," select your operating system, choose your language, and then click "Go." Follow the prompts to save the installation file to your computer and double-click on it when it is fully downloaded. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation.

• 6

  Test your Xbox 360 controller by going to the "Start" menu, typing "joy.cpl" into the "Start Search" box (type this in the "Run" box if you're using Windows XP), choosing "Xbox 360 Controller," and then selecting "Properties." Use all the functions on your controller to test that it is working properly.