Windows 11 · Windows
Set Up a Controller in Steam Input for Supported Games
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Connect the controller, open Steam > Settings > Controller, and confirm Steam lists the device. Then open the game in Library, select Controller Layout, choose a Recommended layout first or apply a suitable Template or Community Layout, and test it in that game; Valve supports major Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, Steam, and many DirectInput devices, but a third-party controller or a game without controller support may still be incompatible.
Check the game's controller-support label
Open the game's Steam page and look for Full Controller Support or Partial Controller Support. Full means the game can be downloaded, launched, and played with a controller; Partial means setup or menus may still require a mouse and keyboard.
Connect and identify the controller
Connect the controller by USB or its normal supported wireless method, then open Steam > Settings > Controller. Confirm the correct controller appears in the device list before changing a game layout.
Test the physical inputs
Select the connected device and open Test Device Inputs when Steam offers it. Press every stick, trigger, direction, and button; stop and fix the USB, wireless, battery, or device problem first if Steam does not register the hardware correctly.
Open the game's Controller Layout
Select the game in Library with the controller connected, then select Controller Layout or the gamepad icon. Review the Recommended layout first because it is supplied for that game and controller type.
Apply a matching layout
If the recommended layout is unsuitable, open the current layout and browse Templates or Community Layouts. Preview the bindings, choose one made for the connected controller type, and select Apply Configuration before editing individual buttons.
Verify inside the intended game
Launch the game from Steam and test movement, menu navigation, triggers, and pause before starting important play. Confirm the prompts match the layout; a correct Steam input test does not prove that every game accepts the same controller.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If Steam detects an Xbox-style device while a PlayStation controller is connected, close external remappers such as DS4Windows or InputMapper and reconnect it; Valve documents that those tools present an emulated Xbox 360 controller to Steam.
- If the controller works in Steam's input test but not one game, return to that game's Controller Layout and apply its Recommended layout before trying a matching Template.
- If Steam never detects the device, check Valve's supported-device list and test a direct USB connection. Third-party controllers often work, but Valve does not officially support every model.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Valve documents supported controller families, the Steam > Settings > Controller path, per-game layouts, templates and community configurations, input testing, and third-party-remapper limitations.