So, you are trying to pair a Bluetooth game controller in Windows, and you receive an error: “Connection with this Bluetooth device failed, no pairing response received.”
The first thing to understand is that wireless does not necessarily mean Bluetooth. There are different ways to connect devices wirelessly, and not all of them use Bluetooth. The most notorious example is the Xbox 360 controller.
Understanding Xbox 360 Controller Connectivity
The Xbox 360 had two types of controllers:
Wired Controllers – These had a permanently attached USB cable, making them true wired devices that worked with computers when plugged into a USB port.
Wireless Controllers – While they had a USB port, it was only for power. Microsoft used its own proprietary wireless protocol for high-speed, lag-free connections, rather than Bluetooth. This was due to the high latency of Bluetooth, which many manufacturers, including Logitech, sought to overcome by using proprietary wireless protocols.
To connect a wireless Xbox 360 controller to a PC, a special USB receiver is required.
PlayStation 3 and Bluetooth Compatibility Issues
The PlayStation 3’s DualShock controller technically used Bluetooth, but with a proprietary variant that required extra steps to pair with a PC. However, with newer gaming consoles—anything released after the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3—the controllers now function as proper Bluetooth devices.
Microsoft still employs its proprietary connection when pairing an Xbox controller to an Xbox console, but for compatibility reasons, these controllers now also support standard Bluetooth connections. This applies to Xbox One controllers, PlayStation 4 and 5 controllers, and most modern gaming controllers.
The Real Problem: Your Bluetooth Adapter
If you’re facing issues pairing a Bluetooth game controller in Windows, the problem usually isn’t the controller or even Windows itself. More often than not, the issue lies with the Bluetooth adapter.
Most users have inexpensive, generic USB Bluetooth adapters purchased from online marketplaces like Amazon or AliExpress. While these adapters come in different shapes and brand names, many of them use the CSR chipset. CSR is a reputable developer and manufacturer of Bluetooth chips, but the problem is that these cheap generic adapters often do not use authentic CSR chips. Instead, they use fake or cloned CSR chips that falsely present themselves as real ones. These counterfeit chips lack proper support for all CSR functions, which prevents Windows from communicating with them correctly.
How to Fix the Bluetooth Pairing Issue in Windows
The solution is simple: replace the CSR driver with a generic Microsoft driver.
Steps to Update the Driver:
Open Device Manager in Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Do not go to the Bluetooth section. Instead, navigate to Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices.
Find your CSR Bluetooth adapter in this section.
Right-click on the device and select Update Driver.
Choose Browse my computer for drivers.
Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers.
Choose Generic Bluetooth Adapter.
If it’s not shown in the list, untick Show compatible hardware and look under the Generic Adapter section.
Click Next to install the driver.
Restart your computer just in case.
What About Windows 11 and Other Bluetooth Adapters?
This fix works on different versions of Windows and with different controllers. For example, if you’re using a Realtek Bluetooth adapter on Windows 11 and experiencing pairing issues, the steps are the same. The only difference is that Realtek Bluetooth adapters appear under the Bluetooth section in Device Manager rather than under USB.
By following these steps, you can resolve Bluetooth pairing issues and get your controller working smoothly with Windows!