I don’t usually use a controller for my PC gaming, as I find that a keyboard and mouse offer more precision. However, there are times when using a controller is more convenient, especially when playing games on a larger screen like my 65-inch TV. It provides a more relaxed and console-like gaming experience.
In the past, I’ve had some trouble getting controllers to work properly with my PC games. I’ve learned that setting them up correctly in Steam is crucial to ensure they work seamlessly with the games I want to play. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up your controller in Steam:
1. Open Steam and go to Settings in the top left corner of the browser. Scroll down and select Controller.
2. Under External Gamepad Settings, check the box next to the type of controller you have. For example, if you have an Xbox controller, enable Steam Input for Xbox controllers. If you have a generic controller, enable Steam Input for generic controllers.
3. Exit the settings menu and go to your Library in Steam.
4. Scroll down to the game you want to play with your controller, right-click on it, and choose Properties.
5. In the Properties menu, select Controllers from the list on the left. Then, on the right side of the screen, change the setting from Use default settings to Enable Steam Input. Make sure to restart your PC to save the changes.
By following these steps, you should now have a functioning controller for the specified Steam game. You can repeat this process for any other games you want to use your controller with.
Additionally, you can calibrate your controller by accessing Calibration and Advanced Settings in the same menu where you selected your controller.
Dominic Bayley, a tech enthusiast based in Australia, specializes in PC gaming hardware. His focus at PCWorld is on laptops, mice, headsets, and keyboards.
