How to Connect Xbox Controller to iPhone & Android

Playing mobile games on an iPhone (or another apple device like an iPad) or Android phone usually works well using the touchscreen

Sometimes though, it’s nice to have extra control. Especially when you play games like Minecraft PE.

That way, you can control your favorite games like you’re used to on your console.

I use the Xbox One S controller, and because it’s a Bluetooth controller, I can connect it to everything from my Windows PC to my iPhone or Android device.

But you can use any controller for the Xbox Series X / S or One if it is a Bluetooth-compatible model.

Below you can see how to connect your Xbox controller to your iPhone and Android smartphone in a few easy steps. And in the FAQ section, you can see info for many different controllers.

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How to connect an Xbox controller to an iPhone the easy way

To connect your Xbox Wireless controller so you can play iOS games, follow these simple steps below:

  1. Switch on your Xbox controller by pressing the large Xbox button on top of the controller until it starts flashing
  2. Press the connect button (the small button with the three lines next to the cable slot) on the front until the Xbox button starts flashing rapidly
  3. On your iPhone, go to Settings -> Bluetooth settings
  4. Turn on Bluetooth (if it isn’t already). Your phone will now start searching for Bluetooth devices
  5. Tap on your Xbox controller in the list when it appears
  6. Tap “Pair” to allow the controller and iPhone to connect

Tadaa, you can now control compatible games like Minecraft PE on your iPhone with your Xbox controller.

Now, you can open Minecraft PE and click a button (fx X, A, B, or Y) on your controller to use it in the game.

Here’s a video showing the process:

The process is the same if you own another iOS device, fx an iPad.

How to connect an Xbox controller to an Android phone the easy way

If you want to connect your Microsoft Xbox controller to your Android phone, the process is very similar to the iPhone:

  1. Switch on your Xbox controller by pressing the large Xbox button on top of the controller until it starts flashing
  2. Press the connect button (the pairing button with the three lines next to the cable slot) on the front until the Xbox button starts flashing rapidly
  3. On your Android phone, go to Settings -> Connections – > Bluetooth
  4. Turn on Bluetooth (if it isn’t already). Your phone will now start searching for Bluetooth devices
  5. Tap on your Xbox controller in the list when it appears
  6. Tap “Pair” to allow the controller and Android to connect

Now your phone might say that the controller needs an app to work. And it will try to install the Xbox cloud gaming app, which you can just ignore. It works fine without the app installed.

This is just a way for Microsoft to try to sell you Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Here a video showing the process:

The process is the same if you own another Android device, e.g., a tablet.

Conclusion

If you want to take your mobile gaming to the next level, connecting a controller to your smartphone is a great idea. This will give you that nice couch feeling you’re used to when playing console games.

Notice, however, not all games support controllers.

This content was first published on GameDaft.com

Also, you get the best results by using a controller with a wireless connection (Bluetooth) because not all phones support wired controllers (see FAQ below).

I hope you found this helpful. Until next time, happy gaming!

Also, check out How to Show FPS in Minecraft and optimize the performance of your system.


FAQ

Troubleshooting: what if my Xbox controller won’t pair with my phone?

Sometimes your phone and controller won’t pair up, even though you can see the controller in the list of Bluetooth devices.

I found that the best way to solve this is to tell the phone to forget the controller and then re-pair it:

  • Tap the controller and tell the phone to forget my Bluetooth Device (in this case, the controller).
  • Now turn off Bluetooth on your phone (under the Bluetooth menu) and activate it again.
  • Set the controller to pairing mode again by pressing the pair button until the light flashes quickly.
  • Allow the devices to pair again by clicking on “Pair” on the pop-up message on your phone

You should now be able to repair your controller with your iPhone.

I have a wired controller. Can I connect my Xbox controller to my Android via a USB cable?

Yes, connecting your Android phone and Xbox controller via a USB cable is possible.

But you must buy a USB OTG (On-The-Go) adapter first if you didn’t get one with your phone. Also, ensure your Android device supports USB OTG – not all do!

The USB OTG allows your phone to act as a host for your Xbox controller, which will appear as a device.

If you don’t have an OTG, you can get one cheaply on Amazon.

To connect the two devices follow these simple steps:

  • Plug in the USB OTG to your phone’s USB-C port
  • Connect a USB-to-USB-C cable between the OTG and your hardware controller

That’s it!

Note, like the Bluetooth connection, some games may not support an Xbox controller.

Can I connect my wired Xbox controller to my iPhone via USB to play games?

Unfortunately, no. While it is possible to get a lightning cable to USB adapter, the iPhone won’t read the incoming signals.

How connect a PlayStation controller to my iPhone or Android device?

If you own Playstation dualshock controllers (fx Dualshock 4 and above), you can follow the same steps as the Xbox controller mentioned above and pair it via Bluetooth.

How to connect a Nintendo Switch Pro controller to my iPhone or Android device?

If you own a Nintendo Switch Pro controller, you can follow the same steps as the Xbox controller and pair it via Bluetooth, as mentioned in the article above.


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jan has played video games since the early 1980s. He loves getting immersed in video games as a way to take his mind off stuff when the outside world gets too scary. A lifelong gamer, the big interest led to a job as a lecturer on game sound at the University of Copenhagen and several written articles on video games for magazines.

Read more on the About Page.