How to Connect Your Xbox Controller to an iPhone via Bluetooth

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Level up your mobile gaming experience with your Xbox controller

Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: July 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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How to Pair

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Supported Controllers

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Troubleshooting

Have you ever wondered if you could use your Xbox controller to play games on your iPhone? If so, the answer is yes! Connecting your Xbox controller to your iPhone is simple and takes no time at all. In this article we'll teach you how to pair your Xbox controller to your iPhone, and we also cover troubleshooting tips for some common pairing problems.

Quick Steps

Enable Bluetooth via Settings > Bluetooth.
Turn on your Xbox controller.
Press and hold the Connect button until the Xbox button starts flashing.
Select your Xbox controller from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Pair

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Press and hold the Xbox button on the front of your controller for a few seconds to turn it on.
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Open the Bluetooth menu on your iPhone. Go to Settings > Bluetooth if you aren't already there.
- You can also go to your Bluetooth menu by opening the Control Center (by swiping down from the upper-right corner), long pressing the Bluetooth button, then long pressing the Bluetooth button again. Tap Bluetooth Settings… to open the Bluetooth menu.
- If Bluetooth isn't enabled, enable it from the Bluetooth menu now by tapping the toggle at the top of the screen.
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The Xbox button will start flashing a white light. The Connect button is a small raised button next to the USB port on the top of the controller. Pressing and holding this button for a few seconds will put your controller into pairing mode.^{[1]
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Select your controller from the list of available Bluetooth devices. Tap on the name of your controller (i.e. "Wireless Controller Series S"). Once the controller is paired, it will be added to your iPhone's known devices list. When the controller is on it will say "Connected" and when the controller's off it will say "Not Connected."^{[2]
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- To use your controller with your iPhone, open an app that has controller support.

Section 2 of 3:

Supported Controllers

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There are 5 supported Xbox controllers on the iPhone. These controllers are:
- Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth (Model 1708)
- Xbox Wireless Controller Series S
- Xbox Wireless Controller Series X
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
- Xbox Adaptive Controller

Section 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

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Press the Xbox button on your controller to turn it on. If that doesn't work, forget the device on your iPhone and try pairing it again.
To unpair your controller from your Xbox, press and hold the Connect button on the top of the controller while the Xbox is on. Keep pressing and holding until the Xbox button stops flashing. Once this happens, the controller is now unpaired from your Xbox.
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When I press the Connect button, I don't see any flashing lights. Make sure your controller is charged by plugging it into the Xbox itself or a wall charger with a charging cable. Allow the controller to charge for a couple hours before trying again.
- If your controller still won't work, try it on your Xbox to make sure the controller is still functional. If the controller doesn't work on your console, you'll need to replace it with a new one.
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My controller won't pair at all. If your controller won't pair at all, try one of the following tips to diagnose the exact problem:
- Remove some of the Bluetooth devices connected to your iPhone. If you have a lot of devices connected via Bluetooth, these devices can interfere with one another.
- Update your iPhone. If your iPhone has a pending update, download and install it. Updates can fix various issues, including potential issues with Bluetooth device connectivity.
- Update your controller's firmware. To update your controller, go to your Xbox settings and navigate to Profile & system > Settings > Devices & connections > Controllers & headsets, then select your controller.
- Then, select the three-dot menu to check if your controller needs a firmware update. Follow the on-screen instructions to update your controller.^{[3]
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