Starfield, Bethesda’s highly anticipated space-themed RPG, has finally arrived on PC, but some players are facing a frustrating issue – their controllers aren’t working as expected. Whether you’re experiencing partial controller functionality or a complete failure to control your character, this guide will walk you through various troubleshooting steps to help you get your controller working in Starfield. We’ll explore potential causes of the problem and provide step-by-step solutions.
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How to Fix Starfield PC Controller Not Working Issue
There can be several causes of this issue, but some users reported that the controller is working fine in other games, which means there is an issue in the game. Here are some solutions for the Starfield controller not working issue.
Disable Steam Input
One potential workaround is to disable Steam Input. This can often resolve controller issues in games. Here’s how to do it:
- Right-click on Starfield in your Steam library.
- Select “Properties.”
- Head to the “Controller” tab.
- Under “Override for Starfield,” select “Disable Steam Input” from the drop-down menu.
- Restart your game or PC and check if the controller is now working.
Restart Game/PC
The first step in resolving any technical issue is to restart. Close Starfield and try launching it again. If the controller still doesn’t work, perform a PC restart. Turn off your computer, wait a few minutes, and then turn it back on. Launch the game once more to see if the issue persists.
Use Steam Big Picture Mode
Launching Starfield in Steam Big Picture Mode is another potential fix for controller problems. Follow these steps:
- Open the Steam client.
- Click on the Big Picture icon at the top of the screen.
- Launch Starfield from Big Picture Mode and check if the controller works as intended.
- Configure Steam Controller Input
Open the Steam client and follow these steps:
- Click on “Steam” in the top-left corner.
- Go to “Settings” and then open the “Controller” tab.
- Under the “External Gamepad Settings” tab, disable Steam Input for all controllers.
- Run the game and check if the issue is resolved.
If the problem persists, follow the first two steps again and enable Steam Input for the specific controller you’re using (e.g., Xbox Controller).
Disable Steam Input for Starfield Only
To disable Steam Input for Starfield specifically, follow these steps:
- Open the Steam client and go to your Steam Library.
- Find Starfield in the list of installed games.
- Right-click on Starfield and select “Properties.”
- In the “Controller” tab, open the drop-down menu for “Override for Starfield” and choose “Disable Steam Input.”
- Launch the game and see if the controller now works.
Disconnect Other Peripherals
Before launching Starfield, disconnect all unnecessary USB devices. Additionally, unplug your controller and reconnect it once the game is running. Sometimes, conflicting peripherals can cause controller issues.
Turn off the Steam Overlay
To disable the Steam Overlay, follow these steps:
- Open the Steam client and locate Starfield in your Steam Library.
- Right-click on Starfield and select “Properties.”
- Open the “General” tab.
- Disable the “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game” option.
- Launch the game and see if the controller functions correctly.
If you use other overlay applications like Discord, be sure to disable them as well.
Verify Game Files
To check for corrupted game files, use the Steam client:
- Open Steam Library and find Starfield.
- Right-click on Starfield and select “Properties.”
- Go to the “Local Files” tab.
- Click on “Verify integrity of game files.”
- Let Steam run the verification process and then launch the game.
If none of the above solutions work, consider reinstalling Starfield. This should be a last resort, but it can sometimes resolve persistent controller issues.