How to connect a second joystick to the Xbox 360. Connecting wireless and wired controllers

Since the days of the eight-bit NES game consoles, gamers have become accustomed to wired accessories. Both gamepads could be connected to the set-top box exclusively with cords, and often the disconnection was not implied at all: the wires of the control devices were soldered into the console, seriously complicating the replacement of a failed accessory or its repair.

How to Connect a Second Joystick to an Xbox 360

The development of wireless technologies could not but affect the gaming industry: most modern consoles support not only wired but also wireless gamepads. But since they are equipped with only one control device, and the collective game is most often carried out via the Internet, connecting a second gamepad for playing together often causes difficulties. The popular console from Microsoft is no exception; connecting a second joystick to the Xbox 360, as a rule, does not work for everyone the first time.

Wireless devices

You won’t be able to quickly connect a gamepad to the Xbox 360: synchronization with the console is done gradually. You need to do the following:

1. Launch Xbox 360.
2. On the front of the console, press the sync button.
3. At the same time, press the Xbox logo button on the controller.
4. Immediately after that, at the base of the gamepad on the front side, press and hold the synchronization button (from five to twenty seconds). At this time, both the console and the controller will emit light signals.
5. If the gamepad is in good condition and there are no problems with the batteries, the console will complete the synchronization, and the connected device will be assigned a number (one of four available for connection): visually, this is determined by the illumination of a part of the circular indicator light on both the set-top box and the joystick.
6. Synchronization is complete and the wireless joystick is connected to the Xbox 360 and ready to use.

Other wireless devices are synchronized in a similar way: the Xbox 360 supports a maximum of four connected joysticks, each of which will receive its own designation on the console's indicator lights.

When you turn on the game console again, you do not need to perform the synchronization procedure again: each of the already synchronized accessories will be available for use. If one of the devices needs to be disconnected, it is enough to hold down the button with the Xbox logo on it for three seconds, and then confirm the disconnection in the console interface.

Connectivity Issues

In situations where you cannot connect a second joystick to the Xbox 360, you should check the batteries. This applies to both the batteries themselves (the joysticks use classic "finger-type" batteries, or the AA standard), and the original rechargeable batteries. A rather gluttonous device in terms of power requires the use of alkaline batteries, so it is clearly not worth saving by purchasing low-priced salt batteries. The battery packs that gamepads come with by default have a small capacity (within 1000 mA), so it’s better to purchase a set of higher-capacity AA batteries, as well as a charger for them, so that batteries ready for use are always at hand.

If the procedure for connecting a second Xbox 360 controller does not start, you can try replacing the original battery pack. First you need to remove the block from another wireless gamepad (if any) and, based on the result, decide whether to replace the batteries or repair the joystick.

Wired devices

Users have the option of either connecting a second joystick to the Xbox 360 wirelessly or using wired devices. The wired gamepad connects via the classic USB connector on the front of the console. At the same time, the original devices use a special adapter, which significantly reduces the likelihood of the console falling due to sharp jerks of the wire.