Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Xbox 360 controller
• Method 2 of 4: PlayStation 3 controller
• Method 3 of 4: PlayStation 4 controller
• Method 4 of 4: Generic USB controller

To install USB game controllers under Windows 8, you first determine which controller you want to use. Then follow the steps below so that your computer can recognize the controller. Windows 8 provides direct support for many controllers. You can also configure an Xbox 360 controller to work with a variety of modern games. If you have a PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 controller, you can also use it under Windows 8, albeit with the help of third-party software.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Xbox 360 controller

1. Download the Xbox 360 Controller software for Windows 7. Visit the Xbox 360 controller download page and click the menu Select an operating system. Download the Windows 7 software for your version of Windows 8 (32-bit or 64-bit). If you are not sure of the version you have, press ⊞ Win+Pause and check System type. Don't worry that the software is designed for Windows 7.
   • Click Download and then Save after selecting the version and language.
2. Right-click on the downloaded program, then click Properties. This will open a new window.
3. Click the Compatibility tab and set the compatibility to Windows 7. Now you can install the software:
   • Check the box Run this program in compatibility mode for On.
   • Select Windows 7 from the drop-down menu.
   • Click Apply and then OK.
4. Run the installer. After setting the compatibility, run the installer and follow the directions for installing the Xbox 360 controller. Once completed, you will be prompted to restart your computer.
5. Connect your Xbox 360 controller. Connect the controller to any USB port on your computer. Avoid using USB hubs, as they are often not powerful enough for a controller. Windows will automatically detect the controller and load the newly installed drivers.
6. Test the controller. Once you have connected the controller, it should now work properly. You can test it before you start games:
   • Open the Start screen and type "joy.cpl". Select "joy.cpl" from the list of results.
   • Select your Xbox 360 controller and click Properties.
   • Press the buttons and move joystick and check that the corresponding indicators light up on the screen.
7. Set up your game to use your controller. The process of setting up the game so that you can use the controller varies from game to game. Some games automatically recognize the controller, so you don't have to do anything special to use the controller. Other games require you to select the controller from the Options or Settings menu. Still other games may not support a controller at all.
   • If you are using Steam, you can see which games support a controller on the game's store page.

Method 2 of 4: PlayStation 3 controller

1. Download the Xbox 360 controller Windows 7 drivers from Microsoft. You will be using the Windows 7 drivers, even if you have Windows 8. You can download the drivers from Microsoft's website.
   • If you are not sure whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows, press ⊞ Win+Pause and look for the System Type entry.
2. Run the installer to install the drivers. This will install the required Xbox 360 drivers on your computer. Follow the instructions and opt for the default settings.
3. Connect your PS3 controller to your computer via USB. Windows can install a number of drivers on first connection. Unplug your PS3 if it is off, as the controller will automatically turn it on when plugged in.
   • If you want to use the controller wirelessly with a Bluetooth dongle, connect that too and let the drivers installed.
4. Download the latest Xinput Wrapper drivers. You can get these from this PCSX2 forum thread. click on the link Download latest version here to download the 7z archive file.
5. Download and install 7-Zip. This is a free compression program that you can use to extract the file you just downloaded. You can download 7-Zip from 7-zip.org. Run the installer and follow the prompts to install 7-Zip.
6. Right-click on the 7z file you downloaded and select 7-Zip → Extract Here. This will create a new folder with the Xinput Wrapper files.
7. Open the ScpServer folder and open the bin folder. You will see various files and folders.
8. Start ScpDriver.exe and click the Install button. This will install the necessary drivers for your PS3 controller so that it can be recognized by an Xbox 360 controller.
9. Restart your computer and run ScpDriver.exe. Your PS3 controller will now be recognized by games as an Xbox 360 controller.
   • As long as ScpDriver.exe is running you can unplug the USB cable and your PS3 controller will pair with your USB Bluetooth dongle.
10. Play games with your controller. As long as the game supports the Xbox 360 controller, you will be able to use the PS3 controller. Make sure the controller is selected in the game's Options or Settings menu.

Method 3 of 4: PlayStation 4 controller

1. Download DS4Windows. With this free software you can quickly connect your PS4 controller to Windows 8. You can even use the touchpad as a mouse. You can get DS4Windows from ds4windows.com.
2. Extract the ZIP file. You should see a DS4Windows program and a DS4Updater in the ZIP file. Extract these files to a suitable location.
3. Start DS4Windows. This will start the installation process. Select where you want to save the profiles that are by default in the Program Files folder.
4. Press the button Install the DS4 Driver. This will install the required DS4 driver, which should only take a few seconds. You can skip Step 2 in the DS4Windows window because you are running Windows 8, but if you run into problems, please select this step at a later time.
   • If you don't see this window, click on Controller / Driver Setup.
5. Connect the PS4 controller to your computer. Make sure to connect the controller to one of the USB ports on your computer. An external USB hub may not be powerful enough for the controller.
6. Set up your profile. By default, the controller will be set to an Xbox 360 controller. You can use the Profiles tab to arrange your PS4 controller however you want.
   • The Other section of the Profiles tab allows you to adjust the trackpad settings in Windows.
7. Test your controller in a game. Start a game that supports an Xbox 360 controller. Your PS4 controller should now work just like an Xbox 360 controller.
   • Some games support a PS4 controller without DS4Windows installed. If this is the case, you may get double input when using DS4Windows. Right-click on DS4Windows in the System Tray and select Hide DS4Windows if this happens.

Method 4 of 4: Generic USB controller

1. Install all included drivers (if applicable). If an installation disc is included with the controller, insert it before connecting the controller. Installing the drivers first makes it easier to detect errors that Windows may encounter while setting up the controller. Not all controllers come with a disk, and Windows should be able to install the drivers for these controllers automatically.
   • Consult your controller manual for specific installation instructions. Some controllers have special instructions that you must follow.
2. Connect the controller to your computer. Windows 8 will install the generic USB controller drivers if you did not do so in the previous step. This should be automatic.
3. Open the game controller menu. Open the Start menu and type "joy.cpl" Select "joy.cpl" from the list of search results.
4. Select your controller and click the Properties button. This allows you to test the controller and assign various commands to its buttons. Click the Calibrate button to test all functions. You can now use the generic USB controller in games that support controllers.