Hardware Can't reconnect my Switch Pro Controller in Windows 10

mangaTom · Aug 2, 2017

Hi guys. So I've been using my pro controller on my laptop for a month now and it's a very good controller. No problem in pairing the device whatsoever. However, every time the connection is lost (ie. when I shutdown, restart or turn-off the controller) I can't seem to reconnect the controller with my laptop even if it shows that the controller is installed/"paired"(not connected). I can't seem to connect to it(controller) manually from my laptop. It really is a bother removing, adding and calibrating the device over and over again every time I want to use it. Is there any workaround about this issue? Thanks.

CTCaer · Aug 2, 2017

Yes, just press a button (not the sync button) and it connects automatically with your laptop.
If you paired it with switch, you need to remove it and pair it again to your laptop.

Basically all switch controllers connect to the last host when pressing a button.

mangaTom · Aug 2, 2017

Thanks for the reply mate. The controller does get "connected" for awhile while doing that method, however it doesn't register any inputs and get disconnected after a few seconds.

CTCaer · Aug 2, 2017

Hmm, strange.. My joycons stay connected for forever. I need to restart or disable BT or press the sync button to turn off or get far away from my crappy BT adapter to disconnect.

But this behavior is in windows 10 with Microsoft BT stack. I don't know with older versions.

EDIT:
And the inputs are registered in the windows game controller settings

mangaTom · Aug 2, 2017

Yeah, it is kinda frustrating. Signal wise, it's pretty good so I doubt that's the case. It's probably on the software side since it does get connected, albeit for awhile, but disconnects itself which is pretty strange. It doesn't maintain the connection and no inputs are received from the controller.

CTCaer · Aug 2, 2017

To be true the only way to have the best experience, especially lag wise, in any OS, is to use a custom driver for the switch controllers.

A custom driver can enable the switch style input report which is rated at 16ms for Joy-Cons and 8ms for Pro controller.
And ofc it can keep the controller alive because it sends periodic keep alive packets.

I'll play a little with my JC toolkit, send commands that enable different input report formats and see how the windows generic driver acts

CTCaer · Aug 2, 2017

Whatever I tried, the joy-cons stayed alive..

Anyway try this beta version of my tool:
1. Pair the pro-controller
2. Open the app
3. Click Menu->Debug
4. Write these to the fields: to Command: 01 , to Subcommand: 03 , to Arguments: 3F
Check how it behaves.

If the problem is the same try these values also: 01 , 48 , 01

Warning: Beware what you type, because there are 2 Subcommands (I will not point them out here), that can write/erase sectors on the controller flash.
Make a backup first!

mangaTom · Aug 3, 2017

Trying these out mate. Will report later if it's okay.

Edit: My controller still works the same. It still doesn't reconnect to my laptop after doing the said things above. Btw, the tool is pretty nice.
Edit2: Only the second set of values makes the controller vibrate if that helps.

CTCaer · Aug 4, 2017

The 2nd set is enabling the HD rumble. I thought that sending a valid command would keep it alive a little more. BTW how are your BT settings? You are not in any battery save mode right?

Tigran · Jun 6, 2018

Sorry to raise the dead thread again. But I'm in the same boat. I can pair the pro controller to the PC with no problem. HOWEVER when I turn the Pro controller off or my PC off. I am unable to hit a button on the controller and get it to run again. I either have to plug it up, or I have to go and delete the device then re-pair it completely. Any suggestions?

camakazininja · Jul 16, 2019

I was running into the same issue for a while, and I think in my case it's due to always using the "home" button on the switch controller to wake it up. I think this operates differently since it normally allows the controller to wake the switch and when paired with a computer seems to get things in a bad state. I switched to using the "A" button to wake the controller and it seems to re-connect automatically without any problems.

Classicgamer · Jul 16, 2019

Tigran said:
Sorry to raise the dead thread again. But I'm in the same boat. I can pair the pro controller to the PC with no problem. HOWEVER when I turn the Pro controller off or my PC off. I am unable to hit a button on the controller and get it to run again. I either have to plug it up, or I have to go and delete the device then re-pair it completely. Any suggestions?

Same here: I found disabling and then re-enabling Bluetooth on my pc allows me to reconnect the controller. It has a little toggle button in the settings to do so.

Lyron · Apr 15, 2023

Checkout my solution here

Hardware Can't reconnect my Switch Pro Controller in Windows 10

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