Playstation and Xbox controllers can be plugged into a Windows 10 PC and will usually work out of the box if a game supports them. For games that don’t support a controller, you can add the game to Steam and then configure a custom controller profile appropriate for the game you’re playing.

Many generic controllers mimic PS4 controllers and Xbox controllers. Besides these generic controllers, other controller manufacturers make gamepads for PCs.

Check your Joystick with this online free tool Gamepad Tester. While a Playstation and Xbox controller will almost always work just fine, the same cannot be said for other or generic controllers.

Joystick not working (not recognized) in Windows 10

When a controller isn’t working properly, it’s often the joystick that’s not responding or is being recognized as a button input instead of a joystick. This usually means that you cannot perform any in-game actions that require a joystick.

1. Check the Joystick Input

Before you can troubleshoot why a joystick isn’t working, you need to check if it’s a hardware issue or if the game isn’t recognizing the input.

Connect your controller to your PC.
Open your browser and visit Gamepad Tester.
Press a button on the controller to wake it up.
Move the joysticks on the controller and verify that the axis value shows all recognized inputs.
If the input is recognized, your joystick is working.
If the input is recognized but not for the axis, the joystick configuration is incorrect.

2. Install Proprietary Drivers for the Controller

The reason a joystick might not be properly configured is that it requires proprietary drivers. This generally happens with controllers from other manufacturers for which Windows 10 installs generic drivers.

Locate proprietary drivers for your controller; they may be in the form of a diskette or available for download online.
Install the drivers.
Connect the controller.
Visit Gamepad Tester to check joystick input.

3. Uninstall and Reinstall the Gamepad

This solution works best with generic gamepads, but you can use it with any type of controller.

Open control panel.
Go to Devices and Printers.
Right-click your device and select Remove device from the context menu.
Disconnect the gamepad.
Reconnect and allow Windows 10 to install drivers or install proprietary drivers.
Check the joysticks again.

4. Calibrate the Controller

If a game controller works partially, ie some buttons work but the joysticks don’t, or joysticks don’t work but all buttons work, you may need to calibrate your controller.

Open control panel.
Go to Devices and Printers.
Right-click the controller and select Game Controller Settings.
In the window that opens, select your controller and click Properties.
Go to the Calibration Function tab.
Click the Default button.
Press the Set button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to calibrate the controller.

5. Test Joystick Mapping

Your joystick may work but may not be recognized as a joystick. Instead, Windows 10 might think they are acting as buttons.

To test this, follow these steps.

Open control panel.
Go to Devices and Printers.
Right-click the controller and select Game Controller Settings
Select your controller and click Properties.
Go to the Bump Test tab.
Move both joysticks and see what input is recognized.
If a joystick is recognized as a button, you will need to remap it.

6. Remap the Joystick

You can easily remap a joystick, but you’ll need a third-party app to do the job. If you want to use the gamepad in Steam, use the native controller configuration option.

If you want to use the controller outside of Steam, use x360 to remap the joysticks for their correct function.

FAQs

1. How do I enable my joystick on my computer?

To open the Setup USB game controllers utility in Windows, follow the steps below.

Press the Windows key, type game controller, and then click the Setup USB game controllers option.
Click the name of the joystick or gamepad you want to test and click the Properties button or link.

2. Why is my joystick not working on PC?

Windows might sometimes be unable to detect your gamepad due to an overload of devices plugged into your machine. Try to disconnect other plug-and-play devices and see if the issue persists.

In addition, if you’re using a USB hub, be sure to disconnect your gamepad from the USB hub and connect it directly to your PC.

3. How do I fix my USB joystick not working?

Instead, I devised this method which worked

Go to the control panel then select devices and Printers.
Right-click on the USB game controller icon and select remove device. Allow windows to remove the drivers.
Unplug your USB Controller and then plug it back in.

4. Why is my joystick not working on Windows 10?

Uninstall and reinstall the gamepad

Right-click your device and select Remove device from the context menu. Disconnect the gamepad. Reconnect it and allow Windows 10 to install drivers or install proprietary drivers. Check the joysticks again.

5. What joystick works on Windows 10?

Whether it came with the Xbox One or Xbox Series, or you bought it separately, the Xbox Wireless Controller is immediately compatible with any Windows 10 or 11 PC as a wired controller; just plug it into a USB port and you can start playing with it.

Conclusion

Generic controllers are usually mapped correctly on Windows 10, but you can set up a generic Xbox controller more easily than a generic PS4 controller. Even real PS4 controllers often don’t work well with Windows 10.