Using an Xbox Controller With Stadia
While Xbox controllers work just fine with Stadia, the situation is a little complicated. There are a few main types of Xbox controllers that you’re most likely to own: wired and wireless Xbox 360 controllers, Xbox One Elite controllers, Xbox One controllers, and the revised version of the Xbox One controller that first shipped with the Xbox One S. There are also three main ways to play Stadia: on a computer with the Chrome browser, on a phone with the Stadia app, and on a TV with Chromecast Ultra. Use the following compatibility chart to see if you can use your Xbox controller wirelessly or wired with Chrome or Android:
How to Use Google Stadia With an Xbox Controller on Chrome via USB
This is the easiest and most reliable way to play Stadia with an Xbox controller, as it works with the widest variety of Xbox controllers, Xbox controllers have built-in support for Windows 10, and you can even use this method with macOS if you download an additional driver from Github.
How to Use Google Stadia With an Xbox Controller on Chrome via Bluetooth
This method is convenient because you don’t have to deal with any physical cables, but it doesn’t work with all Xbox controllers. Bluetooth is also a little less reliable than using a physical USB cable, so you may experience occasional input lag or dropped inputs when gaming on Stadia with this method.
How to Use Google Stadia With an Xbox Controller on Your Phone via USB
This method allows you to connect most Xbox controllers to your Android phone with a physical cable. The catch is that you need to buy a USB OTG cable if you don’t already have one. On macOS, click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Bluetooth. On macOS, look for Wireless Controller and click Pair.
How to Use Google Stadia With an Xbox Controller on Your Phone Wirelessly
This method allows you to play Stadia wirelessly on your phone. That’s nice, because you don’t have to worry about cables, but it doesn’t work with as many controllers as the wired method.
Problems With Stadia and an Xbox Controller
While you can play most games on Stadia with an Xbox Controller without too many issues, there are a few important differences between the real Stadia controller and Xbox controllers. Most importantly, the Stadia controller has two more buttons than the Xbox controller. Xbox One controllers have a view button that looks like one box in front of another and a menu button that looks like three stacked lines. The Stadia controller, on the other hand, has an options button that looks like an ellipses, a menu button, a Google Assistant button that uses the familiar Google Assistant logo, and a capture button that looks like a camera viewfinder. In some cases, the view button on your Xbox controller will act as the back button in Android, causing unwanted behavior in-game. When issues like this appear, contact the developer of the game you’re trying to play and submit a bug report. Most other issues, like an Xbox controller that won’t connect or isn’t recognized, can be fixed by updating the controller, updating Chrome or the Stadia app, or updating your operating system.
