Bluetooth Controller Issues

[w0nderw0rm]

Pi Model or other hardware: Pi 4
Power Supply used: CanaKit 3.5A USB-C Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply
RetroPie Version Used (eg 3.6, 3.8.1, 4.1 - do not write latest): 4.6
Built From: Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website
USB Devices connected: An older Logitech keyboard only
Controller used: None (this is my problem)
Error messages received: More below
How to replicate the problem: It's actually several issues

I'm a totally newbie in Retropie. I know a very small amount about Linux in general so it's probably best to assume I know nothing. :)

I've been trying to get one of the newer Xbox One controllers to work wirelessly. I can get it paired but when I try to connect to it, Retropie fully crashes. I get a several lines of output from the crash but I'm not even sure where I can go to copy and paste that for you.

I decided to try to connect the Xbox controller through SSH. I can get it to connect with bleutoothctl but it disconnects a few seconds later. This is what I get:

[CHG] Device EC:83:50:10:1D:8C Connected: yes
[CHG] Device EC:83:50:10:1D:8C ServicesResolved: yes
Failed to connect: org.bluez.Error.Failed
[CHG] Device EC:83:50:10:1D:8C ServicesResolved: no
[CHG] Device EC:83:50:10:1D:8C Connected: no

I made sure to install the Xbox controller driver package but that didn't seem to have any impact.

This is what I get from a bluetooth status:

systemctl status bluetooth
● bluetooth.service - Bluetooth service
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/bluetooth.service; disabled; vendor prese
Active: active (running) since Tue 2020-07-21 04:41:27 BST; 8min ago
Docs: man:bluetoothd(8)
Main PID: 1884 (bluetoothd)
Status: "Running"
Tasks: 1 (limit: 4915)
Memory: 972.0K
CGroup: /system.slice/bluetooth.service
└─1884 /usr/lib/bluetooth/bluetoothd

Jul 21 04:41:27 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: Starting SDP server
Jul 21 04:41:27 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: Bluetooth management interface 1.14 i
Jul 21 04:41:27 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: Sap driver initialization failed.
Jul 21 04:41:27 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: sap-server: Operation not permitted (
Jul 21 04:41:27 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: Failed to set privacy: Rejected (0x0b
Jul 21 04:43:51 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: sdp_service_search_attr_async: Error
Jul 21 04:43:51 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: EC:83:50:10:1D:8C: error updating ser
Jul 21 04:46:09 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: EC:83:50:10:1D:8C: error updating ser
Jul 21 04:46:13 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: sdp_service_search_attr_async: Error
Jul 21 04:46:13 retropie bluetoothd[1884]: EC:83:50:10:1D:8C: error updating ser

I tried connecting Nimbus from Steelseries. It connects just fine but only the big button in the center works. Nothing else responds to attempts to map the buttons.

I hope this is just a case of a newb not knowing what he missed. I'm out of ideas and kind of frustrated. It seems like a lot of people are using the controller without a problem.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[mitu]

Update your RetroPie-Setup script and then install the xpadneo driver from the drivers section. Re-try to pair the gamepad and see if it works.

[w0nderw0rm]

Awesome! This worked like a charm. Thank you!

[mjeshurun]

Hi @w0nderw0rm , did @mitu ‘s solution allowed you to use just the Xbox One controller, or the solution also allows you to use the Nimbus Steelseries?

I just started researching which controller to order that would work best for RetroPie AND Apple Arcade on iPhone, and it looks like the Steelseries Nimbus+ is a great controller (but I’m not sure it works with RetroPie).

Is there a better controller I should consider?
Maybe the 8bitdo SN30 Pro+ ?