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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    Xbox Series X controller wont Pair with RP4

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    xboxcontrollerpairingissues
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    • P
      Pacciulli @DriftKing
      last edited by Pacciulli

      @driftking Hi, I'm having a similar problem with my raspberry. I can't pair with my controller in fact. I had updated the firmware from the controller and tried to pair through the console (bluetoothctl), says it is paired and connected. But the light keep flashing. When the discovery mode of the Xbox controller is turned of (the light keep flashing in a lower frequency), the device is set as disconnected. Did you found a solution?

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      • P
        Pacciulli @Pacciulli
        last edited by

        @pacciulli I just noticed something. If it turnoff the controller and turn it on again, after it is paired and connected (but not really working), raspberry does not connect it automatically again (even if the controller is trusted). When I set the controller in the pairing mode, the raspberry connects and disconnects the controller with a frequency that looks like it matches the light flashing in the controller.

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        • C
          CowboyPhil @Pacciulli
          last edited by

          @pacciulli I am having the exact same issue with the 1914 controller, Bluetoothctl says connected, controller still blinks, Bluetooth in retropie will not connect at all

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          • C
            CowboyPhil @CowboyPhil
            last edited by

            I verified I was using the newest version of the script I am show version 4.7.2

            mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • mituM
              mitu Global Moderator @CowboyPhil
              last edited by

              @cowboyphil Try re-installing the xpadneo driver, it has been updated to the latest stable version a couple of weeks ago. If that doesn't work, then I guess the support for the new Xbox controllers is not fully fleshed out and needs improvements.

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              • F
                franknarf8 @mitu
                last edited by

                @mitu I'm also facing the same problem;

                The controller always keeps blinking and never connects properly. I've used the latest version of xpadneo (5360aa1fc98b886c11582e239d657a0e39ab3efd), but without any luck.

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                • F
                  franknarf8
                  last edited by

                  It seems a fix was implemented in SDL 2.0.12 : https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=SDL2-Xbox-Series-X-Controller

                  mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • mituM
                    mitu Global Moderator @franknarf8
                    last edited by

                    @franknarf8 That won't help much if the controller doesn't pair with the Pi/Linux system where RetroPie is running. SDL 2.0.14 was released December of last year, containing the patch referenced in Phoronix article, but RetroPie doesn't include that release yet.

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                    • K
                      KrazeeTyger
                      last edited by

                      I found that you can download and install SDL2.0.14 on https://wiki.libsdl.org/Installation

                      I followed the instructions and everything seemed to install and configure fine. However, the controller still won't pair. Same issue; the Xbox button keeps blinking. Did I miss anything?

                      cd ~
                      wget https://www.libsdl.org/release/SDL2-2.0.14.tar.gz
                      tar zxvf SDL2-2.0.14.tar.gz
                      cd SDL2-2.0.14
                      mkdir build
                      cd build
                      ../configure
                      make
                      sudo make install

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                      • K
                        KrazeeTyger
                        last edited by

                        Oh, I didn't have xpadneo installed when I tried this.
                        With xpadneo active, the controller actually VIBRATES after pairing.
                        The vibration is different from the one when the pad is plugged in via USB, though, and the light also keeps blinking.

                        Jeez, I think I am so close!! Any ideas anybody?

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                        • K
                          KrazeeTyger
                          last edited by KrazeeTyger

                          YAAASSSS, I've finally figured this out!

                          Install Raspberry Pi OS Lite (w/o RetroPie pre-installed). I used V5.4 from 01/11/2021
                          Sudo bash –c ‘echo 1 > /sys/module/bluetooth/parameters/disable_ertm’ (not sure if this is necessary)
                          Add Privacy = device to /etc/bluetooth/main.conf under the [General] section - Kudos to the good people at GitHub!
                          sudo systemctl restart bluetooth
                          Pair X-Box Series X controller using bluetoothctl command
                          Savor the moment the light gets solid

                          Install RetroPie
                          Install xpadneo

                          Works like a charm!! ENJOY!

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                          • Z
                            zdeno84 @KrazeeTyger
                            last edited by

                            @krazeetyger Hi there, I'm on the latest Raspberry build, just powered it on today and run into the same issue - my older xbox controller works fine, but xbox series x controller won't connect.

                            I tried to add the privacy = device etc command, but the raspberry won't accept it (not using RetroPie). Any idea how I can adapt it to work on Raspberry only or do I need to switch to RetroPie for this to work?

                            Thanks!

                            mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • K
                              KrazeeTyger
                              last edited by

                              Just for clarification: did you enter

                              Privacy = device
                              

                              or

                              Privacy = device etc
                              

                              ?

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                              • mituM
                                mitu Global Moderator @zdeno84
                                last edited by

                                @zdeno84 Try installing the xpadneo driver - https://github.com/atar-axis/xpadneo - and the pair the controller again.

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                                • Z
                                  zdeno84
                                  last edited by

                                  I installed xpadneo and since then the blueetooth behaves a bit weird. Everything works fine with xbox one controller, it connects, works in steamlink. But when I try to pair the xbox series controller, the bluetooth seems to either freeze in some way (the connected xbox one controller dissapears from gui but still works in steamlink) or the xbox series controller connects, but stays in a reconnect loop - on/off/on/off every second.

                                  I tried to install it through terminal, it pairs, but then terminal freezes and does not accept any keyboard input, so I can not connect/trust.

                                  I also tried to add privacy = device command to the /etc/bluetooth/main.conf, but terminal tells me permission denied.

                                  All I need from the raspberry really is to connect through steamlink to my windows pc running games and remote play them plus play some movies from external hdd (or from that same windows pc).

                                  sorry for all the mistakes, but I just got the raspberry yesterday and not really a linux-versed yet. I would need to connect the xbox series controller(s) for my kids so we can play together some coop. we only have one xbox one controller.

                                  any advice appreciated

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                                  • K
                                    KrazeeTyger
                                    last edited by

                                    sudo nano /etc/bluetooth/main.conf

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                                    • Z
                                      zdeno84 @KrazeeTyger
                                      last edited by

                                      @krazeetyger thanks. I tried everything, but to no avail. fresh installs, retropie, commands you mentioned. xpadneo, etc. in different orders. nope. but at least I learned a lot about pi

                                      I bought the xbox wireless adapter, installed xow and everything works perfect. 3 controllers, pi, streaming from host pc with both steamlink and parsec.

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                                      • I
                                        icehousedoo
                                        last edited by

                                        Hi All,
                                        Have similar issue, looks like it's only a problem with the series X controller (has three round buttons just below the xbox power button instead of two). If I use a slightly older controller (two buttons) it connects and works faultlessly.
                                        Both controllers work fine on a Windows PC.
                                        I'll keep investigating.

                                        Cheers

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                                        • K
                                          KrazeeTyger
                                          last edited by

                                          You'll have to use the newest version of Raspbian from January 2021 and install RetroPie on top of it.
                                          Older versions of Raspbian have a bug that prevents the Series X controller from pairing.
                                          The pre-made images of RetroPie won't work either as they were made in November 2020.

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                                          • F
                                            FrozenNL @KrazeeTyger
                                            last edited by FrozenNL

                                            @krazeetyger thanks mate, I can confirm it works except for LT and RT buttons, at this moment LT and RT buttons do not work it simply does not register in configuration of buttons, anyone have a solution for that or did I do something wrong?


                                            LT and RT registration test (jstest):

                                            I did

                                            jstest /dev/input/js0
                                            

                                            after installing jstest with:

                                            sudo apt-get install -y jstest-gtk
                                            

                                            and I see some action when pressing LT and RT

                                            output jstest (no buttons pressed):

                                            Driver version is 2.1.0.
                                            Joystick (Xbox Wireless Controller) has 9 axes (X, Y, Z, Rx, Ry, Rz, Hat0X, Hat0Y, (null))
                                            and 10 buttons (BtnA, BtnB, BtnX, BtnY, BtnTL, BtnTR, BtnSelect, BtnStart, BtnThumbL, BtnThumbR).
                                            Testing ... (interrupt to exit)
                                            Axes:  0:     0  1:     0  2:-32767  3:     0  4:     0  5:-32767  6:     0  7:     0  8:     0 Buttons:  0:off  1:off  2:off  3:off  4:off  5:off  6:off  7:off  8:off  9:off
                                            

                                            Pressing LT registers in jstest as Axes/Axis:

                                            Driver version is 2.1.0.
                                            Joystick (Xbox Wireless Controller) has 9 axes (X, Y, Z, Rx, Ry, Rz, Hat0X, Hat0Y, (null))
                                            and 10 buttons (BtnA, BtnB, BtnX, BtnY, BtnTL, BtnTR, BtnSelect, BtnStart, BtnThumbL, BtnThumbR).
                                            Testing ... (interrupt to exit)
                                            Axes:  0:     0  1:     0  2: 32767  3:     0  4:     0  5:-32767  6:     0  7:     0  8:-32767 Buttons:  0:off  1:off  2:off  3:off  4:off  5:off  6:off  7:off  8:off  9:off
                                            

                                            Pressing RT registers in jstest as Axes/Axis:

                                            Driver version is 2.1.0.
                                            Joystick (Xbox Wireless Controller) has 9 axes (X, Y, Z, Rx, Ry, Rz, Hat0X, Hat0Y, (null))
                                            and 10 buttons (BtnA, BtnB, BtnX, BtnY, BtnTL, BtnTR, BtnSelect, BtnStart, BtnThumbL, BtnThumbR).
                                            Testing ... (interrupt to exit)
                                            Axes:  0:     0  1:     0  2:-32767  3:     0  4:     0  5: 32767  6:     0  7:     0  8: 32767 Buttons:  0:off  1:off  2:off  3:off  4:off  5:off  6:off  7:off  8:off  9:off
                                            

                                            Axes-8 is shared between LT and RT

                                            Axes 2 LT range between -32767 and + 32767 depending of how much pressure is used
                                            Axes 5 RT range between -32767 and + 32767 depending of how much pressure is used
                                            Axes 8 LT + RT range between -32767 and + 32767 depending of how much pressure is used and which button or combined, it's an balanced axis (default 0)
                                            

                                            Steps taken to get the controller working so far

                                            Installed latest Raspberry Pi OS Desktop or Lite does not matter, just make sure to boot to CLI.
                                            Installed RetroPie manual, see: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Manual-Installation/
                                            Installed xpadneo through RetroPie-Setup under Manage packages -> Driver

                                            sudo /home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/retropie_setup.sh
                                            

                                            Add the next line:
                                            Privacy = device
                                            to /etc/bluetooth/main.conf

                                            sudo nano /etc/bluetooth/main.conf
                                            

                                            Install SDL2 2.0.14:

                                            cd ~
                                            wget https://www.libsdl.org/release/SDL2-2.0.14.tar.gz
                                            tar zxvf SDL2-2.0.14.tar.gz
                                            cd SDL2-2.0.14
                                            mkdir build
                                            cd build
                                            ../configure
                                            make
                                            sudo make install
                                            

                                            Verify xpadneo is running properly:

                                            lsmod | grep hid_xpadneo
                                            

                                            should output something like:
                                            hid_xpadneo 20480 0
                                            ff_memless 16384 1 hid_xpadneo

                                            if not type in console:

                                            sudo modprobe hid_xpadneo
                                            

                                            verify again.

                                            sudo systemctl restart bluetooth
                                            
                                            sudo bluetoothctl
                                            
                                            [bluetooth] agent on
                                            [bluetooth] default-agent
                                            [bluetooth] scan on
                                            [bluetooth] pair XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
                                            [agent] Accept pairing (yes/no): yes
                                            

                                            The light on the XBOX controller should now lid constantly which means it's connected, you can configure the buttons in RetroPie except for LT and RT (L2 and R2 equivalent on PSX so to speak).

                                            I use a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4GB with the default WLAN/Bluetooth, not an external dongle.

                                            Enjoy!

                                            M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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