Controller on Port 2 not working during emulation with SNES emulators

mennoflyer

Retropie installed on Lubuntu (Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS) on both Dell OptiPlex 3040 and 7080
RetroPie Version Used: 4.8.9
Built From: Manual Install using Ubuntu instructions on retropie website
USB Devices connected:Logitech receiver for mouse/KB combo, Wired PS3 and Wired Xbox 1 controllers
Controller used: 1 PS3 and 1 Xbox 1

I am having an issue I have seen mentioned here many times without much of a clear answer, so I'm hoping to provide more information with hopes of a fix or at least something in a new direction. I cannot get the controller configured in port 2 to work during emulation.

To start, I configure both controllers in the Emulationstation UI. I have also configured both controllers in RetroArch UI and saved the profiles. I have done that step both from the RetroPie menu and on the fly from the game with a Rom loaded.

When I launch aN SNES Rom, I get the initial toast message that both controllers are successfully connected (PS3 2015 in Port 1 and XBOX 1 in port 2). Once the game starts however, I have no luck getting inputs from the controller on Port 2. If I switch the controllers, the one assigned to port 1 will always be the working controller. I can use hotkeys to get to the RetroArch UI with the port 1 controller. Once in the UI, both controllers work to controller the UI. Once I select "Resume" it goes back to only port 1 working again.

The only thing I can offer that I haven't seen from others yet is that I have had the same issues across Retropie, retrobat, and snes9x standalone installs. I also have had the issue on Lubuntu, Ubuntu, Mint, and Windows 11. I have only installed on Dell PCs. Could there be something in a Dell's BIOS that would cause something to shut off during emulation? The controller still works in all other ways and still appears as if it is receiving power and maintains a connection (solid lights on the controller rather than flashing). Just not to give inputs during any and all SNES games.

TIA

mitu

I am having an issue I have seen mentioned here many times without much of a clear answer,

Where ? I haven't seen this mentioned so frequently here. One thing that beginners are stumbling is the fact that only the P1 controller is able to run the hotkey enabled actions, but situations like P2 not working at all, that's not something that's reported.

To start, I configure both controllers in the Emulationstation UI. I have also configured both controllers in RetroArch UI and saved the profiles. I have done that step both from the RetroPie menu and on the fly from the game with a Rom loaded.

There's no need to re-configure the controllers in RetroArch if they've been configured in EmulationStation, the latter will take care of properly configuring the controllers for RetroArch.

Once the game starts however, I have no luck getting inputs from the controller on Port 2

Is this a 2 players game and you've chosen to start with 2 players ? Which game it is ? Does this happen for other systems also (PS1/NES/etc) ? Did you change the 'Device type' in the 2nd Port to something else from the RetroArch's ?