How to Fix Chained Together Not Detecting Controller? (7 Methods) (2025)

METHODS:

Some of the leading causes of failed controller detection include:

• Issue with the controller’s physical (USB) or wireless (Bluetooth) connection.
• Improper controller layout within the Chained Together client or within Steam.
• Chained Together’s controller input settings have not been configured properly.

There’s much more to go through, so let’s get started with the solutions!

Note: Have you verified that the controller is turned on and charged?

1. Enable the Steam PS/Xbox Controller Support

Method 1/7

There’s a chance that Steam does not recognize your PS4/5 or Xbox controller’s input, therefore none of the key binds respond while playing Chained Together. The first step would be to navigate into Steam’s “Controller” menu and ensure both the PS/Xbox controller support is set to “Enabled.”

Follow these instructions to activate your Steam’s controller support:

1. Open the Steam launcher and click the Steam logo on the upper left.
2. Select “Settings” and navigate to “Controller” from the left-bar menu.
3. Check if Steam recognizes the input of the connected controller.
4. Set the “Enable Steam Input for Xbox Controllers” slider to “On.”
5. Click the drop-down menu next to “PlayStation Controller Support.”
6. Next, set the feature to “Enabled” and exit the Steam settings panel.

2. Enable Chained Together’s Controller Steam Input

Method 2/7

All controller-supported games on Steam have custom controller settings you can use to allow or disallow the use of an external controller. You can also view the Steam input status to determine if Chained Together in particular has successfully detected your controller’s connection.

Here’s how to enable Chained Together’s Steam Input for controllers:

1. Verify that the controller is securely connected to your PC.
2. Locate Chained Together from the “Library” page on Steam.
3. Right-click on the game’s tile and navigate to “Properties.”
4. Access the “Controller” section from the menu on the left.
5. Click the drop-down menu and pick “Enable Steam Input.”

Note: Selecting “Use default settings” will activate Chained Together’s default controller percent.

3. Configure Chained Together’s Controller Layout

Method 3/7

Alert: Your controller must be detected by Steam in order to edit the controller layout.

Here’s how to configure the controller layout of Chained Together in easy steps:

• Select “Chained Together” from your Steam’s library page.
• Click the controller icon on the right, located next to “Info.”

• Then, click “Enable Steam Input” to use the built-in game layout.
• Select “Edit Layout” between “View Layout” and the cogwheel.
• Begin to configure the controller key binds for Chained Together.

4. Reset the Chained Together In-Game Settings

Method 4/7

Misconfiguring the in-game “Controls” settings of Chained Together may lead to a disruption in the controller’s pre-configured key bind layout. The next step is to restore Chained Together’s settings to defaults and determine if the controller will be recognized by the game.

Here’s how to reset the in-game settings of Chained Together in easy steps:

1. Launch Chained Together and click the wrench icon on the homepage.
2. Once in the settings, navigate to the “CONTROLS” tab from the menu.
3. Click the “RESET SETTINGS” button at the lower-right end of the menu.

Notice: All settings along with the “Controls” configuration will also be erased!

5. Inspect the Controller’s to your PC Connection

Method 5/7

You must visit the Device Manager to check if the controller is recognized by the system:

1. Open the Start menu, type “Device Manager” and then press “Enter.”
2. Scroll down and locate the “Sound, video, and game controllers” tab.
3. Click on the tile to extend the menu and view all connected devices.

Some common ways to restore the controller’s connection include:

• Ensure the controller’s cable is securely connected on both ends.
• Plug the controller into a different USB port available on your PC.
• Test with an alternative cable to connect the controller to the PC.

1. Open the “Settings” pane and navigate to “Bluetooth & Devices.”
2. Ensure the controller is registered, otherwise press “Add Device.”
3. Activate the controller’s pairing mode to show it within the menu.

• DualSense: Hold the “PlayStation” and “Share” buttons until the controller starts flashing consecutively.

• Xbox Controller: Hold down the “Xbox” button on the controller for 3 seconds, then release and press the “Pair” button until the controller starts flashing more quickly.

If the controller is inactive, we recommend connecting the device to the respective console to check whether it works or not.

Tip: Double-pressing on the controller’s tile will take you to the properties of the device.

6. Install the Latest Controller's Driver Version

Method 6/7

There’s a possibility that Steam and therefore Chained Together is not detecting the controller due to an outdated compatibility driver. As long as the controller’s profile remains registered on your system, you will be able to check for a newer drive version if your PC is connected to the internet.

Here’s a thorough guide on how to update the controller’s drivers:

• Open the Device Manager through the start menu on your computer.
• Next, navigate to “Bluetooth” or “Sound, video and game controllers.”
• Double-press on the controller’s tile to open up the properties menu.

• Within the controller’s properties, navigate to the “Driver” menu above.
• Then, click “Update Driver” and select “Search automatically for drivers.”
• Follow the instructions to apply the latest drivers for the PC controller.

Note: If the controller is already updated, you will receive a “The best drivers for your device are already installed” message.

7. Download and Install DS4Windows on the PC

Method 7/7

If the issue persists, there could be an issue with the button and controller layout by the looks of it. This is where DS4Windows comes into play.

This lightweight software automatically re-binds all of your PS DualShock or DualSense controller’s buttons and makes them compatible with any Windows game, including Chained Together.

Follow these instructions to set up DS4Windows on your PC:

• Navigate to the official website of DS4Windows on your PC’s browser.
• Click the “Download” button at the top-right end of the site’s homepage.
• Then click on the blue “Download” button to acquire the software’s zip.
• Run the “DS4Windows.exe” from the compressed file you’ve downloaded.

• Optional: Download and install the required .NET compatibility application.
• Optional: Download and install the ViGEm Bus Driver emulation framework.
• Relaunch DS4Windows’s executable file and select “DualSense” at the top.
• Wait until the application launches and recognizes the connected PS controller.

Now you know why is Chained Together not detecting controller!

To efficiently solve the issue, allow the game to use Steam Input, manually re-bind the controller layout, and update the controller’s drivers. If the issue persists, inspect the controller’s wired or Bluetooth connection to the PC and consider installing a controller emulator such as DS4Windows.