Disconnect Xbox Controller from PC in 1 Easy Step

Having an Xbox One controller around the house is always useful. Unlike PlayStation 4 controllers, you can connect the Xbox One controllers to the PC so that you can take your gaming experience to the next level. Since Microsoft is the same company that runs Windows and Xbox, it should come as no surprise that connecting and disconnecting an Xbox One controller from PC is seamless.

An Xbox One controller can be disconnected from a PC just by pressing the power button for 5+ seconds. The power button is located in the center-top area of the controller and it looks like the Xbox logo. In addition, the button glows white and it will send a small vibration once the controller is shut down. Turning the Xbox One controller back on and connecting it to the PC is as simple as pressing the button for a couple of seconds until it turns on. It’s important to mention that keeping the power button pressed for more than 15 seconds will result in a hard reboot.

There are more ways to disconnect the Xbox One controller from the PC and today I will present everything there is to know about it.

How to Disconnect Xbox One Controller from PC

The Xbox One controller is designed to work seamlessly with PCs and after users synchronize them, disconnecting and connecting the two is as simple as pressing a single button. If you want to disconnect the controller from your PC or laptop, you can do this by pressing and holding the power button for 5 to 6 seconds. The controller will shut down and in result, it will be automatically disconnected from the PC.

What’s cool about the Xbox One controller is that reconnecting it to the PC is just as simple as disconnecting it. All you have to do is press the button for a couple of seconds and the controller will turn on and automatically connect. As previously mentioned, holding and pressing the power button for more than 15 seconds will perform a hard reboot. Users need to be careful because this means that the controller will no longer be paired with the PC.

Xbox controllers can be a pain to deal with, especially when they start randomly disconnecting.  With that said, you might want to check out this article I wrote where I highlight the most common reasons Xbox controllers keep disconnecting and how to fix them.

How Do I Unpair the Xbox Controller from PC?

While shutting off the controller will disconnect it from PC, this will not unpair it. For one reason or another, some users might be required to unpair their Xbox controller from PC. Luckily, this is super simple and everyone can do it by following the steps below:

• Plug a USB cable into the controller;
• The other end in the PC;
• Press and hold the sync button at the top of the controller for 3-5 seconds;
• Unplug the USB plug from the controller;
• The Xbox controller is now unpaired.

How Do I Reset My Xbox Controller?

The general rule of thumb when dealing with gadgets is that whenever you have issues or problems, a full reset will fix it. Xbox controllers are not an exception to that rule and resetting them will fix lots of issues, including controller input lag.

• Press and hold the power button for 15-18 seconds;
• The controller will now perform a hard reboot;
• Pair the controller to the Xbox or PC again and you are good to go.