r/Steam • u/NorthernArctic • 20d ago
PSA Here's the solution to Steam saying two controllers are connected when only one is
Hi there! It seems like a lot of people have started encountering an issue where Steam is recognizing there being two controllers connected when in reality only one is, particularly with Xbox controllers.
I was having the same issue myself and want to share what helped fix it for anyone else that needs it.
The fix was pretty simple: if you navigate to the top left of your Steam window and click on the Steam logo, then navigate to Settings > Interface > Client Beta Participation and change your selection from "No update chosen" to "Steam Beta Update."
After this, Steam will restart, and the issue will be gone.
Not too sure what is causing this issue but I've seen this solution work for three separate people including myself.
Here's a link to the Steam website in case you need help finding the option: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/276C-85A0-C531-AFA3
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u/larrata20 15d ago
Preface: I have a cable-connected, bluetooth-disconnected, Series X controller. I also have Xbox accessories app installed and updated the controller through it. I mention the latter as there is another comment in here (under u/Dr_DnD) stating that removing the Xbox accesories app helped.
My solution: Under Steam settings - Controller - Advanced setting - Xbox Extended Feature support Driver Install.
Installing and restarting the computer (restart needed for the installation) caused the double controller to go away. Additionally the controller that it did detect was the correct model!
I stress tested it a little: restarting steam, or reconnecting the controller keeps the singular detection.
May it help any lucky person!
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u/NorthernArctic 15d ago edited 1d ago
Thanks for sharing - to anyone who is still facing this issue later on, I would recommend trying this if updating to Steam Beta doesn't work. My solution is just a temporary one that addresses a bug in a particular update, this is likely the proper solution long-term even after this update. I would pin this if I could!
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u/cinnamoment 14d ago
This solution worked better for me.
The Beta fix caused my Series X Controller to be recognized as a 'Xbox One Controller' and presented an issue where my controller vibration in-game was making weird noises and the vibration was feeling off and unnatural in my hands.
Side note: 'Xbox Accessories' app isn't installed on my PC.
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u/Akku2403 11d ago
A big THANK YOU to you.
I was getting frustrated to no end with this issue & your solution fixed it.
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u/Sauce-life 2d ago
Thank you so much, I was going crazy spent 30 minutes before seeing your reply
Edit- My first ever Award to you
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u/Secret_Beekeeper 17d ago
Good god, I was going INSANE! I spent so long screwing with my moonlight settings, narrowing things down, finally seeing that steam had two Xbox controllers recognized connected to my one controller streaming through my legion go. Yet the windows settings only showed one controller connected! I didn't know what was happening! The INSTANT I saw your suggestion to switch to beta steam I knew it was going to work. So obvious now that it was clearly a bugged steam version!
I was about to really lose my mind. Thank you SO much. Saved my whole night!
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u/yakcm88 15d ago
You are such a real one. It is almost 1 AM, and I've been having an aneurism for the past hour and a half over this. I went from thinking it was the dongle, which I ended up breaking out of frustration, I ordered a new one on ebay which I immediately cancelled. Three separate times. In the space of two days. thought maybe the ports were bad or the cord was loose. I eventually got worried that my computer itself was starting to fail, but I'm so happy someone else found a solution.
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u/lovegettingheadnsfw 20d ago
Yeah this fixes the issue. A shame cause one of the two controllers it showed was my actual controller model, a wolverine v2 chroma, and the other showed a regular Xbox series controller. Now it only shows the regular series controller. I wish it could keep the correct model name instead.
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u/Embarrassed_Map_1289 20d ago
You should be able to rename your controllers in your controller settings.
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u/TH1AG0k 19d ago
Mano só uma duvida esse problema parece ser recente pq eu não tinha esse problema
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u/NorthernArctic 19d ago
Sim, esse é um problema que só começou depois da última atualização do Steam, na terça-feira passada. Eu jogo há anos e também nunca tinha tido esse problema antes. Desculpe pelo português ruim; estou usando o Google Tradutor
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u/Biedronczak 3d ago
For me both methods didn't work. Also installing driver disabled my controller tottaly
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u/Mayk87 16d ago
Olá, isso está acontecendo comigo também. Uso Steam a anos e nunca havia ocorrido isso. Acho que começou tem uns 4 ou 5 dias atrás, sempre que ligo meu controle do xbox séries x no pc, pode ser via bluetooth ou cabo usb, a steam duplica ele como se tivesse conectado 2 controles de uma vez.
OBS: não uso nenhum software que possa estar controlando ou emulando o controle. Windows formatado recentemente não instalei absolutamente nada, só drivers necessários e a steam.
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u/ZeroMayCry 14d ago
Absolute legend! I was pulling my hair out thinking this was a problem with a specific game or with my controller itself but this fixed everything. Thank you so much
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u/SteelFinn 326 13d ago
Yep this also worked for me. I was going INSANE because my controller was already weirdly disconnecting so i thought it was cable related. thanks for this!
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u/AnnoyingKickboxer 12d ago
It worked for me , this is so dumbe steam hasn't fixed this issue , I ran into this problem October 2cnd , a whole 8 days later from the initial reports of this problem
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u/AtomicDog602 9d ago
That was the day it happened to me also. I quickly figured out it was a double controller issue, but couldn't figure out how to fix it.
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u/Crispyppop 10d ago
Thank you for the post! I had created custom controller buttons for a game but because of the 2nd controller issue, my player was doing 2 different inputs with each button I hit. I finally realized the 2nd controller and had to reconfigure both to match. Now this post let me go back to one controller recognized.
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u/shinato91 10d ago
Woah is this a recent thing? I tought it was my crappy gamesir controller
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u/NorthernArctic 10d ago
Yes there was an update to Steam recently that broke the way controllers are recognized for some reason
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u/XXmanimalXX 20d ago
Dang. Not working for mine.
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u/FlyingSimba22 20d ago
Just wanna add that I changed my choice back to not participating in the beta and the issue was still resolved.
While typing this comment I did a little test. The issue came back after fully exiting Steam. If you want the fix to stick, you HAVE to remain in Steam Beta Update.
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u/NeonPebble 19d ago
This fixed steam from seeing 2 xbox controllers being connected when it was just 1. Thank you!
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u/Chrisafguy 11d ago
Unfortunately this isn't working for me. I'm using a Gamesir G7 Pro and the first time I connect my controller it's fine, but if I let it go to sleep and then turn it back on, it detects it twice.
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u/NorthernArctic 10d ago
Sorry to hear that - I would take a look at the comment near the top from u/larrata20 and try their advice to see if that helps
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u/Vegetable-Witness655 9d ago
I'm glad I'm not the only one who was dealing with this. I thought there was something wrong with my Hidhide or DS4Windows as I typically use my PS4 controller. Steam was reading it as "xbox 360 controller" twice. Tried my Cyclone 2 and that one registers as "xbox 360 controller" and "x-input controller" so that on is picking up twice but as 2 separate inputs.
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u/realDaveBowman 9d ago
This worked for me too, thank you! Some games were working fine but I wasn't able to play Halo Master Chief Collection and wanted to get some Halo in!
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u/rhoxthebeast 9d ago
i got this issue after disabling the extended feature driver trying to determine why my controller wasnt being sent through my remote play instance to my steam machine. sadly, with the extended driver, the input doesnt get sent through remote play, and without it my controller pops up as two controllers through steam. i haven't noticed any double inputs yet, but it is odd seeing two connect when its just one lol
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u/DrPrimaSort 8d ago
Thanks, worked like a charm. Got a new controller and was so hyped to try it, but that double click scared me. Stuff you mentioned fixed it all, thanks!
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u/Emotional_Rent4815 8d ago
Cara vc foi monstro nessa! Tava desanimado com meu controle ja faz uma semana, obrigado por compartilhar a solução.
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u/Pokesmot1 5d ago
Thanks !,was having this issue and found this post. No more double controller input.
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u/Friendly_Look_8019 5d ago
enabling steam beta update makes my steam not able to open.
is there a way i can fix this
pls help i just want my controller to be identified as one
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u/RyuzakiLaw1 5d ago
Thanks for the help. Fixed the issue which was causing certain games to not read my controller past the main menu
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u/Unoriginal24578 4d ago
holy shit you just saved me. i thought i was gonna have to buy a new controller. thank you, kind redditor. may your pillows forever be cold.
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u/Ashenshards 3d ago
That was driving me crazy too but it's also working I have an 8-bit do ultimate 2c.
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u/Ashenshards 2d ago
Also had to go and do this on my son's computer today. Must be one heck of a bug they don't have it fixed by now in the official Channel. That or they don't know about it.
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u/DullPhotograph9532 2d ago
MUCHAS GRACIAS 😭🙏 quería jugar skull grils con mi amigo y me la pasaba controlando todos los personajes
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u/SlitheringInAgony 20d ago
This is literally why I had to refund Cuphead. I had double inputs and couldn't play without it inviting player 2. Thank you!
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u/Roccondil-s 19d ago
Your “solution” just puts folks on the experimental Beta branch of the Steam Client release, which may or may not be acceptable for everyone. This also just means that the next general-release client update will fix the bug, likely to come in the next couple weeks.
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u/NorthernArctic 19d ago
I'm not sure what you mean by "acceptable for everyone," but I'm clear in my statement that I don't fully understand the source of the issue nor the reason the solution works. Additionally, this is a Reddit post, not an operating manual - people are opting in on their own volition. No one is obligated to fix it this way, instead, this post is only serving as a way to help people play the video games they want to play without having to wait weeks for the issue to be resolved.
Anyone who chooses to do it this way can unenroll from Steam Beta once the issue is resolved in the next general client update as well, it's not like this is a permanent opt-in that can't be backtracked.
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u/Roccondil-s 18d ago
Valve has two release channels for Steam:
- a Stable Release channel where virtually all major bugs have been removed. This channel updates far less often, roughly monthly for minor fixes and quarterly for larger overhauls. This is the default channel users are in when they install Steam for the first time.
- a Beta Release channel where new features and fixes are first introduced to real-world conditions and testing. This channel updates weekly if not daily. It can have instabilities and bugs due to the early versions of the underlying and back-end code being introduced into the software. However these inconveniences are offset by the benefit of seeing upcoming features and fixes earlier than Stable Release channel users.
What your “solution” does is move users into an environment that they may not want to be in, because it may cause them to experience more bugs than if they just stayed on the Stable Release. And the fact that the Beta channel does not have this particular bug is indicative that the fix is in the pipeline for Stable.
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u/C0rn3j 18d ago
"You may have issues on the other branch" is not exactly a good argument when people have issues on the current branch.
The advice is for people who have issues on the stable branch.
It's a solution for the presented issue.
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u/Roccondil-s 18d ago
No, the Beta branch is not meant to be a “solve your issues” branch. It’s a “you are a guinea pig” branch.
In this ONE case it solves an issue. It may cause more issues later.
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u/C0rn3j 18d ago
"It's a solution for the presented issue."
No [...]. In this ONE case it solves an issue
... you disagreed with me, only to rephrase and repeat back to me exactly what I said.
It may cause more issues later.
It may also not cause issues later.
I may also get hit by a truck the moment I walk out of the door.
The important bit is it does actually solve the one issue OP claims to solve.
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u/BiggTheCat 1d ago
Just wanted to say thank you so much. I don't remember when it started but my lenovo legion go started showing steam had two controllers connected, even though it was it one. Following your steps fixed it completely.
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u/Xitaull_Ciphivisk 20d ago
Thank you! The phantom second controller was causing some double inputs, particularly with my d-pad. Going through menus was suddenly a real pain, and no other fixes that I could find were working. This fixed it instantly!