How To Fix Rocket League Controller Not Working or Recognizing in 2025

Here is how to fix Rocket League controller not working problem.

M. Mateen
Nov 15, 2023

If you find yourself facing issues with your Rocket League controller not working or being recognized, you’re not alone. Many users have reported encountering this problem, where their controllers, such as Xbox One or PS4 controllers, behave unexpectedly or fail to function within the game.

The frustration is real, especially when the controller works fine in other games but acts up specifically in Rocket League. However, there are potential solutions that might help you get back to enjoying Rocket League without controller hiccups.

In this article, we’ll explain ways to address the Rocket League controller not working issue.

Why Rocket League Not Recognizing Controller?

The issue of Rocket League controllers not detecting stems from several culprits. Firstly, the Steam Input Per-Game setting might be inadvertently enabled, causing conflicts during gameplay.

Additionally, misconfigurations in the Controller Settings menu or incomplete installation of controller drivers can contribute to the problem.

For some users, the quirk lies in corrupted Steam controller firmware, especially with certain generic controllers. Moreover, Rocket League may not always seamlessly integrate with low-entry generic controllers, necessitating extra configuration steps.

In specific cases, the game might not be configured to use Steam Input, particularly affecting Xbox One controllers. Even USB headphones, notably HyperX models, can be detected as controllers, creating an unforeseen clash.

How To Fix Rocket League Controller Not Working Issue in Steam

Apply these fixes to solve the controller’s not recognizing in Steam.

1. Disable PlayStation Configuration Support

This issue can sometimes occur, especially with PlayStation 4 controllers, if you’ve enabled PlayStation 4 Configuration Support in Steam.

Here’s how to fix it:

Open Steam.
Click on the Steam tab in the top left corner.
Choose Settings.
Select the Controller option on the left.
Click on General Controller Settings.
In the new window that opens, uncheck the boxes for PlayStation Configuration Support and Xbox Configuration Support.
Click the Back button to save your changes.
Close Steam.
Restart your computer.

2 . Change Big Picture Settings

Chances are that if you are playing Rocket League in the big picture it will force the controller to turn off. You can solve this problem by accessing Rocket League Steam settings and making sure that Steam Input Per-Game settings are forced Off.

Here’s how;

Right-click on the Steam tray icon and choose Big Picture.
Click Rocket League > Library > Rocket League > Manage Game > Controller Options (under Steam Input).
In Controller Application Options, make sure the Steam Input Per-Game Setting is Forced Off and click OK.
Now go back to the Big Picture main page and go to Settings > Controller Settings.
Uncheck all irrelevant boxes. If you are using an Xbox controller, uncheck everything except the Guide Button focusing on Steam and Xbox Configuration Support. PS4 DualShock controller users need to check PlayStation Configuration Support and uncheck Xbox Configuration Support.

Once you have configured the settings restart Steam and run to check if Rocket League is not detecting controllers.

3. Reinstall the Proper Controller’s Driver

If the Rocket League controller is not recognized in Steam, then ensure you have the proper controller’s driver installed on your PC.

Follow these steps to reinstall drivers:

Press Window + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
Within Device Manager scroll down and expand Sound, video, and game controllers. Check if the PS4 DualShock Controller is present inside.
If the PS4 controller is not appearing there then try to unplug the controller USB and plug in a different port. Windows 10 will automatically detect the controller and install the required driver.

After the controller driver is installed run the Rocket League to make sure that controllers are recognized.

4. Recover the Steam Controller Firmware

Simply recover the firmware of the controller and fix Rocket League not detecting the controller on Steam.

Here’s how to do that:

Open the Stream client and go to Settings appearing in the gear icon.
Choose Controller and click General Controller Settings.
From new windows choose Recover Steam Controller Firmware, click OK.
Follow the instructions and click the Start button to begin the recovery process.

Restart your computer and see if the issue is fixed.

5. Force Rocket League to Use Steam Input

Those who are using an XBOX one controller on Steam to play Rocket League and it’s not recognized. It’s because the game is not configured to use Steam Input.

To fix this issue tweak in-game settings so that Rocket League is forced to use input from Steam. Here’s how to do that:

Run the Rocket League in Steam and go to Options > Controls > Use Steam Input.
Select the Xbox One Controller and set it to AUTO if it’s OFF.

6. Disconnect All Other Devices

Before you start playing the game, it’s a good idea to unplug all other USB devices from your PC. Sometimes, other USB gadgets can be mistakenly identified as a controller.

This is especially common with devices like Flightsticks and HOTAS controllers. Doing this can also be helpful if your controller isn’t recognized by the game at all. So, disconnect those extra USB devices, and you should be good to go.

7. Use a wired connection

For the best experience, it’s recommended to use a wired USB connection for your controller. All the controllers we’ve tested and officially supported were done using USB connections.

Bluetooth, on the other hand, is not officially supported for Rocket League on Steam, and it might not work well with certain controller models and types. So, stick to the wired connection to ensure compatibility and reliability.