How to Connect a Controller to an Android Phone or Tablet

Your Android smartphone or tablet can be used with both wired and wireless game controllers. USB controllers, as well as wireless Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers, are all compatible with Android. 

You can use a game controller to play on your Android smartphone or tablet by following these instructions.

• How to Connect a Wired USB Controller to Android
• Connect a Standard Bluetooth Controller to Android
• Connect an Xbox One Controller to Android
• Connect a PS5 or PS4 Controller to Android

How to Connect a Wired USB Controller to Android

To play games on Android with a USB controller, you'll need a USB OTG cable. In order to make it work with your smartphone or tablet, this gadget changes a standard USB connector.

The OTG-USB cable, on the other hand, lets you use Android with a wide range of USB devices and drives, including game controllers! This is covered in further depth in our USB-OTG guide.

To begin, you'll need to purchase a USB OTG cable from a retailer. These are on sale at Amazon for a reduced price. Depending on your phone model, either a USB-C or a micro-USB port is appropriate.

Make sure the USB OTG adapter is plugged into your Android phone before connecting the USB game controller to the other end. After that, you can start playing your favorite game. You should be able to play games that accept controllers if your device is recognized.

Connect a Standard Bluetooth Controller to Android

Make sure Bluetooth devices can find your phone. In Settings > Connected devices > Connection options > Bluetooth, Bluetooth must be enabled.

To make your controller discoverable, select Pair new device from the same menu, then follow the on-screen instructions. Make sure to check the guidebook if you don't see a Bluetooth button.

It's as simple as going to Settings > Connected devices and selecting "Pair New Device."

You should be able to connect to the controller by tapping its name on your smartphone. Similarly to USB, games that support controllers will recognize them automatically when they are launched. 

Connect an Xbox One Controller to Android

As with Microsoft's Xbox One controller, a future model controller does not require any additional hardware to connect to a computer running Windows. On a basic Android phone or tablet, Bluetooth is enough to connect the controller to your phone or tablet.

As a pre-requisite, make sure the Xbox One is disconnected and the controller is fully charged. Without it, the controller will remain linked to the console, making it impossible to pair it with an Android smartphone later on down the road."

Launch Android in discoverable mode by following the instructions in the preceding section. Hold down the Sync button on your Xbox One controller for a few seconds to begin. Begin pairing by selecting your phone's controller when it is detected.

Connect a PS5 or PS4 Controller to Android

Using a PlayStation 4 or 5 controller to play Android games is an easy process thanks to Sony's use of Bluetooth. Because both consoles are Bluetooth-enabled, the instructions are the same for both.

Press the PlayStation and Share buttons on your controller at the same time to make your Android smartphone discoverable. A Wireless Controller entry should display on your Android device when the controller's light blinks.

To complete the contest, select this option. The final step is to confirm the connection using your phone or tablet. Connecting the PlayStation controller successfully is indicated by the presence of a solid light on the controller.