Some problems that prevent an Xbox One controller from turning on may require professional repairs or require you to buy a replacement controller. However, there are several things you can try first to resolve the issue. We detail these troubleshooting steps below.
Common Reasons an Xbox One Controller Won’t Turn On
Most of the problems preventing an Xbox One controller from turning on are related to the batteries or battery contacts, the charge and play kit, firmware problems, or internal hardware faults. Some of these can be fixed at home, and others can’t. Here are the most common problems that can keep an Xbox One controller from powering up:
Batteries: The most common reason an Xbox One controller fails to turn on has to do with the batteries. If the batteries are worn out or in need of a charge, it won’t turn on. It also won’t turn on if the batteries are installed improperly.Battery contacts: The controller won’t turn on if the battery contacts are worn out or bent too much. It also won’t turn on if the batteries don’t make firm contact for any other reason.Charging cable problems: If you use a charge and play kit to charge the controller, the cable may be bad. These cables fail internally, so you can’t necessarily tell it’s bad only by looking at it.Firmware problems: A controller may fail to turn on again when a controller firmware update is interrupted.Internal faults: Sometimes, something is physically broken inside the controller that prevents it from turning on.
How to Fix an Xbox One Controller That Won’t Turn On
Here are some troubleshooting tips and solutions for a range of Xbox One controller issues:
