How to connect an Xbox controller to iPhone for gaming and more

Connecting an Xbox controller to your iPhone is a great way to enhance the experience with your games. To connect an Xbox controller to your iPhone and play with it, you need to have at least iOS 13. You can connect almost any Xbox controller, whether it’s from Xbox One or Xbox Series X / S. Make sure your Xbox controller has Bluetooth and is in pairing mode before trying to connect it.

Thanks to some recent updates, you can now connect almost any popular video game controller to your iPhone. This includes the Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S controllers, which are considered to be some of the best on the market. While not all games support the use of controllers, many of the most popular games on the App Store do, including nearly all Apple Arcade games.

To connect an Xbox controller to your iPhone, you need to have at least iOS 13 on your device. If you still have iOS 12 or earlier, you will need to update your iPhone. Pairing the Xbox One controller with your iPhone is pretty straightforward. Here’s how to do it.

Does your Xbox controller have Bluetooth?

Your iPhone connects to game controllers using the Bluetooth. This means that any connected controller must also have Bluetooth. Fortunately, almost all official Xbox controllers have Bluetooth. This includes the controllers that ship with the Xbox One S, Xbox One X, and Xbox Series X / S.

So if you’ve bought the controller in the past five years, you probably don’t need to worry. If you’re still using the controllers that came with the original Xbox One, however, you may need to upgrade.

There is an easy way to know if your Xbox One controller has Bluetooth. A Bluetooth compatible Xbox One controller has plastic around the Xbox button that matches the color of the rest of the controller. Non-Bluetooth controllers on the other hand have plastic that matches the color of the bumper buttons.

How to connect an Xbox controller to your iPhone

Now, if you have an Xbox controller with Bluetooth:

1. Press and hold the Xbox logo button, located at the top center of the controller, until it starts blinking. If it’s not flashing and instead glows steadily, it’s already paired with a nearby Xbox – in this case, press and hold the small button next to the charging port until the Xbox logo flashes.
2. Grab your iPhone and open the Settings app, then tap Bluetooth.
3. Once you are in the Bluetooth menu, you should see a device called “Xbox Wireless Controller” or something similar. Tap it and your iPhone will ask if you want to pair the device.
4. To select Associate.
5. Next, if you’re done using the controller and want to disconnect it, go to the Bluetooth menu again, tap on the little icon i next to the device name, then tap Disconnect.