41
Latest Steam Deck update will warn you if an Xbox controller needs upgrading
(www.gamingonlinux.com)
this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2025
41 points (100.0% liked)
Gaming
4687 readers
205 users here now
The Lemmy.zip Gaming Community
For news, discussions and memes!
Community Rules
This community follows the Lemmy.zip Instance rules, with the inclusion of the following rule:
- No NSFW content
You can see Lemmy.zip's rules by going to our Code of Conduct.
What to Expect in Our Code of Conduct:
- Respectful Communication: We strive for positive, constructive dialogue and encourage all members to engage with one another in a courteous and understanding manner.
- Inclusivity: Embracing diversity is at the core of our community. We welcome members from all walks of life and expect interactions to be conducted without discrimination.
- Privacy: Your privacy is paramount. Please respect the privacy of others just as you expect yours to be treated. Personal information should never be shared without consent.
- Integrity: We believe in the integrity of speech and action. As such, honesty is expected, and deceptive practices are strictly prohibited.
- Collaboration: Whether you're here to learn, teach, or simply engage in discussion, collaboration is key. Support your fellow members and contribute positively to shared learning and growth.
If you enjoy reading legal stuff, you can check it all out at legal.lemmy.zip.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I wonder if you can do it in a VM, actually...
I tried passing the controller through to a VM, no dice. Windows would detect the controller, but the Xbox Accessories app itself that handles the updates could never detect it. After tinkering for a while on it, I just went the Win10 on spare machine route. Fast enough and worked fine.
Unfortunately I don't have a spare windows machine, and I don't think my girlfriend's work would be happy with me installing the Xbox app on her laptop.
Oh well. Maybe someone will find a way to update it on Linux
Do you have a spare machine at all? Windows install is easy, you don’t need a key for activation or anything. Just pull down the official iso from Microsoft and install Win10 Pro. Let’s you setup a local account when you select domain join machine.
Again, it’s a pain in the ass that you have to do it all but it gets the job done.
The linchpin of needing Windows is because Microsoft only lets you update the firmware on the controller two ways, either via a Xbox console itself or via the Xbox Accessories app via a Windows machine. There is no standalone client or web version to do it. It’s a longstanding “problem” for Linux or MacOS users who just want to use the damn controller via its BT connection.
Sadly, no. I mostly use the controller wired, anyway.
I did find some instructions that alleges to allow you to update the firmware in a VM: https://www.thrasos.dev/blog/xbox-controller-linux-update/
Seems plausible.
But also my next controller won't be Xbox, heh.
Just curious, did windows VM see it as a genuine Xbox controller or just a generic input device?
It’s been a few months since I worked on it but IIRC Windows VM saw it as a controller, which made it that much more confusing as to why the app wouldn’t recognize it.
I was using QEMU/KVM on my Fedora box for the VM. It’s possible it would work using a different client such as VirtualBox or the likes. I had spent enough time on it by that point so I just went the Win10 on spare laptop route to get it done as I was sick of screwing around with it.
The irony is I spent almost 20 years in IT supporting Windows and solving all kinds of unique issues that arose from unconventional business needs. Glad to be out of the MS world now.
I can't speak to xbox controllers, but I have a VM on my desktop for updating my 8bitdo controllers and de-drm'ing my kobo (formerly kindle) purchases.
For the former, the qemu gui "redirect usb device" is sufficient.