
You only need to follow these steps if you're not using the Switch Pro Controller through Steam.ġ. If you don't want to spend the $20, follow the guide below. As a bonus, this will work on multiple consoles and with tons of other controllers, too, including the Switch Joy Cons, PS4 controller, Wii remotes, and more. It'll make Windows see the controller like it would an Xbox gamepad, and supports the button/joystick inputs and motion controls (but not vibration).

The $20 8Bitdo Bluetooth adapter helps you bypass most of the finicky setup below by handling the Bluetooth connection and making Windows play nice with the controller without any hobbyist software. (Image credit: 8Bitdo) 8Bitdo adapter: Easy Bluetooth and XInput support

But the good news is that it's now natively recognized in Windows, which helps speed things up. If you aren't playing games via Steam, using a Switch Pro controller is still an option but it requires a little extra work, particularly for a Bluetooth connection. Using Steam is the really easy way to get this controller working.
