Connecting the Xbox 360 gamepad to the Xiaomi phone: all ways and life hacks

The Xbox 360 controller is still one of the most popular gamepads for mobile gaming, despite its respectable age. Xiaomi smartphone owners often face problems when trying to connect it to a phone — Bluetooth does not find the device, the buttons are not working correctly, then there are input delays. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of connecting (including wired through the phone). OTG and wireless adapter, as well as solve typical errors that interfere with stable operation.

It is important to understand that the original Xbox gamepad 360 It doesn't support native Bluetooth connectivity -- you need a special adapter or a wired adapter -- but even with these limitations, you can make it work on the Redmi Note. 12 Pro+, Poco X5 Pro or any other Xiaomi smartphone under control MIUI 14/15. We tested all methods on current firmware and collected only working solutions.

If you want to play Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact or console emulators with a convenient controller, this is the guide for you. It doesn’t matter whether you use the original Microsoft gamepad or the Chinese replica: we covered all the nuances.

1. Which Xbox 360 gamepads are compatible with Xiaomi smartphones?

Not all Xbox 360 controllers work equally well with phones, and here are the key differences that affect compatibility:

• 🎮 Original wired gamepad - connects through OTG-It's the most reliable option, but it limits the freedom of movement.
• 📶 Original wireless gamepad – requires a Bluetooth adapter for Xbox 360 (official or third-party) not directly connected to the phone!
• 🛠️ Replicas and Chinese copies – some models (such as ShanWan or EasySMX) have a built-in Bluetooth module and can connect as regular gamepads.
• 🔄 Gamepads with modified firmware, such as those that are flashed under XInput or DInput, often require manual configuration in applications like Octopus.

Before you buy an adapter or cable, check your gamepad model. Microsoft's original devices have a serial number on the sticker under the battery compartment. If it says Model 1537 or Model 1466, it's a wireless version, and you'll need an adapter. Wired versions are usually labeled as Model 1464.

Tip: If you plan to play modern mobile games (for example, the game is not a game, PUBG Mobile or Diablo Immortal, it is better to choose a replica with Bluetooth 4.0 support+ — So you'll avoid input delays. Original gamepads, even with adapters, can lag because of the outdated connection protocol.

2. Method 1: Connecting a wired gamepad through OTG

This is the easiest and most reliable method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones with support USB OTG (including Redmi 10C, Poco F4, Xiaomi 13T You'll need to do it:

• 🔌 OTG-cable (Micro-USB or USB-C depending on the phone connector).
• 🎮 Xbox 360 Wireless Gamepad (or Wireless Adapter).
• 📱 Phone with function enabled USB OTG (checked in the settings → Connections → Additionally).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect. OTG-The cable to the phone, and the gamepad to the cable, and the original controller will light up the center button of the Xbox.
2. The phone will be notified "Connected". USB-Click on it and select "Use as a gamepad" (or "Enable". USB-"Input" depending on the version MIUI).
3. Run a game that supports gamepads (such as Asphalt 9 or Minecraft).

Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A POCO M3) function OTG It can be disabled by default. To activate it, go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and click on the version line several times until the message "You're a developer!" appears. → Additionally. → For developers and include "USB OTG".

If the gamepad is not defined, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the cable (sometimes helps to move the connector).
• 📱 Reboot your phone with a connected gamepad.
• 🎮 Check the gamepad on the PC – if it does not work there, the problem is in the controller itself.

Method 2: Wireless connection via Bluetooth adapter

The original Xbox 360 wireless gamepads don't know how to connect to a phone directly, they need an intermediary.

1. The official Xbox Wireless Gaming Receiver (Model 1469) is stable, but expensive and difficult to find on sale.
2. Third-party Bluetooth adapters (e.g, 8BitDo Wireless Adapter 2 or Mayflash Magic-NS – Supports multiple gamepads at the same time.

We recommend 8BitDo Wireless Adapter 2 is compatible with the MIUI, It's low latency, and it supports firmware over a PC. Here's how to configure it:

1. Connect the adapter to the phone via OTG or insert USB-port (if you use the hub).
2. Press the sync button on the adapter (usually a small button on the side).
3. On the gamepad, press the Sync button (near the headphone jack) – the central button of the Xbox will start to rotate.
4. Wait until the indicators on the adapter and gamepad stop flashing (usually takes a lot of time). 5-10 seconds).

Important: Some adapters (such as Mayflash Magic-NS) require switching to XInput mode to work properly with the Xbox 360.

1. Hold the Mode button on the adapter for 3 seconds until the indicator is blue (XInput mode).
2. Reconnect the gamepad.

Comparison of popular adapters for Xbox 360:

Critical information: Adapters on the chip Broadcom BCM20730 (For example, cheap Chinese models without a brand often do not work with the brand. MIUI Check the reviews for compatibility with Xiaomi smartphones before buying.

Method 3: Connecting Xbox 360 replicas with Bluetooth

If you have a Chinese copy of the gamepad (for example, ShanWan) SW-910 or EasySMX ESM-9100), It probably already has a built-in Bluetooth module, and these controllers connect to the phone like normal wireless devices:

1. Hold the Home (or Sync) button on the gamepad 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts to flash quickly.
2. On your phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and turn on device search.
3. In the list, find the gamepad (usually called the Game Controller or Xbox 360) and connect.
4. If necessary PIN-Enter 0000 or 1234.

Attention: Many replicas use non-standard Bluetooth profiles, which can cause buttons to work incorrectly. LT/RT They may not work:

• 🎮 Reflashing the gamepad (if the manufacturer provides tools).
• 📱 Using input emulator applications (e.g. Octopus or GameSir World).
• 🔧 Manual matching of buttons in game settings.

Example of settings in Octopus:

1. Install Octopus from Google Play.
2. Connect the gamepad to Bluetooth.
3. Start the game via Octopus (not directly!).
4. In the app menu, select a profile for your game (for example, "CODM Xbox 360").
5. Compare the buttons according to the prompts on the screen.

💡

If the game does not have a gamepad vibration, check the battery saving settings in the game. MIUI. Go to Settings. → Battery → Performance mode and add the game to exceptions.

5. Solving typical connection problems

Even after successfully connecting the gamepad, errors can occur, and here are the most common ways to correct them:

Diagnostic tip: If the gamepad is unstable, check it on a PC using the utility X360ce. It will show you if the device is correctly defined and which buttons are not working: http://www.x360ce.com/.

For owners of Xiaomi on MIUI 14/15 There's another common problem: the system can block the background of gamepad applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the application that connects the gamepad (for example, Octopus).
3. Select "Battery" and set "No Limits".
4. Turn on "Autostart" and "Background Activity."

💡

If the gamepad is disconnected through 5-10 minutes of inactivity, disable the function "Battery Saving" for Bluetooth in the settings MIUI.

6.Setting up the gamepad in popular games on Xiaomi

Even after successfully connecting the controller, it must be configured correctly in the game itself.

Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM)

The game officially supports gamepads, but requires manual adjustment:

1. Connect the gamepad and launch it. CODM.
2. Go to Settings. → Management → Gamepad setting.
3. Select the “Xbox” scheme (or “Tunestable” if the buttons are not working properly).
4. Match the buttons according to the prompts. Pay special attention to the triggers. LT/RT — they are often confused with LB/RB.

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact doesn’t have native gamepad support, but it can be bypassed:

1. Install Octopus or GameSir World.
2. In the app, select the profile "Genshin Impact".
3. Connect the gamepad and launch the game via Octopus.
4. In the control settings, select "Gamepad" and calibrate the sticks.

Note: In Genshin Impact, when using a gamepad through input emulators (for example, Octopus), an anticheat can be triggered.

• 🎮 Do not use autopresses or macros.
• 📱 Play only manually without automation.
• 🔄 Regularly update your profile in Octopus (developers will adapt them to game changes).

PUBG Mobile / Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)

V PUBG Mobile gamepad is supported officially, but with restrictions:

• 🎯 Shooting and shooting only work in the mode "TPP" (third-person).
• 🚫 In mode "FPP" (First-person playback may not work.
• 🔧 The sensitivity of the sticks is adjusted separately in the Settings → Management → gamepad.

If the gamepad is defined as an "Unknown device", try:

1. Reconnect the controller.
2. Reset the control settings in the game (Settings) → Management → Reset).
3. Update the game to the latest version.

7.Alternative methods: emulators and cloud games

If you can’t connect the gamepad directly, there are workarounds:

🎮 Consoles emulators (PPSSPP, Dolphin, RetroArch)

Most emulators (e.g., emulators, PPSSPP for PSP or Dolphin for GameCube, have built-in support for gamepads. To customize the Xbox 360:

1. Connect the gamepad in any of the ways described above.
2. Launch the emulator and go to Settings → Management.
3. Select "Gamepad Setting" and match the buttons.
4. RetroArch may require manual configuration file creation (.cfg).

Example configuration for RetroArch (save as xbox360.cfg):

input_device = "Xbox 360 Controller"


input_driver = "udev"




input_b_btn = "1"




input_y_btn = "3"




input_select_btn = "6"




input_start_btn = "7"




input_up_axis = "-1"




input_down_axis = "+1"




input_left_axis = "-0"




input_right_axis = "+0"

☁️ Cloud Gaming (Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce) NOW)

Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW play AAA-projects on a gamepad phone:

1. Connect the gamepad to the phone (preferably wired way to minimize lags).
2. Install Xbox Game Pass or GeForce NOW.
3. In the application settings, select "Use the gamepad".
4. Start the game – the controller must be determined automatically.

Attention: In GeForce NOW Some games (such as Cyberpunk 2077) require additional button tuning:

• 🔄 Switch the input mode in GeForce settings NOW (from XInput to DInput or vice versa).
• 📱 Use the browser version of the service instead of the application.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)