# Plex HTPC doesn't work with controllers

**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-doesnt-work-with-controllers/800567
**Category:** Plex Players
**Tags:** plex-htpc
**Created:** [July 13, 2022, 5:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-doesnt-work-with-controllers/800567 "2022-07-13T05:33:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![kjasbdoiashjhsadbfvcjhsd](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/kjasbdoiashjhsadbfvcjhsd/32/281198_2.png) [@kjasbdoiashjhsadbfvcjhsd](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kjasbdoiashjhsadbfvcjhsd)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2022, 5:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-doesnt-work-with-controllers/800567/1 "2022-07-13T05:33:29Z")

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Server Version#: 4.76.1 (Plex Pass)  
Player Version#: 1.20.2.3110-6f190192

Tested Xbox Series X, Xbox 360, Switch PRO and Dual Sense controllers on Plex HTPC and no response at all, even switched back with a clean install of Windows 10 and 11 and nothing works. Any help?  
PS. all controllers tested connected via cable to the PC.

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### Author: ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-doesnt-work-with-controllers/800567/2 "2022-07-13T17:21:32Z")

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Searched the [plex-htpc](https://forums.plex.tv/tag/plex-htpc) section for “controller” and these two threads popped up. They mention a bug & workaround WRT Xbox controllers. Basically, HTPC has to be started before attaching the controller.

> [@Plex htpc: xbox series x controller not working](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-xbox-series-x-controller-not-working/797821):
>
> [Plex HTPC.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/neKshTz3Jycx3Kdz6VEVeSDG6wP.log) (85.0 KB) Hi guys I need your help. I prepared json for controller. But it is not working. File name: xbox-controller-windows.json { “name”: “Xbox Controller”, “idmatcher”: “XInput.\*|Microsoft.\*joystick driver”, “mapping”: { // A “KEY\_BUTTON\_0”: “enter”, // B "KEY\_BUTTON\_1": { "short": "back", "long": "home" }, // X "KEY\_BUTTON\_2": "cycle\_audio", // Y "KEY\_BUTTON\_3": "cycle\_subtitle", "KEY\_BUTTON\_3": "search", // LB "KEY\_BUTTON\_4": "seek\_bac…

> [@Plex HTPC ignores controller](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-ignores-controller/761296):
>
> Server Version#: 4.63.0 Player Version#:1.38.0.2734 Hello, I have a problem with the inputmaps for Plex HTPC. The inputs of my controller are not recognized or not logged in Plex HTPC, although it works fine with Plax Media Player. Accordingly, I can also not map the buttons. The inputs should also be logged if the inputmap file is corrupted. So I don’t understand why it is not displayed. Plex Media Player log file: [PlexMediaPlayer.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/gjrZinBnkDluu91eD1fLpzImMyS.log) (77.1 KB) Plex HTPC log file: [Plex HTPC.log](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/zrocIm2zfafOrjnYI9nqgqASmh9.log) (107.8 KB) …

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### Author: ![kjasbdoiashjhsadbfvcjhsd](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/kjasbdoiashjhsadbfvcjhsd/32/281198_2.png) [@kjasbdoiashjhsadbfvcjhsd](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kjasbdoiashjhsadbfvcjhsd)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-doesnt-work-with-controllers/800567/3 "2022-07-16T02:36:34Z")

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Thanks for the reply but i heave tried that already and the result is the same… sadly… no response at all…

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### Author: ![Mitzsch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mitzsch/32/308163_2.png) [@Mitzsch](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mitzsch)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2022, 7:36am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-doesnt-work-with-controllers/800567/4 "2022-07-16T07:36:56Z")

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Plex HTPC is very picky about controllers due to an sdl2 bug… (When you can interact with the gui you will see many other things - broken playback…)  
But maybe you could try a controller to keyboard emulator?  
Although I have not tried this myself - in theory, it should work.

> **[JoyToKey - Download the Latest Official Version](https://joytokey.net/en/)**
>
> Download the latest version of JoyToKey for free! JoyToKey enables PC game controllers to emulate a mouse and the keyboard input, so that windows applications and web games can be controlled with joysticks.

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### Author: ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)
#### Post date: [October 14, 2022, 7:37am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-htpc-doesnt-work-with-controllers/800567/5 "2022-10-14T07:37:35Z")

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