No Man’s Sky Controller/Gamepad Not Working on PC: How to FIX

No Man’s Sky Controller/Gamepad Not Working on PC: “No Man’s Sky, a survival game centered around exploration, was developed and published by Hello Games in August 2016. It is available on platforms such as PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.

This action-adventure survival title features four distinct modes: exploration, survival, combat, and trading. Following a recent update, some players have reported issues, including problems with the No Man’s Sky controller or gamepad not functioning properly. If you’re experiencing this problem, this guide will help you troubleshoot the issue.

Many games in this genre are designed to be played with a gamepad or controller, even on PC. Additionally, many players prefer the tactile experience of using a controller, especially in survival games.

However, there may be instances where a connected controller fails to work on your PC, which can be quite frustrating. This doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem with the controller or the USB port; instead, it often points to a conflict within the system.”

No Man’s Sky: Fix Controller Not Recognizing or Detecting on PC

Occasionally, you may find that your Xbox, PS5, or other controllers are recognized by your computer, yet they fail to register button presses or may even register incorrect inputs.

Fortunately, we have compiled several potential solutions that could assist you in resolving this issue. We encourage you to explore these methods systematically until the problem is rectified. Let’s delve into the solutions without delay.

1. Reboot the PC

To resolve various temporary glitches or cache data problems, it’s advisable to restart your computer after exiting both the game and Steam. A standard reboot of your system can often remedy these issues, so it’s worth a try.

2. Reconnect your Controller/Joystick

To resolve the issue, please follow these steps: First, exit the No Man’s Sky game and close the Steam application. Next, power off your controller or gamepad.

Afterward, turn the controller or gamepad back on and reconnect it to your computer. Finally, restart the No Man’s Sky game on your PC to see if the problem persists.

3. Unplug Mouse/Keyboard or Other Peripherals

It’s advisable to disconnect all external peripherals from your computer, including the keyboard, mouse, printer, USB drives, and any other devices.

Afterward, reconnect only the essential USB devices to the PC to determine if the issue persists. If the problem is resolved, it may indicate a malfunction with one of the USB devices or a temporary glitch in your computer’s system.

4. Press Alt+Enter keys

In the event that your controller becomes disconnected or is no longer recognized during gameplay, try pressing the Alt+Enter keys on your keyboard to exit the game screen. After doing this, re-entering the game screen may resolve the issue.

5. Launch Steam in Big Picture Mode

  • Launch the Steam application on your computer and navigate to the top-left corner to select the “View” option.
  • From there, activate Big Picture Mode; if you receive a prompt, simply click “Continue.”
  • Once in Big Picture Mode, head to your Library and locate the “Games” category under the Browse section.
  • Find and select No Man’s Sky. Afterward, exit Big Picture Mode and recheck to see if the issue persists.

6. Switch Screen Refresh Rate to 60Hz

To optimize your monitor’s performance, it’s advisable to adjust the screen refresh rate to 60Hz, which is typically the standard setting. Higher refresh rates can sometimes lead to various display issues. Here’s how you can make this adjustment:

  • 1. Press the Windows key + I to access the Settings menu.
  • 2. Navigate to the System section and select Display.
  • 3. Scroll down the right-hand side and click on Advanced display settings.
  • 4. Here, you will be able to easily find and select the 60Hz refresh rate. If your monitor is already configured to 60Hz, there’s no need for any changes.

7. Launch the Game in Windowed Mode using the Config file

Some players experiencing issues with their gamepad or controller while playing No Man’s Sky on PC may find a solution by adjusting the game’s settings. It is advisable to run No Man’s Sky in Windowed Mode by editing the configuration file.

To do this, follow these steps:

  • 1. Open File Explorer or This PC and navigate to the Documents folder.
  • 2. Locate the No Man’s Sky folder and right-click on the Config.ini file.
  • 3. Select “Open With” and choose Notepad to access the file for editing.
  • 4. Within the file, look for the line that specifies [window] mode. If it is set to “no,” change it to “yes.” If it is already set to “yes,” you can leave it as is.
  • 5. Remember to save your changes by pressing Ctrl+S.
  • 6. Close the Notepad file and check if the issue persists.

By following these steps, you may resolve any controller-related problems in the game.

8. Enable Steam Overlay

If you continue to experience problems with your controller, we suggest activating the Steam overlay feature for No Man’s Sky. Here’s how to do it:

  • 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
  • 2. Locate No Man’s Sky in your game list, right-click on it, and choose Properties.
  • 3. In the Properties window, click on the General tab, and then tick the box that says “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game.”

This should help resolve your controller issues.

9. Configure the Steam General Controller Settings

  • To begin, open the Steam client on your computer.
  • Next, navigate to the top-left corner of the window and select ‘Steam,’ then proceed to click on ‘Settings.’
  • From there, head over to the ‘Controller‘ section and select ‘General Controller Settings.’
  • Depending on the type of controller you are using, you have the option to enable either PlayStation Configuration Support, Xbox Configuration Support, or Generic Gamepad Configuration Support.
  • Once you have made your selections, click ‘OK‘ to apply the changes.

Finally, restart the Steam client and attempt to launch No Man’s Sky once more.

10. Select High Performance in Graphics Settings

To adjust your graphics settings for No Man’s Sky, start by accessing the Start menu and searching for “Graphics Settings.” Once you open this menu, ensure that the Desktop app option is selected, then click on the “Browse” button.

This action will open a File Explorer window. Navigate to your Steam installation directory, typically found in the following path: Steamapps > Common > No Man’s Sky. In this folder, locate and select the WWE2K22.exe application.

After selecting the application, click on “Add” to include it in your graphics settings list. Next, find No Man’s Sky in the list and click on the “Options” button next to it. From the dropdown, choose “High Performance” to optimize the game’s graphics settings.

Finally, make sure to click “Save” to apply your changes. You can now attempt to launch the game again to see if the issue has been resolved.

11. Uncheck Controller in Steam Controller Settings

In certain instances, disabling the controller options in the Steam Controller Settings can resolve issues related to gamepad detection or functionality.

To begin, open the Steam client on your computer. Next, navigate to the top-left corner and select “Steam,” then proceed to click on “Settings.”

From there, head to the “Controller” section and select “General Controller Settings.” Here, ensure that all options for controller configuration support are unchecked. Finally, click “OK” to apply and save your changes.

12. Disable/Enable Steam Input

To begin, open the Steam client and navigate to your Library. Locate No Man’s Sky in your game list, right-click on it, and choose Properties.

Next, head to the Controller section and find the drop-down menu labeled ‘Use default settings.’ From this menu, select ‘Disable Steam Input’ and attempt to launch No Man’s Sky once more.

If the issue persists, repeat the steps but this time opt for ‘Enable Steam Input’ from the drop-down menu before trying to start the game again.

13. Use Steam Input Per Game Settings as Forced On or Forced Off

To begin, launch the Steam application on your computer. Navigate to the top-left corner and select the “View” option from the menu. From there, opt for “Big Picture Mode,” and if you receive a prompt, simply click on “Continue.”

Next, head over to the “Library” section and locate the “Games” category within the “Browse” area. Find and select “No Man’s Sky,” then click on the gear icon labeled “Manage Games.”

In the settings menu, look for “Controller Options” under “Steam Input.” Expand the menu labeled “Change the Steam Input Per-Game Settings” by clicking on the downward arrow. Set the option to “Forced On,” and then confirm your changes by clicking “OK.”

After making these adjustments, restart your Steam client and test your controller to see if it is functioning correctly. If you continue to experience issues, repeat the previous steps, but this time select “Forced Off” instead, and save the changes once more. Finally, check again to see if the problem has been resolved.

14. Use DS4Windows

To get started, download the DS4Windows application from the internet onto your PC. Once the download is complete, proceed with the installation.

Afterward, navigate to the installation folder and locate the DS4Updater (exe) file.

Double-click this file to execute it; if a User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears, select ‘Yes‘ to grant the necessary administrative permissions.

This process will ensure that the latest version of DS4Windows is installed on your computer.

After the installation, launch the DS4Windows application and access the Settings tab within its interface. Look for the option labeled ‘Hide DS4 Controller’ and enable it by checking the box.

Finally, remember to close the application and revisit the issue you were experiencing to see if it has been resolved.

15. Try Using a Wired Controller

Should you find that none of the provided solutions have resolved your issue, consider connecting a wired or generic controller to your PC via a USB cable.

This step can help identify whether the problem lies with the Bluetooth connection of your controller, which may be struggling to maintain a stable link with your PC, or if the issue is related to your PC’s connectivity.

We hope this guide has been useful to you. If you have any additional questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

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