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How to enable Bluetooth on your Stadia controller
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Google is shutting down its cloud game streaming service Stadia on January 18, 2023, but this gives the Stadia Wireless Controller a second chance as a Bluetooth controller which can be connected to PCs, Macs, phones and possibly other devices. The change will not happen automatically; this is a manual process that cannot be reversed. What’s more, you only have until December 31, 2023 to make the switch to enable Bluetooth wireless. After that date, any non-converted Stadia controller will continue to work as a wired USB gamepad, but will be locked to wireless gaming.
I’ll walk you through the process of converting your Stadia controller using Google’s browser-based tool.
- Make sure your controller is charged above the 10 percent level. (It won’t let you continue until it’s charged enough.)
- Open up The Google Stadia Controller Update Tool in Chrome or Microsoft Edge. (Signing into your Google account is not necessary or even possible to complete this process.)
- Click on the launch button in the Switch to Bluetooth mode section. You will be prompted to agree Google Terms and Conditions. (Agreement is the only option that allows you to continue.)
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- You will then need to allow your browser to check the controller. Click on Allow Chrome to verify button.
- This will cause a small drop-down window to appear in the upper left corner of your browser. Your Stadia controller should be visible. Choose Get in touch option.
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At this point, the tool will show you a set of button commands that you need to press to allow the Wi-Fi to Bluetooth conversion to take place. Here are the button prompts in order:
- First turn off your controller. In the instructions, Google notes that if it turns back on, you need to hold down the Stadia button for four seconds to force it to turn off.
- Hold the option button (looks like an ellipsis with three horizontal dots) while turning on the controller. The instructions note that the status indicator below the main Stadia button should not be lit and that you should try the process again if it turns on.
- Finally, press the same option button plus the Google Assistant button (with four different sized circles) right below it along with A and Y. That’s four buttons in total. (The instructions say there will be no hum or any feedback from the controller.)
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To install the update, you’ll need to select your controller again, following a similar process from earlier.
- A hit Allow Chrome to download.
- Choose Get in touch in your browser’s drop-down window. This path can be specified as SP Blank RT Family, Stadia controlleror USB COMPOSITE DEVICE.
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Once again, the next step allows the browser to install the update. Select the controller (it can be any of the names listed in the previous step) for the final step, which enables Bluetooth.
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To connect your Stadia controller wirelessly to devices via Bluetooth, hold down the Y and Stadia buttons at the same time for two seconds and the status indicator will flash orange to indicate it’s in pairing mode. Google notes that once paired with a device, it will automatically connect to the last paired device when powered on.
Correction January 17, 4:42 PM ET: A previous version of this article incorrectly mentioned that Stadia controllers that missed the December 31, 2023 update window would be useless. However, they will still work as wired USB controllers.
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