Xbox Series X controllers detect no or incorrect batterie levels when connected via BT

[javsp]

It detects the controller (I use bluetooth) but it won't show the battery level.

[NiyaShy]

Hey,
so far I got neither positive nor negative feedback for the Series X controllers, but unless MS radically changed something on the protocol/API (which is rather unlikely) they should work.
Have you tried if they properly work with (older) XB-controller enabled games? That would be a good indicator that they still use the same API. Another test would be if Steam big picture mode can detect a battery level.
And we still have the "issue" that it sometimes takes several minutes until a battery level is detected. But that usually clears itself once you actually use the controller and press a few buttons.

[javsp]

The controller works in all games (just like the old XB1 controller). The app detects the controller but it's waiting for data. It shows that message no matter if I wait several minutes and I press some buttons. BTW, I'm using the official Play & Charge Kit instead of the 2 batteries (I don't know if it matters). I obviously don't use the cable (the new USB-C cable) until I need to charge the kit. I can see the current battery level in my bluetooth devices list but I'd like to see this info in the taskbar.

And yes, Steam also shows the warning battery icon but it’s not very useful.

[NiyaShy]

K, thanks for the info. Since it works everywhere there should be no API changes. And when Steam can show the battery level, polling it should also work in general.
P&C kit or batteries doesn't matter. And the fact that it's connected via BT should also not matter since I got reports that the XBOne-S controllers worked fine via dongle and BT.

So, the thing is: until someone else who also uses the XBOne-X controller on windows via BT reports back if it works for them, I can't say if it's a general issue with those controllers or just a problem on your side...

[javsp]

Ok, let's wait for more reports. One thing I want to highlight is the fact that I had to update W10 recently. W10 didn't correcly detect this controller in previous versions. My current OS version is: W10 Pro x64 20H2 (19042.630). I think iit's the latest one.

Also, regarding Steam, I have to use the beta version which recently added support to this new XBOX controller via wireless (it's still recognized as an XB1 controller but it works well). So I guess something must have changed.

[tandrasi]

@javsp I can confirm that this is happening to me too. The app constantly waits for data but when plugged in, the app says battery is at 100% (which it is not). The Bluetooth panel jumps between 80%-90% charged (I've been plugging in and out a few times for testing and have left it to charge for 1 hour). Even Microsoft's own "Gamebar" (Win Key + G) reports erroneous information as it might be using the old API too:

[javsp]

@tandrasi Yeah, Microsoft's Gamrbar also reports the same thing to me. In fact, I have no way to check the battery level on W10. I think the guide button light is orange while charging on console and turns white when it's fully charged but I don't have the console, :(

[tandrasi]

@javsp yup, really sucks. I too don't have the console, just the new controller and no reliable way of checking battery in W10. Sigh

[NiyaShy]

Thanks for reporting back tandrasi, since it affects at least you 2 it's (for now) safe to assume that it is in fact a general issue. Flagged as bug for now until I find out more. Like I said before, since I can't try it myself (still using "classic" XBOne controllers) it'll be a shot into the dark until I find more info about if there were any changes that can cause this.

[tandrasi]

Thanks @NiyaShy!

[javsp]

Thanks.

I guess Microsoft has also changed something in the protocol with this new controller and that's why it's not correctly reporting the remaining battery level. First, they need to fix that and then (maybe) the 3rd party software will work fine again.

[MorbidEden]

I have this issue as well with the new controller via BT. I don't know if this will help, but when looking at the properties in Windows ( Pro x64 20H2 19042.630) under "Device Information" compared to the old XBOne controller, the new "Model" is "Bluetooth LE Device" with a 12 digit hex number. Not sure if the hex number is device specific.