How to Turn Off an Xbox Controller on a Windows PC

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A complete guide to powering down an Xbox controller on PC

Written by Cory Stillman

Last Updated: April 18, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Remove the Battery Pack
|
• Hold Down the Guide Button
|
• Disconnect Bluetooth
|
• Unplug the Controller
|
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|Show more |Show less

Gaming on your PC with an Xbox controller is quite convenient, but it can be surprisingly tricky to power down the controller when you are done with it. Fortunately, this wikiHow guide can help you turn off your Xbox controller on a PC. Whether you are using an Xbox 360, Xbox One, or Xbox Series S/X controller, this guide has you covered.

Things You Should Know

• The most reliable way to turn off an Xbox controller on a PC is to remove one of its batteries.
• Microsoft suggests holding down the Guide button on the Xbox controller for six seconds to turn it off.
• For wireless controllers, disconnect Bluetooth. If you have a wired controller, unplug its cable from your PC.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Remove the Battery Pack

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1. 
   1
   Slide off the back battery cover. The easiest and most obvious way to turn off any controller is to remove its batteries. Although Microsoft suggests that you can turn off your Xbox controller by holding the Guide button down for six seconds, many users report issues with this method. Go for the sure thing by removing the batteries.
2. 
   2
   Remove one or both batteries. Simply jostling one of the batteries out of place will turn the controller off. You can then slide it back into place and put the battery cover back on. Your controller will remain off until you power it back on again.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Hold Down the Guide Button

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1. 
   1
   Hold down the Guide button for six seconds. The official way to turn off a wireless Xbox controller is to hold down the Guide button for six seconds. It is the large Xbox logo in the center of the controller.

   • Some users report that this method does not work when gaming on a PC, which is why removing the battery pack may be your best bet.
   • Hold down the Guide button for twelve seconds to completely reset the controller.
     • This is a good idea if your controller is malfunctioning, as it will reboot with any available updated firmware.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Disconnect Bluetooth

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1. 
   1
   Disable Bluetooth on your PC. If you are using a wireless Xbox controller via Bluetooth, you can turn it off by disconnecting it from your PC. Navigate to your computer's Bluetooth settings and disable Bluetooth to sever the connection between your PC and your controller. The controller should then turn off as well.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Unplug the Controller

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1. 
   1
   Disconnect a wired controller from your PC. If you are using an Xbox controller via cable, unplug the cable at either end to turn off the controller. Then, you may plug it back in to turn it back on.

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