XBOX Series X Controller Is Having Disconnection Issues

• The brand new XBOX Series X controller is disconnecting from the console at random times.
• Users are also reporting having similar problems on the PC too, but some solved it with a firmware update.
• The problem for the console has been officially fixed in the latest "March XBOX Update."

According to multiple reports coming from all directions, the XBOX Series X Controller is having persistent connection problems that make using it frustrating, to say the least. People are reporting random disconnections happening every few seconds or in certain games and specific progress points on these games.

Also, the problem appears to be present on a wide range of controller models, configurations, and colors, so it can’t be a bad batch or anything like that. And finally, because the disconnection happens randomly, the issue is hard to replicate.

Microsoft has identified the problem since January 2021 and finally addressed it on the latest "March XBOX Update." Although there’s no mention of fixing anything in the release notes, we know the latest update pack contains a fix because the Director of Product Management at XBOX, Jason Ronald, tweeted the following:

Up until now, people had to perform a hard reset to stop the controller from behaving erratically, at least for a while. Hopefully, this update will resolve the problem for everyone, eliminating all random disconnections, lags, unresponsiveness, and whatever else is being reported by thousands at Microsoft’s forums, Reddit, and Twitter.

It is noteworthy that some even report having problems using the XBOX Series X controller on the PC, often making the game crash when the controller disconnects. In these cases, a driver update would be the safest bet for these people.

In general, don’t waste your time with re-pairing and resetting, as these actions will only fix the problem temporarily. Some users report that updating the firmware through the XBOX Accessories app solved the issue for them, so you may want to try that.

It is understandable that new hardware has issues, even after it goes through extensive testing before it’s launched. Companies release many fixing patches in the first few months of a new product's life, and there’s always a risk that a fix will introduce functionality issues on another component. That said, those of you who rushed to buy the XBOX Series X should be patient and accept that you will come across bugs.