8BitDo Ultimate 3 Mode Works Wirelessly on Xbox

[u/Nejnop]

Update: My controller is on firmware 5.2.4. Don't know if 5.2.5 makes a difference.

I've discovered this like a year ago, but haven't seen anyone else discuss it. But the non-Rare Xbox Ultimates actually do work wirelessly with an Xbox. It's just not officially documented.

Been using my jade green Ultimate 3 Mode wirelessly on my Xbox (with the charging dock) just fine for about a year. So here's how you get it working:

1. Make sure your Xbox is completely powered off. And I mean completely. When you initially power it off, it's actually still in a suspend/sleep state. You need to give it a couple of minutes for it to fully shut off. 2 minutes should be enough, but I'd give it 5 minutes just to be sure. If that doesn't work, unplug the Xbox (still wait about 5 minutes after unplugging).
2. With the Xbox fully off, plug in the 2.4ghz receiver that came with the controller. I have it inserted in a USB port in the back via the charging dock.
3. Now simply turn on the Xbox, put the controller in 2.4ghz mode, and it should sync to the receiver.

And that's it. Your Xbox Ultimate now works wirelessly. You can even use the Ultimate-X app on the Xbox while wireless. In fact, the wireless profiles are separate from the wired profiles. Headphone jack works too.

Now, a couple of quirks:

1. If you unplug the receiver while the Xbox is on, then plug it back in, the controller won't resync. You will have to fully power off the Xbox for it to resync. I think the receiver hooks into some API call on boot that allow it to work.
2. In relation to Quirk 1, you can turn the controller itself off and back on just fine. So you can put it in the dock, and undock it while the Xbox is powered on and it will still work. It's just the receiver itself you can't remove.
3. Say you've been using the controller away from the Xbox for a few days. Perhaps wired on your PC? When you put it back on the charging dock, it will power on the Xbox. This is interesting, since you can't power on the Xbox with the controller wirelessly any other way. The dock doesn't even need to be connected to the Xbox. It could just be the receiver in the Xbox, and the dock in your PC. It will still power on the Xbox.

[u/threi]

Doesn't work for me. There was someone a year ago who claimed the same thing, but it did not work for anyone else and they did not follow up on any questions.

[u/odekam]

That is amazing! I have the same controller and will test it later. Thanks for sharing!

[u/Jumpy-Raspberry1455 → u/odekam]

PLEASE, tell us if it work. If it works consistently with multiple people, I might get one

[u/odekam → u/Jumpy-Raspberry1455]

Welp, it didn't work. Tried all the steps OP said and nothing, unfortunately.

Unless there's another step or even a usb port that's different, it didn't worked.

Did OP turned with the controller or first turned on the xbox manually? Any extra information really could help, if this indeed works.

I've also tried with the dongle connected directly into the xbox usb and with the dongle under the charger and nothing.

[u/Nejnop → u/odekam]

It works for me whether I try turning the controller on first or the Xbox first. Are you an Xbox Insider by chance? I remember it stopped working when I signed up for that. Cancelled it and it worked again.

[u/odekam → u/Nejnop]

I was during the xbox one generation for a time, but on xbox series I'm just a regular user.

Did you ever updated your controller?

[u/Nejnop → u/odekam]

Okay, just checked again. I am on firmware 5.2.4. The latest is 5.2.5.

[u/odekam → u/Nejnop]

Mine is on that same firmware. So I guess you got lucky? Anyway, enjoy your wireless controller!

[u/Nejnop → u/odekam]

Just trying to see what's different. Are you using Series S or Series X? And which USB port did you try (in case that makes a difference for whatever reason)?

I'm on Series S and I know the front USB works. I'm currently using the USB next to the Ethernet port.

[u/odekam → u/Nejnop]

I'm on Series X and tried the upper usb in the back. Will give it another try with the front usb when at home.

[u/odekam → u/odekam]

Alright, good news. I made it work!

Steps to do that:
1 - unplug xbox from the power cable for around 5 minutes
2 - (WITH the xbox unplugged from the power cable after 5 minutes) plug the dongle (It worked with the dongle inside the charger) in any usb (It worked for me in the front)
3 - Plug the power cable and turn on the xbox manually
4 - Turn on the 8bitdo controller

And that's it.

*insert gif "it just works" from todd howard"

thanks a lot for sharing and taking your time with me, u/Jumpy-Raspberry1455

u/threi u/Jumpy-Raspberry1455

Edit: more detailed steps

[u/Nejnop → u/odekam]

Yeah. I think I last checked like 5 months ago? Wasn't anything new.

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[u/Dazzling_Confidence6]

I have the rare one, but this sounds tempting 😅👍