Xbox Elite Controller 2 Update Fail?

Yesterday, I switched on my Xbox Elite Controller 2 (paired with my Xbox Series X) and was prompted with a required controller update. It happens more frequently with this controller (3rd update in a month), but it is what it is… I just wish I it was easier to understand what is being addressed in the updates. Anyway.

So update done, remote restarts and it’s connected (solid white Xbox logo on the controller). However, the controller was completely un-responsive. None of the buttons worked, none of them.

I did learn a lot more about the controller than I really ever wanted to:

• Hold the Xbox button for 15-20 seconds to turn it off (I always click once and choose the right option on the screen)
• Hold the Xbox button AND the wireless pairing buttom (at the top next to the USB charging port) for 30 seconds to do a hard reset (you will need to re-pair with the console)

Additionally, I tried all combinations of booting and shutting down the controller, pressing all buttoms and hoping for something to happen. Many controller reboots later, NOTHING changed… I was beginning to think my controller was somehow bricked after the update.

After doing a bit of internet searches, the always useless Xbox support forums, the many Youtube videos that were totally irrelevant, I finally stumbled on one that was ultimately useful (I’ve tried to find it again but can’t find it to give the appropriate recognition - I’ll update if I find it again).

Turns out that it isn’t the controller that stopped working after the update pushed from the console! For some reason the console just stopped accepted input from the controller.

The fix is to hard reboot the console.

To do this, press and hold the Xbox button on the console for 10 seconds.

Ta Da! For me, this fixed an issue I spent two hours trying to resolve, hope this helps you too.