Assassin’s Creed Shadows represents a remarkable leap forward for the series, featuring an expansive open world and engaging gameplay set in feudal Japan. Among the many issues plaguing the game is the Assassin's Creed Shadows controller not working glitch. If you are in such a situation, this MiniTool post provides several feasible fixes to troubleshoot it.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Controller Not Working
While Assassin’s Creed Shadows provides excellent mouse and keyboard functionality, it’s reasonable that some gamers might favor using a controller for a third-person action RPG experience. However, some players reported encountering controller issues while gaming.
PS5 controller bug while playing AC Shadows on PC. Does anyone know how to fix it? I'm playing on PC and trying to use the PS5 controller, but every time I try, the camera and movement controls are assigned to the left joystick. So whenever I try to move the character, the game moves the camera as well. Any idea how to fix this?www.reddit.com
For controller issues, some players encountered Assassin’s Creed Shadows controller not detected or controller not working in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, while for others, there’s a strange issue where camera and movement controls get randomly out of sync. The left trigger (LT) unexpectedly manages the camera, causing the left analog stick to control both the character and the camera at the same time, rendering the game nearly unplayable.
Fortunately, any issues with the controller can be swiftly resolved with a simple solution. Here’s all the information, including causes and potential solutions, you need regarding the Assassin’s Creed Shadows gamepad not working issue.
Possible Causes for Assassin’s Creed Shadows Controller Not Working
Before jumping onto potential solutions, it’s important to identify the root causes of controller compatibility issues to effectively address them. Various factors can trigger these problems on different gaming platforms:
- Outdated Firmware
- Software Conflicts
- Low Battery Levels
- Signal Interference
- Hardware Issues
- The Use of Steam Input
- …
How to Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Controller Not Working
Way 1. Change the Input Mode
As some Reddit users and Steam users report, to fix the Assassin’s Creed Shadows controller not working issue, you can choose to change the Input mode.
Step 1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
Step 2. Navigate to AC Shadows Options > Gameplay section.
- If the controller is set to a specific controller, choose the controls as Hybrid under the Input Mode section.
- If the controller is set to Hybrid, change the Input Mode from Hybrid to your specific controller type. For some reason, the game fails to retain your personal settings when the gameplay section is set to Controller.
Way 2. Disable Steam Input
Since Steam Input can interfere with the controller profiles created by the game developers, you need to turn it off specifically for Assassin’s Creed Shadows in your Steam library to fix the Assassin’s Creed Shadows controller not working issue. Here’s the way to do it:
- Open Steam.
- Navigate to Assassin’s Creed Shadows in your Steam Library.
- Click on the Gear icon to access Properties.
- In Properties, find the Controller option.
- Select Controller and then go to the Steam Input option.
- From the list, choose your controller type and set it to Disabled Steam Input.
- Restart Steam.

Way 3. Use a Wired Connection
To resolve the controller not working in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, try connecting your controller directly to your PC using a USB cable. This wired connection can help establish a stable link between the controller and the game, often solving problems related to wireless connectivity.
Once connected, check if the game detects your controller and that all buttons are responding as expected. If the problem persists, you may want to consider updating your controller’s firmware or checking for any game updates that might address compatibility issues.
Way 4. Add the Game as a non-Steam (For Epic Games Launcher/Ubisoft Connect Users)
One possible resolution for the controller issue in Assassin’s Creed Shadow is to include the game on Steam and utilize Steam’s controller support.
Step 1. Launch Steam, navigate to Add Games > Add Non-Steam Games, and choose the game’s executable from its installation directory.
Step 2. After you’ve added the game, starting it through Steam should enable its controller configuration, which can help correct any control misalignment.
Way 5. Update Your Controller Firmware
Outdated software is a major factor contributing to controller issues during gameplay. Therefore, updating the controller firmware may fix the Assassin’s Creed Shadows gamepad not working issue.
- For Xbox controllers, connect your controller to the PC and download and use the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store.
- For PlayStation controllers, connect your controller and go to the PlayStation Accessories to check the device updates. Additionally, PlayStation Controller users can use the DS4 Windows utility.
- For third-party controllers, visit the manufacturer’s websites for their proprietary update tools.
Keeping your game updated through automatic patches and having the latest controller firmware typically resolves many disconnection issues.
Way 6. Run Steam and Game as Admin and Use Big Picture Mode
Consider running both Steam and Assassin’s Creed Shadows with administrator rights, as this may help fix problems with controller recognition. Furthermore, utilizing Big Picture Mode in Steam might be beneficial.
>> Run as admin:
Right-click on Steam and the game’s executable, choose Run as administrator, and then start the game.
>> Use Big Picture Mode:
Open Steam, click on the Big Picture Mode icon located in the top-right corner, and launch the game from that interface.
Way 7. Disconnect Other Devices
If your controller is malfunctioning in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, check for other USB devices that might be causing a conflict. Sometimes, additional peripherals such as a flight stick, extra controllers, or even specific keyboards and mice could disrupt input.
Therefore, opt for disconnecting all non-essential USB devices, then restart the game with just your controller connected to check if that fixes the problem.
Way 8. Adjust Power Management Settings
Your power management settings may lead to situations where the controller intermittently stops responding, as these settings prioritize energy efficiency at the expense of performance.
>> Adjusting PC Power Settings:
Step 1. Press Win + S to open the Windows Search bar, type Control Panel in the box, and press Enter.
Step 2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.

Step 3. Choose the High performance power plan and click Change plan settings.
Step 4. In the next window, select Change advanced power settings.
Step 5. Expand the USB settings section and disable the USB selective suspend setting.
Step 6. Click the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes and then restart your computer.
>> Managing Console Power Settings:
- On PlayStation: Go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Set Features Available in Rest Mode > ensure Supply Power to USB Ports is enabled.
- On Xbox: Navigate to Settings > General > Power mode & startup > opt for Instant-on instead of Energy-saving.
Bottom Line
This post covers almost all the potential solutions to fix the Assassin’s Creed Shadows controller not working/be detected issue. You can also try to turn off unnecessary background apps and verify the integrity of game files. I hope you can enjoy your game again and have a smooth gaming experience.
User Comments :