Gaming guides
Consoles and controllers — pairing, charging, stick drift and display faults on PlayStation, Xbox and Switch.
18 guides
PS5 controller not connecting
Fix a DualSense that won’t pair: a USB cable bypasses the radio and splits the fault in two, then the hidden pinhole reset beside the Sony logo clears a wedged pairing. Covers charge-only cables, other paired devices, and console-side causes.
Xbox controller not connecting
Fix an Xbox controller that won’t pair: the Xbox button light separates no power from searching from connected. Covers the batteries Xbox says to change anyway, pairing at both ends, firmware reversion, and Bluetooth versus Xbox Wireless on PC.
Joy-Con stick drift
Fix Joy-Con stick drift: the console’s own calibration screen shows live stick input, so hands off proves hardware drift against the software causes that imitate it. Includes Nintendo’s free repair policy for the UK and EEA.
PS5 controller not charging
Find why your PS5 controller is not charging: compare awake and rest mode, USB cables, ports, dock charging, and battery retention before requesting service.
PS5 no signal or black screen
Troubleshoot a PS5 with no signal or a black screen using its power light, direct HDMI, Safe Mode video settings, and a 120 Hz comparison.
Joy-Con not connecting
Fix a Joy-Con that won’t connect: Nintendo treats attached and wireless failures separately. Covers the rail contacts, the SYNC press that resets versus the hold that pairs, and clearing all controller pairings.
PS5 disc not reading
Separate a faulty PS5 disc from drive setup, database and game-launch problems before considering a reset or repair.
Switch dock not working
Diagnose a Switch or OLED dock with no TV picture using handheld mode, the output LED, power and HDMI comparisons.
Razer keyboard not working
Razer separates lighting-only demo mode from key or software trouble. Match the keyboard model, connect directly and compare input with Synapse closed before a hardware repair.
Razer device missing in Synapse
A device absent from Synapse is not automatically a failed peripheral. Check the supported-device list for your Synapse version; the current Synapse 4 branch then tests USB, restart and software repair.
Razer headset mic not working
Check whether the microphone responds as a Windows recording device before testing the game or chat app. USB, 3.5 mm and Bluetooth headsets then have different connection and software branches.
Xbox controller not charging
Rechargeable AA batteries do not charge inside an Xbox controller. An official removable battery pack follows a different path: check seating, the correct cable, console power and a comparison with AA batteries or another pack.
Xbox no signal
A blank screen at Xbox startup needs an input and HDMI-path check before display recovery. Low-resolution startup uses different buttons on disc-drive models and the documented digital models.
Xbox headset not working
For controller-connected Xbox headsets, separate game audio from chat. The Xbox One Chat Headset is chat-only, low controller batteries can disable audio, and adapter balance can remove either side of the game/chat mix.
Xbox controller buttons not working
A connected controller with unexpected inputs needs a game-settings versus controller-mapping check. Xbox's dedicated button procedure separates one-game failures from all-game behavior before firmware, inspection and replacement.
PS5 headset not working
Fix a PlayStation headset with no sound: a chat/game balance pushed to one end sounds exactly like broken audio, and Sony’s reset is one button press. Covers adapter interference, USB 3.0 and the console’s audio output.
PS5 Remote Play not working
Fix PS Remote Play: the console uploads the video, so upload speed is the number that matters. Sony’s minimum is 5 Mbps both ways and 15 Mbps recommended. Covers rest mode, NAT type and the games that are never supported.
PS5 will not connect to Wi-Fi
Joining your network and reaching PlayStation are separate failures with separate fixes. One cause is worth knowing first: PS5 consoles support IPv6 but not IPv6-only networks, so a router in that mode will never work.