Fix Forza Horizon 6 Controller On PC

If your controller is not working in Forza Horizon 6 on PC, this guide will show you a few simple fixes to try.

Forza Horizon 6 is the kind of game that feels much better with a controller, so it can be really annoying when the game does not detect it properly. You might be using an Xbox controller, PS5 controller, PS4 controller, or another USB/Bluetooth controller and find that it works in Windows but not in Forza Horizon 6.

Sometimes the controller does not respond at all, sometimes it works in the menu but stops working once you start driving, and other times Forza Horizon 6 keeps switching back to keyboard and mouse. If you are playing through Steam, the Xbox app, Microsoft Store, or PC Game Pass, try the fixes below.

What Causes Controller Problems In Forza Horizon 6?

There are a few reasons why your controller might not work properly in Forza Horizon 6 on PC.

Sometimes the game does not detect the controller at all, while other times the controller connects but the buttons do not respond once you are actually in-game. This can happen with Xbox controllers, PlayStation controllers, and other third-party controllers.

If you are playing through Steam, the issue could be linked to Steam Input, a custom controller layout, or Steam not passing the controller through to the game correctly. If you are playing through the Xbox app, Microsoft Store, or PC Game Pass, then it could be caused by Windows not detecting the controller correctly, Xbox services, or a problem with the game itself.

In some cases, controller problems are caused by a simple connection issue, low battery, a faulty USB cable, Bluetooth problems, or another device like a steering wheel, joystick, or second controller confusing the game.

Try the fixes below and test your controller again after each method.

Easy Gamer Utility Fixes For Forza Horizon 6 Controller Problems

Before changing lots of settings in Steam or Windows, it is worth trying Easy Gamer Utility first.

Easy Gamer Utility can help with custom game fixing, launcher cache problems, temporary files, and other common issues that can stop games from working correctly. It will not repair a faulty controller, but it is a good first step if Forza Horizon 6 is not behaving properly or is not detecting input correctly.

Download Easy Gamer Utility

You can download Easy Gamer Utility here: https://computersluggish.com/downloads/easy-gamer-utility/

You can also watch the Easy Gamer Utility video here:

Once installed, try the Easy Gamer Utility methods below.

Use Custom Game Fixing For Forza Horizon 6

Easy Gamer Utility has a Custom Game Fixing option that can attempt to fix common game and launcher problems.

This is worth trying if your controller problem is happening alongside other Forza Horizon 6 issues, such as crashing, freezing, not launching, black screen, or the game not responding correctly after startup.

To use Custom Game Fixing:

1. Open Easy Gamer Utility
2. Click the Fix tab
3. Under Custom Game Fixing, click Browse
4. Select the Forza Horizon 6 .exe file
5. Select the launcher you purchased or installed the game on, such as Steam, Xbox app, Microsoft Store, or Game Pass
6. Click Attempt Fix
7. Wait for the fix to finish
8. Restart your PC
9. Launch Forza Horizon 6 again
10. Test your controller

You can download Easy Gamer Utility here: https://computersluggish.com/downloads/easy-gamer-utility/

This can help with general game and launcher-related problems that may be stopping Forza Horizon 6 from detecting your controller properly.

Clear Steam Cache With Easy Gamer Utility

If you are playing Forza Horizon 6 on Steam, clearing the Steam cache is worth trying.

Steam cache problems can sometimes cause strange behaviour with games, including launch issues, syncing problems, controller input issues, and Steam Input not working correctly.

You can download Easy Gamer Utility here: https://computersluggish.com/downloads/easy-gamer-utility/

To clear Steam cache:

1. Open Easy Gamer Utility
2. Click the Clean tab
3. Find the Steam Cache cleaning option
4. Click Clean next to Steam Cache
5. Wait for the clean to finish
6. Restart your PC
7. Open Steam again
8. Launch Forza Horizon 6
9. Test your controller

This is a good step if your controller works in other games but not Forza Horizon 6 on Steam.

Clean Temporary Files With Easy Gamer Utility

Temporary files can build up over time and sometimes cause Windows, launchers, or games to act strangely.

Cleaning temporary files is a simple step to try if Forza Horizon 6 has been crashing, failing to launch, or not picking up controller input correctly.

You can download Easy Gamer Utility here: https://computersluggish.com/downloads/easy-gamer-utility/

To clean temporary files:

1. Open Easy Gamer Utility
2. Click the Clean tab
3. Select the safe cleaning options you want to use
4. Clean temporary files and cache files
5. Wait for the clean to finish
6. Restart your PC
7. Open Forza Horizon 6 again
8. Test your controller

This can help clear old files that may be causing problems in the background.

Clean Launcher Cache With Easy Gamer Utility

If you are playing Forza Horizon 6 through Steam, the Xbox app, Microsoft Store, or PC Game Pass, launcher cache issues can sometimes cause games to start incorrectly or not detect devices properly.

You can download Easy Gamer Utility here: https://computersluggish.com/downloads/easy-gamer-utility/

To clean launcher cache:

1. Open Easy Gamer Utility
2. Click the Clean tab
3. Look for the launcher cache options available on your PC
4. Clean the cache for the launcher you use
5. Restart your PC
6. Open your launcher again
7. Launch Forza Horizon 6
8. Check if your controller now works

This is worth trying before doing bigger fixes like reinstalling the game.

Controller Checks and Fixes For Forza Horizon 6

Before changing Steam or Windows settings, start with the simple controller checks first.

A lot of controller issues are caused by connection problems, Bluetooth dropping out, low battery, or Windows not detecting the controller properly.

Reconnect Your Controller

First, disconnect your controller and reconnect it.

If you are using a wired controller, close Forza Horizon 6, unplug the controller, wait a few seconds, then plug it back in before opening the game again.

If you are using Bluetooth, close the game, turn the controller off, turn Bluetooth off and back on, then reconnect the controller before launching Forza Horizon 6.

This can help if the controller stopped working after the game was already open.

Try A Different USB Port Or Cable

If you are using a wired controller, try another USB port.

A loose cable, faulty USB port, or cheap charge-only cable can stop your controller from working properly. Some cables only charge the controller and do not send data, so the controller may light up but still not work in-game.

Try plugging the controller directly into your PC instead of using a USB hub. If you have another cable, test that as well.

This is especially worth doing if your controller keeps disconnecting in Forza Horizon 6 or only works sometimes.

Check The Controller Works In Windows

Before blaming Forza Horizon 6, check that Windows can see your controller.

To check this:

1. Press Windows key + R
2. Type joy.cpl
3. Press Enter
4. Select your controller
5. Click Properties
6. Press buttons and move the sticks

If the buttons respond in this window, Windows can detect your controller.

If nothing responds, the issue is not just Forza Horizon 6. It could be the controller, cable, Bluetooth connection, USB port, or Windows controller driver.

Restart Your PC

Restarting your PC can clear stuck controller drivers, broken Bluetooth connections, Steam Input issues, and background services.

Close Forza Horizon 6, restart your computer, then connect your controller before opening the game again.

This sounds basic, but it can fix controller detection problems quickly.

Steam Fixes For Forza Horizon 6 Controller Not Working

If you are playing Forza Horizon 6 through Steam, the problem may be caused by Steam Input.

Steam Input can be useful, especially for PlayStation controllers, but it can also cause problems if Forza Horizon 6 already supports your controller or if the wrong layout is being used.

Enable Or Disable Steam Input

Steam Input can either fix or cause controller problems, depending on your controller and setup.

To change it:

1. Open Steam
2. Go to your Library
3. Right-click Forza Horizon 6
4. Click Properties
5. Click Controller
6. Change the override setting

Try switching between these options:

• Enable Steam Input
• Disable Steam Input
• Use default settings

If you are using an Xbox controller, disabling Steam Input may work better. If you are using a PS4 or PS5 controller, enabling Steam Input may help.

After changing the setting, launch Forza Horizon 6 and test your controller again.

Check Steam Controller Settings

You should also check that Steam can see your controller.

1. Open Steam
2. Click Steam in the top left
3. Click Settings
4. Go to Controller
5. Check if your controller is detected

If Steam does not detect your controller here, Forza Horizon 6 probably will not detect it through Steam either.

Reset Custom Controller Layouts

If you have changed controller layouts in Steam, the wrong layout could be causing the problem.

This can make the controller connect but the buttons do nothing, or the wrong buttons may be mapped in Forza Horizon 6.

To fix this:

1. Open Steam
2. Go to Forza Horizon 6 in your Library
3. Open the controller layout/settings
4. Reset the layout to default
5. Launch Forza Horizon 6 again

This can help if your controller works in the menu but not correctly in-game.

Launch Steam In Big Picture Mode

Sometimes controllers behave better when launching a game through Steam Big Picture Mode.

To try this:

1. Open Steam
2. Click the Big Picture Mode icon
3. Make sure your controller works in Big Picture Mode
4. Launch Forza Horizon 6 from there

If the controller works this way, then the problem may be linked to how Steam is handling controller input in normal desktop mode.

Xbox App And Game Pass Fixes For Forza Horizon 6 Controller Problems

If you are playing through the Xbox app, Microsoft Store, or PC Game Pass, the issue may be linked to Windows, Gaming Services, or the controller not being detected correctly.

Update The Xbox App And Gaming Services

If the Xbox app or Gaming Services are outdated, games can behave strangely.

To update them:

1. Open Microsoft Store
2. Go to Library
3. Click Get updates
4. Update Xbox app, Gaming Services, and anything related
5. Restart your PC
6. Launch Forza Horizon 6 again

This can help if your controller is not working in the Game Pass or Microsoft Store version of Forza Horizon 6.

Repair The Xbox App

If you are using the Xbox app and Forza Horizon 6 is not detecting your controller, try repairing the Xbox app.

1. Right-click the Windows Start menu
2. Click Settings
3. Go to Apps
4. Find Xbox
5. Click Advanced options
6. Click Repair
7. Restart your PC

Then open the Xbox app and launch Forza Horizon 6 again.

Repair Forza Horizon 6

If the game itself is not working correctly, repairing it may help.

1. Right-click the Windows Start menu
2. Click Settings
3. Go to Apps
4. Find Forza Horizon 6
5. Click Advanced options
6. Click Repair
7. Restart your PC
8. Open the game again

Only try Reset if Repair does not work, as it may remove some local settings.

Xbox Controller Fixes For Forza Horizon 6

Xbox controllers usually work well on Windows, but they can still stop working in Forza Horizon 6.

This can happen with Xbox One controllers, Xbox Series X/S controllers, and Xbox Elite controllers.

Update Your Xbox Controller Firmware

Outdated controller firmware can cause input issues, connection problems, and random disconnects.

To update your Xbox controller:

1. Open or install the Xbox Accessories app from Microsoft Store
2. Connect your controller with a USB cable
3. Open the app
4. Select your controller
5. Install any available firmware update
6. Restart your PC
7. Open Forza Horizon 6 again

This is worth doing if your Xbox controller works in some games but not Forza Horizon 6.

Use A USB Cable Instead Of Bluetooth

If your Xbox controller is connected through Bluetooth and not working correctly, try using a USB cable.

Bluetooth can sometimes cause input delay, disconnects, or detection problems. A wired connection is usually more stable and is a good way to test whether Bluetooth is the issue.

If the controller works with a cable but not over Bluetooth, then the problem is likely with Bluetooth, not the game.

Remove And Re-Pair The Controller

If the controller is connected by Bluetooth but Forza Horizon 6 does not detect it properly, remove it from Windows and pair it again.

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices
3. Find your controller
4. Click Remove device
5. Restart your PC
6. Put the controller into pairing mode
7. Pair it again
8. Launch Forza Horizon 6

This can fix broken Bluetooth pairing issues.

PlayStation Controller Fixes For Forza Horizon 6

If you are using a PS4 or PS5 controller, you may need extra setup depending on your launcher.

PlayStation controllers do not always behave the same as Xbox controllers on Windows, so Steam Input or another controller tool may be needed.

Enable Steam Input For PS4 Or PS5 Controller

If you are playing Forza Horizon 6 on Steam with a PlayStation controller, enable Steam Input.

1. Open Steam
2. Go to your Library
3. Right-click Forza Horizon 6
4. Click Properties
5. Click Controller
6. Set the controller override to Enable Steam Input
7. Launch the game again

This can help if your PS5 controller or PS4 controller connects to Windows but does not work properly in Forza Horizon 6.

Use A USB Cable For PlayStation Controllers

If your PlayStation controller is not being detected over Bluetooth, try using a USB cable.

Wired mode is usually more reliable and can help Steam or Windows detect the controller properly.

After connecting with USB, open Steam or the Xbox app, then launch Forza Horizon 6 again.

Check DS4Windows Or Other Controller Tools

If you use DS4Windows or another controller tool, make sure it is not conflicting with Steam Input.

Using both at the same time can sometimes cause double input, wrong button mappings, or the controller not working at all.

Try one of these:

• Use Steam Input only
• Use DS4Windows only
• Close DS4Windows and test again
• Disable Steam Input and test DS4Windows

Then launch Forza Horizon 6 and check if the controller works.

Fix Controller Detected But Buttons Not Working

Sometimes Forza Horizon 6 detects the controller, but the buttons do not respond properly.

This can happen because of controller layout problems, Steam Input settings, or another input device being treated as the main controller.

Reset Controller Layout

If you are using Steam, reset the controller layout to default.

1. Open Steam
2. Go to Forza Horizon 6 in your Library
3. Open the controller layout/settings
4. Reset the layout to default
5. Launch the game again

This can help if the controller is detected but the buttons are not mapped correctly.

Disconnect Extra Controllers And USB Devices

Other USB devices can sometimes confuse games.

Before launching Forza Horizon 6, disconnect anything you do not need, such as extra controllers, steering wheels, pedals, joysticks, flight sticks, old controller dongles, or USB adapters.

Then connect only the controller you want to use and open Forza Horizon 6 again.

This can help if the game is picking the wrong input device.

Press A Controller Button On The Main Menu

If Forza Horizon 6 keeps switching back to keyboard and mouse, press a button on your controller at the main menu.

Some games switch input automatically depending on the last device used. If you move your mouse or press a keyboard key, the game may show keyboard prompts again.

Press a controller button and check whether the button prompts change back.

Fix Controller Disconnecting In Forza Horizon 6

If your controller works at first but disconnects while playing, the issue may be caused by battery level, Bluetooth problems, USB power saving, or a faulty cable.

Check Controller Battery

If you are using a wireless controller, make sure the battery is charged.

Low battery can cause random disconnects, input delay, or the controller turning off while playing.

Charge the controller or replace the batteries, then test Forza Horizon 6 again.

Turn Off USB Power Saving

Windows can sometimes turn off USB devices to save power.

To stop this:

1. Right-click the Windows Start menu
2. Click Device Manager
3. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers
4. Right-click a USB Root Hub
5. Click Properties
6. Go to Power Management
7. Untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
8. Click OK
9. Repeat this for other USB Root Hub entries
10. Restart your PC

This can help if your wired controller keeps disconnecting while playing Forza Horizon 6.

Improve Your Bluetooth Connection

If you are using Bluetooth, try to reduce interference.

Move closer to your PC, remove obstacles between the controller and Bluetooth adapter, and disconnect other Bluetooth devices you do not need.

If your PC has weak Bluetooth, using a cable or official wireless adapter may be more reliable.

Game File Fixes For Forza Horizon 6 Controller Issues

If your controller works in Windows and other games but not in Forza Horizon 6, damaged game files could be causing the problem.

This can happen after a failed update, crash, or broken install.

Verify Forza Horizon 6 Game Files On Steam

If you are playing on Steam:

1. Open Steam
2. Go to your Library
3. Right-click Forza Horizon 6
4. Click Properties
5. Go to Installed Files
6. Click Verify integrity of game files
7. Wait for Steam to finish
8. Restart your PC
9. Launch Forza Horizon 6 again

This can help if missing or corrupt files are causing controller issues.

Repair Forza Horizon 6 On Xbox App Or Microsoft Store

If you are playing through the Xbox app, Microsoft Store, or Game Pass:

1. Right-click the Windows Start menu
2. Click Settings
3. Go to Apps
4. Find Forza Horizon 6
5. Click Advanced options
6. Click Repair
7. Restart your PC
8. Open Forza Horizon 6 again

Only try Reset if Repair does not work, as it may remove some local settings.

Last Fix To Try

If nothing else has worked, then reinstalling Forza Horizon 6 is the last thing to try.

This should only be done after checking your controller works in Windows and after trying the easier fixes first.

Reinstall Forza Horizon 6

A reinstall can help if the game installation is badly broken.

To reinstall Forza Horizon 6:

1. Uninstall Forza Horizon 6
2. Restart your PC
3. Install the game again
4. Connect your controller before launching the game
5. Open Forza Horizon 6 and test the controller before changing lots of settings

If the controller problem was caused by a broken install, this may fix it.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully one of the methods above has helped fix your Forza Horizon 6 controller not working on PC problem.

Start by checking that Windows detects your controller, then reconnect it, try another USB port or cable, and restart your PC. If you are playing on Steam, check Steam Input, clear Steam cache with Easy Gamer Utility, and reset any custom controller layouts.

Also try Easy Gamer Utility’s Custom Game Fixing option, clean temporary files, and clean launcher cache. If you are using an Xbox controller, update the controller firmware with the Xbox Accessories app. If you are using a PS4 or PS5 controller, try Steam Input or use a USB cable.

These fixes should help if Forza Horizon 6 is not detecting your controller, your Xbox controller is not working, your PS5 controller is not responding, or the game keeps switching back to keyboard and mouse.