Why you might want to disable controller support
Steam's controller support lets you play games with a gamepad instead of a keyboard and mouse. But sometimes you want to turn it off — maybe a controller keeps connecting when you don't want it to, or a game works better with keyboard controls, or you're troubleshooting why a game isn't responding the way you expect.
Disabling controller support in Steam stops the platform from detecting and using any connected gamepad. This is different from unplugging the controller itself. When you disable it in Steam, the system won't try to map controller buttons to keyboard commands, and games won't see the controller as an input device.
Key Takeaways
- You can disable controller support globally in Steam settings, which turns it off for all games at once.
- You can also disable it per game by editing that game's launch options or controller settings within Steam.
- Disabling controller support does not uninstall anything or delete your settings — you can turn it back on anytime.
- If a controller is still being detected after you disable support, the issue may be with your operating system or the controller itself, not Steam.
Disable controller support for all games at once
Open Steam and go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right). Select Controller from the left menu. At the top of the page, you'll see options for different controller types: Generic Gamepad, PlayStation Configuration Support, Xbox Configuration Support, and Nintendo Switch Pro Configuration Support.
Uncheck the box next to each controller type you want to disable. If you uncheck all of them, Steam will not detect any controller. You can disable just one type if you want — for example, you might keep Xbox support on but turn off PlayStation support if a PlayStation controller keeps connecting by accident.
Click OK at the bottom of the window to save your changes. The next time you launch a game, Steam will not use any controller you have plugged in.
Disable controller support for a single game
Right-click the game in your Steam library and select Properties. Go to the Controller tab. You'll see a dropdown menu that says "Controller Layout" or "Enabled" depending on your version of Steam.
Click the dropdown and select Disabled or None. This turns off controller support only for that one game. Other games will still use controller support if you have it enabled globally.
Close the Properties window. The next time you launch that game, your controller will not work — you'll need to use keyboard and mouse instead.
What happens when you disable controller support
When controller support is disabled, Steam stops listening for controller input. If you plug in a gamepad, Steam won't detect it or pass its signals to the game. The game itself may still see the controller if your operating system is sending it signals, but Steam won't be involved in translating those signals.
Disabling controller support does not delete your controller settings or layouts. If you had custom button mappings saved, they stay saved. You can turn controller support back on anytime and your layouts will be there waiting.
Re-enable controller support
To turn controller support back on globally, go to Settings > Controller and check the boxes next to the controller types you want to use again. Click OK.
To re-enable it for a single game, go back to that game's Properties > Controller tab and change the dropdown from Disabled back to Enabled or the layout name you want to use.
When disabling controller support doesn't work
If you've disabled controller support in Steam but your controller is still being detected, the issue is likely not with Steam. Your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) may be detecting the controller directly, or the game itself may have built-in controller support that doesn't go through Steam.
Try unplugging the controller entirely to confirm whether it's still being detected by the game or by your system. If unplugging it stops the input, the problem is the controller or your operating system, not Steam's settings. You may need to disable the controller in your system settings instead — for example, in Windows Device Manager or macOS System Preferences.
If the game has its own controller settings menu, you can also try disabling the controller there. Some games let you turn off gamepad support independently of Steam.
Troubleshooting controller detection
If you want to check whether Steam is actually detecting your controller, go to Settings > Controller and look at the bottom of the window. You should see a list of connected controllers. If your controller appears there even though you've disabled support, it means your system is detecting it but Steam is not using it — which is what you want.
If your controller doesn't appear in that list at all, it may not be plugged in properly, may have a dead battery (if wireless), or may not be compatible with Steam. Try plugging it into a different USB port or replacing the batteries and checking again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling controller support affect my keyboard and mouse?
No. Disabling controller support only stops Steam from using gamepads. Your keyboard and mouse will work normally in all games.
Can I disable controller support for just one type of controller?
Yes. In Settings > Controller, you can uncheck individual controller types. For example, you can disable PlayStation support while keeping Xbox support on.
If I disable controller support, will my saved button mappings be deleted?
No. Your custom layouts and button mappings stay saved. When you re-enable controller support, they'll be there waiting for you to use again.
Why is my controller still working after I disabled it in Steam?
Your operating system or the game itself may have controller support built in. Try unplugging the controller to confirm it's still being detected. If it is, you may need to disable it in your system settings or in the game's own menu instead.
Do I need to restart Steam after disabling controller support?
No. The changes take effect when ready. You don't need to restart Steam or your computer.