How to Fix The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered PC Controller Not Working

By
Ambar Jimenez
2025-04-09 19:13:51


Learn how to troubleshoot and fix controller problems in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered for PC. Follow our guide for a seamless gaming experience.

There's little more frustrating than being immersed in the gripping world of The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC only to have your controller suddenly decide to take an unscheduled break. Whether you're stealthily navigating a dangerous encounter or locked in a tense boss battle, a disconnected or unresponsive controller can completely derail your experience. If you're facing this issue, you're likely wondering if there's a fix. Let's explore the current situation.

While The Last of Us Part II Remastered officially boasts support for a wide array of controllers, this particular issue doesn't seem to be isolated to a specific model or brand. Some players are reporting problems with wireless connections, while others are encountering glitches even with wired setups. Unfortunately, there hasn't been an official patch released yet to directly address these controller problems. In the meantime, the player community has discovered a handful of workarounds that might help keep your controller reliably connected during your gameplay sessions!


Fix The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered PC Controller Not Working

Currently, The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC is experiencing a number of technical issues, and the controller problem is unfortunately one of them. Similar to many of the other bugs players are encountering, there is no official fix or patch from the developers specifically targeting this controller issue at the time of writing. However, we've scoured the community discussions and compiled the most effective workarounds that you can try below.




Effective Workarounds for Controller Issues:

  • Disable Steam Input:

    • The first and often most effective solution is to disable Steam Input for The Last of Us Part II Remastered. To do this:
      • Open your Steam library.
      • Right-click on The Last of Us Part II Remastered in your game list.
      • Select "Properties" from the context menu.
      • In the Properties window, navigate to the "Controller" tab on the left-hand side.
      • In the "Override for The Last of Us Part II Remastered" dropdown menu, select "Disable Steam Input".
      • Close the Properties window.
      • Relaunch the game and check if your controller is now working correctly.
  • Use a Wired Connection with Steam Input Disabled:

    • If disabling Steam Input alone doesn't resolve the issue, keep Steam Input disabled (as described above) and try connecting your controller directly to your PC using a USB cable. Wireless connections, particularly Bluetooth, can sometimes experience compatibility issues or instability with certain games or updates. A wired connection often provides a more reliable and direct input method. Once your controller is connected via USB, relaunch the game and test its functionality.
  • Enable Controller in Windows Sound Settings (Potentially for DualSense):

    • This workaround has been reported to help some users, particularly those using a PlayStation DualSense controller (or potentially other supported controllers). It involves adjusting settings in the Windows Sound panel:
      • Go to your Control Panel.
      • Navigate to "Hardware and Sound", then "Sound".
      • With your controller plugged in (preferably wired), look for "DualSense Wireless Controller" (or the name of your controller) in the "Playback" tab.
      • If it is listed but disabled, right-click on it and select "Enable".
      • Right-click on the enabled controller again and choose "Configure Speakers".
      • Select "Quadraphonic" and click "Next".
      • Check both "Front Left and Right" and "Surround Speakers".
      • Click "Finish".
      • This unusual fix has helped some users bypass random audio or controller recognition conflicts.
  • Unplug All Unnecessary USB Devices:

    • Sometimes, other connected USB peripherals can interfere with the game's ability to correctly detect your primary controller. Try unplugging any non-essential USB devices, such as:
      • Steering wheels
      • Flight sticks
      • Adapters
      • Even a second monitor in some cases
      • Additional controllers or gamepads
    • Additionally, uninstall any virtual input software you might have installed (like VJoy), as these can sometimes conflict with proper controller recognition within the game. After unplugging these devices, restart your game and see if the controller issues persist.
  • Use Steam Big Picture Mode with Steam Input Disabled:

    • Another workaround that has proven effective for many players is launching The Last of Us Part II Remastered through Steam Big Picture Mode while keeping Steam Input disabled (as per the first workaround).
    • You can find the Big Picture Mode icon in the upper right corner of the Steam client window (it looks like a rectangle with two outward-pointing arrows). Click on this icon to enter Big Picture Mode.
    • Once in Big Picture Mode, navigate to your Library, find The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and launch the game from within this mode. Test if your controller is now recognized and functioning correctly.
  • Stick to a Wired Connection as a Last Resort:

    • If all other methods fail, the most reliable solution for many controller issues, especially during early patches and compatibility problems, is to use a direct wired connection. Disconnect your controller from Bluetooth and plug it in using its official USB cable. Launch the game with the wired connection established. Wired connections tend to be the most stable and often bypass any wireless communication glitches.
  • By trying these various workarounds, you should hopefully be able to resolve the controller not working or disconnecting issues in The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PC and get back to enjoying the game with your preferred input method. Keep an eye out for any official patches or updates from the developers that might provide a more permanent solution to these controller problems.



    Tags:
    TLoU 2
    Platform(s): PlayStation 4 PS4
    Genre(s): Action-adventure, survival horror
    Developer(s): Naughty Dog
    Publisher(s):Sony Interactive Entertainment PlayStation Store
    Release date: June 19, 2020
    Mode: Single-player
    age rating (PEGI): 18+





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