Fix FIFA 24: Joystick Not Working On PC?

Hey guys! Having trouble getting your joystick to work with FIFA 24 on your PC? Don't worry; you're not alone. This is a pretty common issue, and there are several things you can try to get your game controllers up and running so you can get back to scoring those screamers. Let's dive into some solutions to get your joystick recognized and working perfectly with FIFA 24.

Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Before we get into the more complex solutions, let's start with some basic troubleshooting steps. These are simple checks that can often resolve the issue quickly. First, ensure your joystick is properly connected to your PC. Check the USB connection – unplug it and plug it back in to make sure it’s securely connected. Sometimes, a loose connection is all it takes to cause problems. Also, try using a different USB port. Some USB ports might not provide enough power or might have compatibility issues. Secondly, restart your computer. This might seem obvious, but restarting your PC can often fix temporary glitches that prevent your joystick from being recognized. Restarting closes all running processes and gives your system a fresh start, which can help it detect your joystick properly. Next, check the joystick's batteries if it's a wireless controller. Low battery power can cause connectivity issues. Replace the batteries or charge the controller fully before trying again. After ensuring the physical connections and power are stable, verify that your joystick is compatible with Windows. Most modern joysticks are plug-and-play, but older models might require specific drivers. Visit the manufacturer's website to download and install the latest drivers for your joystick. Lastly, close other applications that might be interfering with FIFA 24. Some programs, especially those that use input devices, can conflict with the game. Close any unnecessary applications running in the background to minimize potential conflicts. These basic steps are quick and easy to perform, and they often resolve common joystick detection problems in FIFA 24. If these don't work, don't sweat it; we have more advanced solutions coming up.

Updating Drivers and Windows

Keeping your drivers and operating system up-to-date is crucial for ensuring compatibility and optimal performance. Outdated or corrupted drivers can often cause issues with device recognition, including your joystick. First, update your joystick drivers. Even if you've installed drivers before, there might be newer versions available that address compatibility issues or bugs. To update your drivers, open Device Manager by searching for it in the Windows search bar. Locate your joystick under "Human Interface Devices" or "Sound, video and game controllers." Right-click on your joystick and select "Update driver." Choose the option to search automatically for updated drivers, and Windows will look for the latest drivers online. If Windows can't find an update, visit the manufacturer's website and download the latest driver manually. Install the driver and restart your computer. Secondly, ensure Windows is up to date. Windows updates often include fixes and improvements that can resolve compatibility issues with various devices. To update Windows, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and click on "Check for updates." Install any available updates and restart your computer. In addition to updating drivers and Windows, consider updating your graphics card drivers. Although it might seem unrelated, outdated graphics drivers can sometimes cause input issues in games. Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers for your card. Install the drivers and restart your computer. Keeping your system up-to-date ensures that you have the latest compatibility fixes and performance improvements, which can help resolve joystick detection issues in FIFA 24. Regularly updating your drivers and operating system is a good practice for maintaining a stable and optimized gaming experience.

Configuring FIFA 24 Settings

Sometimes, the issue lies within the game settings themselves. FIFA 24 has specific settings that control how it recognizes and uses input devices. First, check the controller settings in FIFA 24. Launch the game and go to the settings menu. Look for a section labeled "Controller," "Input Devices," or something similar. Make sure your joystick is selected as the preferred input device. If it's not, manually select it from the list of available devices. Also, ensure that the controller configuration is correct. FIFA 24 allows you to customize the button mappings for your controller. Make sure the buttons are mapped correctly and that there are no conflicts. If the configuration is incorrect, reset it to the default settings or customize it to your liking. In addition to the in-game settings, check the controller calibration. FIFA 24 may have a calibration tool that allows you to fine-tune the input from your joystick. Calibrate your joystick to ensure that the game accurately interprets your movements. Follow the on-screen instructions to calibrate the joystick correctly. Furthermore, disable any conflicting input devices. If you have multiple input devices connected to your PC, such as a mouse, keyboard, and other game controllers, they might conflict with FIFA 24. Disconnect any unnecessary input devices to prevent conflicts. If you're using any third-party controller emulation software, such as x360ce or DS4Windows, make sure they are configured correctly. These programs can sometimes interfere with FIFA 24's ability to recognize your joystick. Try disabling the emulation software or configuring it to work specifically with FIFA 24. By carefully configuring the FIFA 24 settings and ensuring that your joystick is properly calibrated and selected as the preferred input device, you can often resolve detection issues and improve your gaming experience.

Using Steam to Configure Your Joystick

Steam can be a surprisingly useful tool for configuring and managing game controllers, even for non-Steam games like FIFA 24. Steam's Big Picture Mode has built-in controller support that can help FIFA 24 recognize your joystick. First, add FIFA 24 as a non-Steam game to your Steam library. Open Steam and go to Library, then click on "Add a Game" in the bottom left corner. Select "Add a Non-Steam Game" and browse to the FIFA 24 executable file (usually located in the FIFA 24 installation folder). Once FIFA 24 is added to your Steam library, enable Steam Input for your joystick. Go to Steam Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings. Check the box next to "Configuration Support" for your specific type of controller (e.g., PlayStation Configuration Support, Xbox Configuration Support, or Generic Gamepad Configuration Support). Steam will install the necessary drivers and configure your joystick. After enabling Steam Input, launch FIFA 24 through Steam. This forces FIFA 24 to use Steam's controller configuration. Go to your Steam library and launch FIFA 24 from there. Steam will overlay its controller configuration onto the game. Configure your joystick in Steam's Big Picture Mode. Enter Big Picture Mode by clicking the Big Picture Mode icon in the top right corner of the Steam window. Go to Library, select FIFA 24, and click on "Manage Game." Choose "Controller Configuration" and customize the button mappings to your liking. Steam allows you to create custom controller profiles for each game. If you're still having issues, try using a different controller profile. Steam has a variety of pre-made controller profiles that you can download and use. Browse the available profiles and try one that is designed for FIFA or similar games. Using Steam to configure your joystick can often resolve compatibility issues and improve the overall gaming experience, especially for games that don't natively support certain controllers. Steam's controller support is robust and versatile, making it a valuable tool for any PC gamer.

Troubleshooting with Third-Party Software

If none of the above solutions work, you might need to resort to third-party software to emulate or manage your joystick. These tools can help FIFA 24 recognize your controller by creating a virtual gamepad. Consider using x360ce, a popular Xbox 360 controller emulator. x360ce allows you to emulate an Xbox 360 controller, which is widely supported by most PC games. Download x360ce from its official website and extract the files to the FIFA 24 installation folder. Run x360ce.exe and configure your joystick. The program will detect your joystick and allow you to map its buttons and axes to the corresponding Xbox 360 controller inputs. Create an x360ce configuration file for FIFA 24. After configuring your joystick in x360ce, create a configuration file (x360ce.ini) and place it in the FIFA 24 installation folder. This file tells FIFA 24 to use the emulated Xbox 360 controller instead of the actual joystick. Run FIFA 24 and test your joystick. Launch FIFA 24 and see if your joystick is now recognized. The game should detect an Xbox 360 controller, and your joystick should function accordingly. If you're using a PlayStation controller, DS4Windows is a great alternative. DS4Windows emulates an Xbox 360 controller for PlayStation 4 (DualShock 4) and PlayStation 5 (DualSense) controllers. Download DS4Windows from its official website and install it. Connect your PlayStation controller to your PC via USB or Bluetooth. Run DS4Windows and follow the on-screen instructions to configure your controller. DS4Windows will create a virtual Xbox 360 controller that FIFA 24 can recognize. Ensure that the third-party software is compatible with FIFA 24. Some programs might not work with the latest version of FIFA 24. Check the software's documentation or online forums to see if there are any known compatibility issues or workarounds. Using third-party software can be a bit technical, but it's often the only way to get certain joysticks working with FIFA 24. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and consult online resources if you run into any issues. By using these tools, you can bypass compatibility issues and enjoy FIFA 24 with your preferred joystick. Remember to always download software from reputable sources to avoid malware or other security risks. Good luck, and happy gaming!