[MCPE-39349] Bluetooth controllers not working in MCPE on Android

Downloaded the current version of MCPE to my Google Pixel XL, and I am unable to use the Xbox One S controller connected via Bluetooth to properly control the game. Once in a game, the left stick will control movement, but nothing else works. None of the buttons or triggers are recognized, nor is the right stick. The phone recognizes the controller as an input device, and I can use the buttons to control things within the OS (menu navigation and such), so the problem appears to be isolated to just Minecraft.

Linked issues

relates to 1

MCPE-19274 Controllers do not work properly (Amazon App Store Version Only) Resolved

Comments 22

eSonOfAnder 2018-12-12T00:11:02Z

Just updated to 1.8.0 and the issue still exists.

eSonOfAnder 2018-12-12T00:48:00Z

Have verified that other games that support Bluetooth controls are working correctly with the same controller connected to the phone.

[Mojang] Mega_Spud (Jay) 2018-12-17T16:53:32Z

This bug has been reported to our internal bug tracker for further testing. It doesn't appear to affect all devices as some work correctly.

If anyone else is having trouble using their Xbox One Bluetooth controller to play, please list the affected device details below.

eSonOfAnder 2018-12-20T05:43:40Z

To clarify, the problem is NOT connecting the controller to the phone; the problem is Minecraft recognizing the controller that is connected. As stated in the description and earlier comments, the controller connects properly, and operates correctly in other games that support Bluetooth controllers.

[Mojang] Mega_Spud (Jay) 2018-12-20T08:31:51Z

Understood, edited comment.

12 more comments

[Mojang] Mega_Spud (Jay) 2019-01-08T11:38:38Z

It's possible that the controller is in need of a firmware update, which may help with the connection to your device. Could you please check whether a firmware update is available, and which version your controller is using please?

Instructions for checking/updating the Xbox One controller using an Xbox Console and on Windows 10

[Mojang] Mega_Spud (Jay) 2019-01-09T13:53:00Z

Also, could you please confirm whether the game has been installed through the Google Play store, or the Amazon App store?

killerbeenl83 2019-01-09T16:04:14Z

Also Experience a similar issue on one of my devices. Maybe you can confirm if the functionality on your device is similar to that described in the controller map table?

Details:
Minecraft version: 1.8.1
Store: Google Play store

Brand: Motorola
Model: Moto G4 plus
Android-version: 7.0
Kernelversion 3.10.84-ge03508d-00131-g442576f
Not rooted (no soft/hardware modifications)

Controller:
Brand: Microsoft
Device: Xbox One controller
Model: 1708
Firmware: latest (both windows 10 and xbox one have no further patch at current date)

Connection method:
Bluetooth

Controller map:

Key pressed/input	In game recognized as (controller settings)
Left stick click	No function (not recognized)
Left stick X	Cannot be assigned (working in game: walk)
Left stick Y	Cannot be assigned (working in game: walk)

Right stick click	No function (not recognized)
Right stick right	LT (left trigger)
Right stick down	RT (Right trigger)
Right stick left	Not recognized
Right stick up	Not recognized

Right trigger	Not recognized
Left trigger	Not recognized

Rb (right bumper)	Not recognized
LB (left bumper)	Back/left arrow (xbox 360 like back/ generic_select_button)

A button	A button
B button	B button
X button	Y button
Y button	LB (left bumper)

D-pad up	D-pad Up
D-pad right	D-pad right
D-pad down	D-pad down
D-pad left	D-pad left
Menu (hamburger button)	Not recognized
View (back button)	Cannot be assigned (functions as back)

Additional information: Although some things can be assigned to other buttons. The right analog stick can not be reassigned to look around.

eSonOfAnder 2019-01-11T06:45:34Z

Controller is on firmware 3.1.1221.0 and shows no updates available.

I purchased and downloaded MCPE from the Amazon App Store, though it appears to be the same version (numerically at least) as what is available from the Google Play Store.

eSonOfAnder 2019-01-18T05:33:06Z

In response to my specific observed behavior, the left stick is the only control that performs anything. No other buttons, triggers, nor the right stick do anything within the game.

eSonOfAnder 2019-01-24T06:31:14Z

I duplicate the exact same behavior on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet, running Android 7.0 as well. Left stick moves the character, no button callouts in the UI, cannot assign anything in settings, no response to button, trigger, or right stick within the game.

eSonOfAnder 2019-01-24T06:39:48Z

Can someone please confirm that Bluetooth controller support isn't stripped out of the Amazon App Store version of the game? There are no recent threads on this topic anywhere, hence why I opened this ticket in the first place, but this thread from 1 year ago in the Minecraft subreddit implies that the Amazon version somehow has the Bluetooth controller feature disabled:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MCPE/comments/6bw1o4/problems_with_controller/

Can someone please either confirm or refute this? There does not appear to be any documentation about this anywhere.

[Mojang] Mega_Spud (Jay) 2019-01-26T08:42:43Z

Reopened for review.

eSonOfAnder 2019-01-27T03:36:14Z

Thank you for re-opening. This feels like a very bizarre choice to remove support in the Amazon App Store version, yet it still has all of the Controller settings, which clearly do nothing at this time. At the very least some clear documentation needs to exist, because there is nothing in the Amazon app listing that indicates the game doesn't have the same controller compatibility as the Google Play Store version. The preferable solution is to activate controller support in the Amazon App Store version.

eSonOfAnder 2019-03-28T17:24:14Z

1.10 just released, and confirmed that this issue still exists.

Zack Jenkins 2019-06-18T04:24:00Z

Can confirm with a Galaxy S9 running version 1.11.4. Still an issue.

eSonOfAnder 2019-11-14T19:14:35Z

Looks like Mojang fixed the issue somewhere between 1.12 or 1.13; unclear exactly where the fix was implemented as there was zero communication about it either here on the supposed bug tracker or in the patch notes of the app.

Louis 2019-12-22T18:22:28Z

Actually, issue still persists. I`m on Samsung Tab 10.1" with Android 9+ OS. I experience horrible input lag as described with no background apps running and a octo core processor with 32 gigs internal barely utilized.

I commented on the iOS version since that was the only open bug the search brought up, please address broken search.

Additional on observations....

It requires turning off auto jump in all input types to actually turn it off. So apparently Minecraft doesn't correctly detect which input has been chosen,

So there is overlap, maybe the option to manually turn off other input types may help. Perhaps move option that are available across all inputs to separate section to remove redundancy may also assist in resolving this issue. Ability to increase controller priority would suffice.

eSonOfAnder 2019-12-22T22:25:35Z

@Louis That is a separate issue from this. This issue was for Bluetooth controllers 100% not being enabled as input devices on the Amazon App Store version of the app.

The search issue is inherent to JIRA, Mojang can't fix that. Would highly recommend you open up individual bug reports for both issues you are encountering (input lag, auto-jump not disabling due to multiple input detection). Tagging these in on separate issues only serves to muddy the waters, and makes it more difficult to get the individual problems fixed.

Louis 2019-12-23T18:00:56Z

Will do, please remove comments. I wish they would move to better bug reporting format tbh. I thought auto jump would be pertinent since linked to inputs.

Aaron Gomez 2020-01-21T02:24:17Z

I tried changing the triggers key mapping and they dont respond but when i use the right stick it assigns the triggers down is the right trigger and right is the left one. Without the right stick the controller is basically useless. ive looked at at least 5 different threads on jira all about the same issue and this is the closest ive seen to any kind of solution of which i have found none. My controller was working fine on mobile until about 5 days ago when i opened the game again. I dont know what caused this i had downloaded the newest update before the problem showed up and its only an issue with minecraft i have the newest firmware update as well. i really hope this thread can actually get some support from mods, as i dont play mobile without a controller.

eSonOfAnder 2020-01-21T03:21:40Z

Please note, this ticket has been resolved (check the ticket state), as the issue it was opened for has been fixed. Please open a new ticket, as comments on this issue are likely to be ignored from Mojang, as they consider the issue it was opened for fixed.

Based on your description, you failed to mention a few details that you will want to include in the ticket when you open it:

What device are you using?
Where did you buy Minecraft from? (Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Amazon App Store)
What controller are you using?
Are you able to use the controller with any other games?

You may also try reaching out to the community on the Minecraft Discord (linked on the support pages).