Hollow Knight: Silksong was finally released yesterday, and it has already become a huge success. The game hit a peak of over 535,000 players on Steam, which is massive for any release. In fact, Steam went down when the game launched, which is enough to tell you how eager fans were to try it. However, like most new launches, Silksong isn’t bug-free. And one frustrating problem players are reporting is that their controller isn’t working on PC.

For some players, playing with a controller makes the experience more comfortable compared to a keyboard and mouse. However, for many, the controller isn’t being detected in Silksong. But while the issue seems daunting, it can be fixed within a few minutes by following the right methods, which we’ll explain in this guide.

How to fix the controller not working issue in Hollow Knight: Silksong on PC

If the controller doesn’t start working on its own, then here are some methods that can help fix the issue.

Method 1: Restart your PC

It might sound too simple, but a quick restart often fixes many problems. Temporary bugs or small glitches can stop your controller from working, and rebooting your system clears them out. One player on the Steam Community Forums even said their Xbox One controller wouldn’t connect until they restarted their PC.

We also recommend power cycling your PC instead of just restarting it. For this, turn off your PC, unplug the power cables, and wait at least five minutes. Then plug everything back in and turn your PC on. This refreshes the hardware and can sometimes solve bugs or glitches that may be causing the issues.

Method 2: Disable or enable Steam Input

Sometimes, the problem comes from Steam itself not detecting your controller correctly. However, adjusting the Steam Input can often fix this.

• For DualSense controllers: Go to Steam > Settings > Controller, and enable PlayStation configuration support.
• For Xbox controllers: Enable Steam Input for Xbox controllers in the same menu.

After that, go to your Steam Library, right-click Hollow Knight: Silksong, select Properties, and then Controller. Under the Override option, select Disable Steam Input. 

Method 3: Verify game files

In some cases, corrupt or missing game files can also cause several issues. While such situations require reinstalling the game, Steam thankfully has a built-in feature that lets you repair or replace such files.

• Go to your Steam Library
• Right-click Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Select Properties
• Click on Installed Files
• Choose ‘Verify integrity of game files’

Steam will then scan the game and replace or repair any broken files.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.