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You selected the issue: Controller(s) won't connect

There are two wireless receivers built into the Vive headset that communicate with the controllers.

Troubleshooting:
Pair your controllers
  1. Turn on your controller
  2. Open the SteamVR console
  3. Right-click the controller icon
  4. Select Pair controller
Reset USB devices
  1. Unplug all Link Box cables from your PC
  2. From your host computer, go to SteamVR > Settings > Developer. Make sure the Developer Settings checkbox is checked
  3. Click on Remove all SteamVR USB Devices. Make sure the Link Box's USB cable is not plugged in and click Yes
  4. Once this is complete, quit SteamVR, plug your Link Box in (USB, HDMI, Power), and re-launch SteamVR
Check Vive headset USB status
  1. From your host computer, go to SteamVR > Settings > USB
  2. Click on Refresh to see the status of the Vive USB components
  3. Make sure Wireless Receiver 1 and Wireless Receiver 2 are highlighted with white circles. If one or both are grayed out, unplug the Vive USB cable from your computer, plug it into a different USB port, and wait for the status to refresh again
Reset your controllers
  1. Hold down the trigger, menu button, trackpad button, AND grip buttons on the controller (everything except the system button)
  2. While holding the buttons, plug your controller into your computer with a micro USB cable (you may need an extra hand to do this)
  3. Wait for five seconds, then release the buttons
  4. Ignore the new storage device that appears and unplug the micro USB cord to reset
Replace USB drivers
Uninstall special chipset USB drivers and let stock Windows USB drivers claim the USB port in use.

  1. Press the Windows key
  2. Type: device manager
  3. Select Device Manager from Control Panel
  4. Click on the Universal Serial Bus controllers dropdown arrow
  5. Right-click the USB controller you want to check
  6. Select Properties
  7. Under the Driver tab, click Driver Details
  8. If the path shown does not end in usbxhci.sys, uninstall the driver and re-install through Device Manager
Remove or disable conflicting software
Some software has been found to conflict with SteamVR or SteamVR driver installations. If you have any of the following software installed, try uninstalling it and re-testing:
  • Razer Synapse
  • Asus AI Suite
  • Avast antivirus
  • JDS Labs ODAC USB Audio device
  • Older Apple Cinema displays with devices attached through USB
  • TP-LINK 300Mbps Wireless N PCI Express Adapter TL-WN881ND
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