Does your Game stutter while using controller? Try these solutions!

Playing games on a computer can be an enjoyable experience, but it can be ruined by stuttering or lag while using a controller. When this happens, you might experience frame drops, causing the action to appear jerky or slow. It might also take longer for the controller to respond to user inputs and the audio may stutter or become out of sync with the action.

There are several reasons why a game may stutter when using a controller while working fine without one. Some of the possible causes include outdated controller drivers, latency issues, interference from other wireless devices, conflicting background processes, incompatible controller, and input lag.

Below, we have discussed the different troubleshooting methods that can help you fix the problem, regardless of the causes. Let’s get right into it!

1. Update the Controller Drivers

The first thing that we recommend doing is updating the controller drivers on your computer.

Controller drivers allow the computer software to recognize and interact with the controller. If they are outdated or corrupt, they will lead to compatibility issues, causing the problem at hand. The best way to proceed in this case is by using the Device Manager utility to update the drivers.

1.1 Wired Controllers

If you are using a wired controller, here is what you should do:

1. Press the Win + S keys to open the Windows Search utility.
2. Type Device Manager in Windows search and click Open.
3. In the Device Manager, scroll down and expand the Human Interface Devices category if you are using wired controllers.
4. Under this category, you should find controller drivers. It is possible that they will be listed as HID-compliant game controllers. 
5. Right-click on the driver and choose Update driver from the context menu.

   

6. Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

   

7. Finally, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

1.2 Wireless Controllers

In case you are using a wireless controller connected to your device via Bluetooth, you will find the driver under the Bluetooth section. Simply expand the Bluetooth section of the Device Manager and follow the steps we have listed above to proceed with the update.

If the system does not have an updated version of the driver, head over to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest version from there. Then, follow these steps:

1. Follow steps 1-5 from above.
2. Choose Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick an available driver.
3. Pick the driver you just installed and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

2. Disable the Conflicting Software

Stuttering can also be caused by software or background processes in Windows when using a controller.

These programs consume system resources, including CPU and memory, which can cause your game to stutter if they run in the background.

The issue can be resolved by closing any unneeded background processes while playing the game. We will be using the Task Manager for this purpose.

Here is how:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Right-click on the background process that you wish to disable.
3. Click End Task to close it and then close the Task Manager.

   

Hopefully, the game will work properly now. If you identify a faulty application, you can also uninstall the program from the system to prevent further issues.

3. Ensure Other Wireless Devices Are Not Interferring (If Applicable)

If you are using a wireless controller, then it is possible to face the issue due to interference from other wireless devices or networks. Wireless devices, such as Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices, or other gaming controllers, can disrupt the controller’s wireless signal, causing interference.

The first thing we recommend in this case is moving the controller closer to the computer. With this, the wireless signals will have a shorter distance to travel, which reduces interference. Additionally, you may want to disable any wireless devices that you suspect are interfering with the signal, such as Wi-Fi routers or Bluetooth devices.

4. Re-Add the Controller

You can also try removing the controller from the system and then adding it back, which will refresh the connection between the controller and the computer, resolving any issues that may have occurred due to a lost or faulty connection.

Here is how you can do that:

1. Press the Windows + I keys together to open Windows Settings.
2. Choose Bluetooth & devices from the left pane.
3. Click on View more devices and look for your controller in the list.

   

4. Hit the Remove Device button.

   

5. Now, disconnect the controller from the USB port, wait for a few seconds and connect it back.

This will reinstall the drivers. You can now check if the game works fine without the stuttering problem.

5. Update the Game

If your game is outdated, it might not be able to take advantage of the latest hardware and features, causing it to perform poorly and stutter.

Furthermore, an outdated game may contain bugs or have controller compatibility issues, which can cause the game to stutter. Input from the controller may not be properly processed by the game, resulting in delays.

The issue can usually be resolved by updating the game to the latest version using the game’s built-in update feature or downloading it from the game’s website. Also, it is recommended that you check for patches and updates for the game, which may have bug fixes and performance improvements that will help you fix the stuttering problem.