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How to Use Xbox Controller Assist With Two Controllers
Want to help someone through a difficult section without taking their controller away? Xbox Controller Assist combines two controllers into one set of in-game controls. You can share the job with another person or arrange both controllers around your own needs.
What you need on an Xbox console
The steps below cover Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Connect two licensed Xbox controllers before starting. SpecialEffect’s GameAccess guide documents these combinations:
- Two standard Xbox Wireless Controllers.
- One Xbox Wireless Controller and one Xbox Adaptive Controller.
- Two Xbox Adaptive Controllers.
The feature does not add a second character or a separate player slot. Both devices contribute to the same player’s actions.
Turn on Controller Assist
Use the controller you want as your primary controller to follow these steps:
- Press the Xbox button to open the Guide.
- Open Profile & system > Settings.
- Choose Accessibility > Controller.
- Open Controller assist settings.
- Select Turn on Controller assist.
With two controllers connected, Xbox selects the other one as the assisting controller. With three or more connected, choose the assisting device. Standard controllers vibrate to help you identify them.
Check the setup before a difficult section
Open a game and try a simple action with each controller separately. Both should affect the same player. We recommend checking in a quiet area before attempting a timed sequence or a fight.
Agree on who handles each action. For example, one person could steer while the other handles a hard-to-reach button. Treat that as an arrangement between players, rather than a promise that the console automatically divides the controls into separate jobs.
Comfort and reach should guide your arrangement. Keep the controls you need close by, and let the assisting player handle only the actions you agree on. You do not need to use every button on both devices.
Turn it off when you finish
Return to the primary controller’s options through Xbox Accessories or the console’s Settings route, then select Turn off Controller assist.
Older guides may call the feature Copilot. Look for Controller Assist in the current menus, and keep Xbox’s support page handy if your screen differs.
For a setup that needs more than shared controls, our SpecialEffect profile explains the charity’s tailored support and free resources. Start with the actions you find difficult, then choose controls that make those actions easier to reach.
Image Credit: Microsoft / Xbox, official Xbox Adaptive Controller press photo
