Silksong Controller Not Working: Causes, Fixes & Player Experiences

The release of Hollow Knight: Silksong has excited fans worldwide, but not everyone is having a smooth experience. A common complaint across Reddit, Steam, and gaming forums is “Silksong controller not working”. For a game built on precision, not having your controller respond properly is frustrating and game-breaking.

In this guide, we’ll cover the major causes behind controller issues, share real player experiences, and walk through practical fixes that actually work.

Causes of Silksong Controller Not Working

Steam Input Conflicts – Silksong natively supports controllers like Xbox and PlayStation. But when Steam Input is enabled, it often overrides the native drivers and causes random input failures.
Conflicting USB Devices – Pedals, racing wheels, or even VR hardware can trick the game into thinking those devices are your main controller, leaving your actual gamepad unusable.
DualSense Recognition Bugs – Many PlayStation users find that the DualSense is not recognized properly, and the game defaults to Xbox glyphs.
Bluetooth and 8BitDo Issues – Some Bluetooth controllers, especially 8BitDo models, experience input loss after unlocking certain abilities or during long play sessions.
Game Cache or File Errors – Corrupted cache files sometimes prevent Silksong from registering controller input.
Known Launch Bugs – Team Cherry has already confirmed controller detection issues and is preparing patches.

Reddit & Community Experiences

Players have shared a variety of frustrations online. One Reddit user explained:

“I could see it was listing something as a controller that I didn’t expect. Turns out my racing pedals were taking the first slot. Unplugged them, and the Xbox controller worked immediately.”

Another echoed the same:

“My steering wheel setup was hijacking Silksong’s input. As soon as I disconnected it, the controller started working fine.”

On Steam forums, DualSense users noted that:

“Silksong doesn’t natively detect the PS5 controller. If you enable Steam Input, it works, but you’re stuck with Xbox button prompts.”

Linux players also joined in, reporting:

“My 8BitDo controller completely broke when I unlocked sprint. The only fix was forcing Proton 9.0-4 compatibility in Steam settings.”

These reports show that the issue is not just a bug but also heavily linked to hardware setups and Steam Input management.

Fixes & Solutions for Silksong Controller Not Working

1. Disable Steam Input

One of the most common fixes is turning off Steam Input. Since Silksong already supports native controllers, Steam Input often causes conflicts.

Open your Steam library.
Right-click Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Select Properties → Controller.
Under “Override for Silksong,” choose Disable Steam Input.

Players report that this instantly fixes detection for Xbox and even PlayStation controllers.

2. Disconnect Other USB Devices

Another effective fix is to unplug all unnecessary peripherals. Devices like racing wheels, flight sticks, or pedals can confuse Silksong and hijack your controller slot. Before launching the game, disconnect everything except your primary controller. Many Reddit users confirmed this resolved the issue immediately.

3. Fixing DualSense Recognition

For PS5 DualSense players, the solution is a little different. If disabling Steam Input makes the controller stop working, re-enable it. This forces Steam to emulate Xbox controller input. While you’ll see Xbox button prompts instead of PlayStation ones, your DualSense will function correctly until an official patch is released.

4. Bluetooth and 8BitDo Fixes

If you’re using an 8BitDo controller or another Bluetooth gamepad and find controls breaking mid-game, try adjusting Steam compatibility. Many Linux users fixed this by forcing Proton 9.0-4 in Steam’s compatibility settings. If you’re on Windows, reconnect the controller via USB instead of Bluetooth to test stability.

5. Restart and Verify Game Files

If none of the above helps, try a simple restart of your PC. Power cycling clears lingering driver conflicts. Additionally, go to your Steam library, right-click Silksong, and select Verify integrity of game files. This ensures no corrupted data is blocking controller input.

6. Wait for Official Patches

Finally, remember that not all controller problems are user-side. Team Cherry has acknowledged controller detection issues and promised fixes in upcoming updates. If you’ve tried everything and your controller still doesn’t work, it may be best to wait for the next patch.

Bonus Troubleshooting Tips

Check controller detection in Steam settings before launching Silksong.
Allow permissions if you’re on Linux or macOS.
Avoid touching the mouse mid-game, as it can sometimes shift input focus away from the controller.

Conclusion

If you’re experiencing Silksong controller not working, you’re not alone. Thousands of players across Reddit and Steam forums have faced similar frustrations. Luckily, most issues come down to Steam Input conflicts, USB device priority, or controller recognition bugs—and these can be fixed with some quick adjustments.

Disabling Steam Input, unplugging extra peripherals, and tweaking controller settings usually get the game running smoothly. For DualSense and 8BitDo users, some compromises may be necessary until official patches roll out.

The good news is that Team Cherry is aware of these issues, and with upcoming updates, controller support in Hollow Knight: Silksong should become seamless.