Guide: How to enable Bluetooth on your Stadia Controller + Bluetooth Pairing

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Important: I am not affiliated with any of the manufacturers, brands, services, or websites listed on this page and this is my personal experience.  If you find this helpful and want to say thanks, please buy me a coffee or take a look at my book on Amazon. It keeps this page ad-free. Thank you!

I was an early adopter of Google Stadia. I literally pre-ordered Stadia as soon as it was available, so the shutdown of Google Stadia was a hard pill to swallow. At least Google did the right thing and refunded the hardware purchase, but the redeeming thing Google has done is made it easy to unlock the Stadia controller to use as a standard Bluetooth controller.

To enable Bluetooth on your Stadia controller is easy and unlocks the ability to use your Stadia controller anywhere. The process takes less than 3 minutes, requires some funky button keypresses, and is irreversible (but hey, Stadia isn’t coming back).  A reminder before you begin, I am not nor have I ever been associated with Google or Google Stadia. Publishing this to help others. The Google instructions are self-explanatory, but maybe you want to read it all first to know what to expect – so that’s the main purpose of this post.

Enabling Bluetooth on your Stadia Controller

Before you begin, charge your Stadia controller. It needs to be at least 10% charged to be able to make the change. Any USB C cable will work, if you have lost or don’t have a USB C cable, grab one from Amazon. Don’t underestimate the importance of charging the Stadia controller or a quality USB C cable, because if it loses power or disconnects during the update, you could brick your controller.

Now that your Stadia controller is fully charged.

  1. Connect your Stadia controller to your computer (PC or macOS works for me) using a USB C cable.
  2. Using Chrome (or Edge Chromium edition) visit this Stadia Bluetooth website.
  3. Click Switch to Bluetooth Mode.
  4. Click Start.
  5. Accept the Terms and Conditions.
  6. Click the “Allow Chrome to verify” button.

Note: If your controller isn’t charged to 10% or more, you will be prompted to charge and come back later.

  1. In the browser pop-up box, select your Stadia Controller.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions, which require a series of key presses:
      • unplug your Stadia Controller (yes, odd I know)
      • hold the “…” button (top left of the controller) as you plug in your Stadia Controller, there is no feedback or indication you have done this correctly.
      • after you plug in your Stadia Controller, press and hold the following 4 buttons “…” and “Google Voice” button and “A” and Y” (see picture below)
    • Enable Stadia Bluetooth
      • release the 4 buttons
      • then click Next

Tip: There’s NO visual or physical confirmation you have done this correctly, you will only know if the next step doesn’t work. Blame Google not me! You don’t need to panic and rush through the keypresses above. I will say it’s an awkward combination, the best way to do it is to use your left thumb to hold the “…” and “Google Voice” button, and your right thumb to press “A” and “Y”.

  1.  Now click “Allow Chrome to download” and in the pop-up window, select your controller, mine was called “SP Blank RT Family” and click Connect.
  2. It will say Download Complete, but you’re not yet done, click Next Step.
  3. Click “Allow Chrome to Install”
  4. In the pop-up window, select your Stadia Controller, it will be called “USB Composite Device” and click “Connect”.
  5. Wait for the Stadia Bluetooth Update to install, DO NOT unplug your controller.
  6. Your controller will vibrate/rumble when it’s done, you can verify everything was successful by going to back to this page and selecting “Check”
Pairing your Stadia Controller via Bluetooth
  1. Make sure you have unlocked your controller, you can check it here.
  2. Press the Stadia and Y buttons for 2 seconds, you will feel a rumble and the LED behind the Stadia button will flash orange.

Google Stadia Bluetooth Pairing

  1. Go to Bluetooth settings on your preferred device and search for the Stadia Controller. It will have the name “StadiaXXXX-YYYY” where XXXX-YYY is your unique controller code.
  2. Once pairing is complete, the LED backlight on the Stadia Controller will turn White.
  3. You’re done!

Tips:

If you’re wondering what the Stadia LED colors mean, they are as follows:

  • Orange Flashing: Pairing Mode, visible to other devices.
  • Flashing White:  Connecting to Last Paired Devices
  • White: Connected to Device
How to Turn On/Turn Off your Stadia Controller
  1. Hold the Stadia Button for 5 seconds, you will feel a rumble and the controller will switch on/off.

Hope this helps someone else!

Important: I am not affiliated with any of the manufacturers, brands, services, or websites listed on this page and this is my personal experience.  If you find this helpful and want to say thanks, please buy me a coffee or take a look at my book on Amazon. It keeps this page ad-free. Thank you!

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