Customization is often the name of the game when it comes to peripherals in gaming. This is especially true in the PC accessory market where RGB lighting is in everything from keyboards, to headsets to the actual desktop unit itself. However, if you are a console player you are incredibly limited in your customization options. The limitations are incredibly obvious, especially when premium peripherals are beginning to become the new normal in the console space. If you have an Xbox Elite V2 there is some hidden RGB technology that you can adjust to change the color of the main Xbox button. Luckily enough it is fairly simple to do and you do not need any tools or new software to change the lighting in the controller.
All you will need to change your Xbox Elite V2 controller’s backlight color is:
- An Xbox Elite V2 Controller
- A PC or Laptop with Steam installed.
- A USB C connecting cable. (Your charging cable for the Elite V2 will work just fine.)
1. Plug Your Xbox Elite V2 Controller Into Your PC and Open Steam
The first step is to plug your Xbox Elite V2 Controller into your PC or laptop using your USB C charging cable. You will get a Windows 10 notification that you have plugged a controller into your PC. If this is your first time plugging your controller into your PC it might prompt you for driver updates in order to recognize your device. If this is the case, follow the driver update wizard and then restart your PC and you should be ready to go. Make sure Steam is installed on your PC. If you do not have it installed on your PC you download it here.
2. Enter Into Controller Settings From Steam’s Big Picture Mode
Entering Steam Big Picture Mode
Now open Steam, and look to the top right-hand corner of the Steam window, and click on the “Big Picture Mode” button. This will bring you into a new Steam interface, that you will now be able to navigate using your controller. Following that, you will want to select the gear-shaped icon that will bring you into settings. Now, you will want to look on the left-hand side of the screen, and about halfway down you will find the “Controller Settings”.
Steam Main Settings
3. Accessing The Elite V2 and Changing The RGB Settings
Once inside the controller settings, you should see your controller under “Detected Controllers”. However, if it doesn’t appear simply unplug and replug in your controller. I found that doing a quick reboot if Steam didn’t detect my controller fixed this problem. Once you see your controller under detected devices simply click on it and this will open up a new menu.
Controller Settings
4. Changing The Color and Settings Of Your Elite V2 Controller
After you select your Xbox Elite Controller you will then want to select “Preferences” on the right-hand side of the screen. This will open up a new menu that will allow you to adjust various settings on your Elite V2 controller. From simple things like naming your controller, to adjusting the brightness of the backlighting. There are a variety of settings you will be able to adjust and play with to your heart’s content. However, what we are looking for is the color bar that will allow you to change the color of the backlight on the Elite V2 controller. It adjusts in real-time so you can play with the settings till you find the perfect color for you.
Steam Controller Preferences
5. Unplug Your Controller and Resync Your Controller On Your Xbox
Once you settle on a color of your preference, simply click the submit button to close out of the window. After you exit the window you can simply unplug your controller from your USB-C charging cable. Now that color will be the default backlight of your controller until you change it again via the same process that we just completed. After doing this, you will have to resync the controller with your Xbox Series or Xbox One console. This can be done simply by pressing the small button on the front of your Xbox console and then pressing the button beside the right bumper on your Xbox Elite V2 controller. Now you are all done and have some custom RGB lighting to play with on your Xbox Elite V2 controller.
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