Until now, if you wanted to use your Stadia controller to play games on your Android phone, your only option was to connect both of those devices using a USB cable. That changes now after Google announced that you can now play games on your Android device using the Stadia controller, wirelessly!
Yes, after six months of launch, your Stadia controller can finally be used to play games on your phone wirelessly. The following post will help you figure out how you can pair a Stadia controller to your Android device and use it to play games.
- What do you need
- Can I use my Android phone to connect to a Stadia controller?
- How to wirelessly pair your Stadia controller to an Android phone
- Facing issues when connecting? This should help
What do you need
- A Stadia-compatible Android phone (compatible devices are listed below)
- A wireless network that your phone and controller are connected to
- The latest version of Stadia app installed
Can I use my Android phone to connect to a Stadia controller?
For now, the Stadia controller will only work with the following mobile devices. You can only pair your Stadia Controller to your Android device if it’s present in this list.
- Google – Pixel 2, 2XL, 3, 3XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, 4XL
- Samsung – Galaxy S8, S8+, S8 Active, Note 8, S9, S9+, Note 9, S10, S10+, Note 10, Note 10+, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
- OnePlus– OnePlus 5, 5T, 6, 6T, 7, 7T, 7 Pro, 7T Pro, 7 Pro 5G, 7T Pro 5G, 8, 8 Pro
- Asus – ROG Phone, ROG Phone II
- Razer– Razer Phone, Razer Phone II
How to wirelessly pair your Stadia controller to an Android phone
Step 1: Download and install or update to the latest version of the Stadia app on Google Play.
Step 2: Connect your Stadia-compatible Android device to a WiFi network that you are going to connect your controller to as well.
Step 3: Connect your Stadia controller to the same wireless network as that of your phone. To connect your Stadia Controller to Wi-Fi, turn it on, press and hold the Stadia button until it vibrates, and then open the Stadia app. Now open the Stadia app on your phone, tap the Controller icon, select controller from the list, then tap ‘Yes’ and ‘Continue’.
In the next screen, select the WiFi network you connected your Android device to, enter the password, tap ‘Connect to Wi-Fi’ and then hit ‘Done’. Your Stadia controller has been connected to the same WiFi network as your Android phone.
Step 4: Open the Stadia app on your phone and select a game you want to play from the ‘Your games’ section.
Step 5: In the drop-down menu that pops up, select the ‘This screen’ option, and tap on the ‘Play’ button.
When the game is being launched, you will be prompted to add a controller.
Step 6: Now press and hold the Stadia button on the Stadia controller and wait for it to vibrate twice. You will now enter the linking mode and the status light on your controller will blink white.
Step 7: Now enter the linking code (generally 4-5 characters long) that’s displayed on your Android phone’s screen. You can input the linking code using these controller buttons – Up, Down, Left, Right, A, B, X, Y.
The pairing process might take up to 15 seconds as it might take Stadia a moment to recognize the linking code after you have entered it. When your Stadia controller successfully links with your Android device, you will be able to feel two short vibrations on your controller. The status light on your Stadia controller will also turn to a solid white color.
Facing issues when connecting? This should help
- The status light is still blinking white: You haven’t entered the full linking code yet. Enter the code and wait a few seconds to let your controller connect to your phone.
- The status light blinks orange: This might happen if you entered an invalid linking code. Wait for the status light to start blinking white to enter the linking code again.
- Make sure your controller and phone are connected to the same network: Wireless linking on your Stadia controller is only possible if both the Stadia Controller and your Android device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Are you using a compatible wireless network: Your Stadia Controller might fail to connect to your Android phone if you’re are connected to the same Wi-Fi network like in a cafe, hotel, or an office.
Were you able to connect your Stadia controller to an Android device?
Ajaay
Ambivalent, unprecedented, and on the run from everyone’s idea of reality. A consonance of love for filter coffee, cold weather, Arsenal, AC/DC, and Sinatra.
Until now, if you wanted to use your Stadia controller to play games on your Android phone, your only option was to connect both of those devices using a USB cable. That changes now after Google announced that you can now play games on your Android device using the Stadia controller, wirelessly!
Yes, after six months of launch, your Stadia controller can finally be used to play games on your phone wirelessly. The following post will help you figure out how you can pair a Stadia controller to your Android device and use it to play games.
- What do you need
- Can I use my Android phone to connect to a Stadia controller?
- How to wirelessly pair your Stadia controller to an Android phone
- Facing issues when connecting? This should help
What do you need
- A Stadia-compatible Android phone (compatible devices are listed below)
- A wireless network that your phone and controller are connected to
- The latest version of Stadia app installed
Can I use my Android phone to connect to a Stadia controller?
For now, the Stadia controller will only work with the following mobile devices. You can only pair your Stadia Controller to your Android device if it’s present in this list.
- Google – Pixel 2, 2XL, 3, 3XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, 4XL
- Samsung – Galaxy S8, S8+, S8 Active, Note 8, S9, S9+, Note 9, S10, S10+, Note 10, Note 10+, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
- OnePlus– OnePlus 5, 5T, 6, 6T, 7, 7T, 7 Pro, 7T Pro, 7 Pro 5G, 7T Pro 5G, 8, 8 Pro
- Asus – ROG Phone, ROG Phone II
- Razer– Razer Phone, Razer Phone II
How to wirelessly pair your Stadia controller to an Android phone
Step 1: Download and install or update to the latest version of the Stadia app on Google Play.
Step 2: Connect your Stadia-compatible Android device to a WiFi network that you are going to connect your controller to as well.
Step 3: Connect your Stadia controller to the same wireless network as that of your phone. To connect your Stadia Controller to Wi-Fi, turn it on, press and hold the Stadia button until it vibrates, and then open the Stadia app. Now open the Stadia app on your phone, tap the Controller icon, select controller from the list, then tap ‘Yes’ and ‘Continue’.
In the next screen, select the WiFi network you connected your Android device to, enter the password, tap ‘Connect to Wi-Fi’ and then hit ‘Done’. Your Stadia controller has been connected to the same WiFi network as your Android phone.
Step 4: Open the Stadia app on your phone and select a game you want to play from the ‘Your games’ section.
Step 5: In the drop-down menu that pops up, select the ‘This screen’ option, and tap on the ‘Play’ button.
When the game is being launched, you will be prompted to add a controller.
Step 6: Now press and hold the Stadia button on the Stadia controller and wait for it to vibrate twice. You will now enter the linking mode and the status light on your controller will blink white.
Step 7: Now enter the linking code (generally 4-5 characters long) that’s displayed on your Android phone’s screen. You can input the linking code using these controller buttons – Up, Down, Left, Right, A, B, X, Y.
The pairing process might take up to 15 seconds as it might take Stadia a moment to recognize the linking code after you have entered it. When your Stadia controller successfully links with your Android device, you will be able to feel two short vibrations on your controller. The status light on your Stadia controller will also turn to a solid white color.
Facing issues when connecting? This should help
- The status light is still blinking white: You haven’t entered the full linking code yet. Enter the code and wait a few seconds to let your controller connect to your phone.
- The status light blinks orange: This might happen if you entered an invalid linking code. Wait for the status light to start blinking white to enter the linking code again.
- Make sure your controller and phone are connected to the same network: Wireless linking on your Stadia controller is only possible if both the Stadia Controller and your Android device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Are you using a compatible wireless network: Your Stadia Controller might fail to connect to your Android phone if you’re are connected to the same Wi-Fi network like in a cafe, hotel, or an office.
Were you able to connect your Stadia controller to an Android device?
Ajaay
Ambivalent, unprecedented, and on the run from everyone’s idea of reality. A consonance of love for filter coffee, cold weather, Arsenal, AC/DC, and Sinatra.
It has taken more than six months, but it’s finally here
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Google’s Stadia controller. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
It has taken more than six months, but Google’s Stadia controller now finally works wirelessly with Android devices. Google originally launched its Stadia service back in November as a subscription to stream games to TVs, Android phones, and the web. Wireless controller support was strangely missing at launch for Android devices, which meant you had to awkwardly connect the Stadia controller using USB.
Google is issuing a Stadia update to its Android app today that will enable the wireless support. It will also be a good opportunity for Stadia subscribers to test how well the Stadia controller roams between a Chromecast, the web, and Android devices.
Google Stadia. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
While the delay to wireless Android controller support hasn’t been ideal, Google has been gradually improving Stadia and bringing the features it originally promised during the cloud streaming service’s initial unveiling. 4K streaming via the web launched in March, and Google’s Stadia free service was made available in April.
Despite the free version and more games gradually being added to the subscription, Stadia still lacks a sold pool of players and multiplayer games to deliver on Google’s bold ambition. Google is promising to deliver more than 120 games to Stadia throughout 2020, so the game selection will certainly grow in the coming months.
By Yasmine Jacobs Jul 9, 2020
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When it started shipping last year, the Google Stadia Controller worked wirelessly on TVs hooked up to a Chromecast Ultra. Google Stadia gained momentum especially during the Covid-19 lockdown. However, the trouble came along when users trued connecting it to their smartphone. It was required to be connected via USB-C cable.
Earlier this year, Google rolled out the ability to connect wirelessly via the Chrome browser. Now users can now do it with any supported Android device as well.
You can download Google Stadia on any recent Android smartphone. It is worth noting that ‘official support’ is for most Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, Google Pixel, Asus ROG and Razer phones but you can use any other handset on the same operating system.
So unless you have an Apple iPhone or really old Android phone, you will be able to play Google Stadia. Thanks to the free trial, it won’t cost you straight away either.
If you’re a gamer who wants to get into Google Stadia on your phone, you’re in luck, as unlike on TVs where you’ll need the Stadia Controller, you can use the phone app with your PS4 or Xbox One controller. Some game pads work too, such as the Razer Kishi.
The process for getting your game controller connected to your smartphone, then to comply with Stadia, can be a little complicated, so we’ve come up with this guide to help you through all the stages of the process.
How to set up the Google Stadia app
If your phone is compatible, head to the Play Store and download the Google Stadia app. If you don’t have any kind of Google account, set it up on stadia.google.com and log in to the app afterwards.
In the app you should be able to see the Google Stadia interface.
Whether or not you’re going to play Stadia on your phone, download the app to play games and browse the library.
Initially, you needed to buy the Google Stadia Premiere bundle to be able to play on mobile (unless you have a promotional code), which included the controller. That came with three months of Stadia Pro. Gamers can rejoice as you don’t need Stadia Pro to play Stadia.
How to connect a controller to your smartphone
You will still need a controller as you cannot play on Google Stadia using your fingers. If you already own a console, this is easy but if not you might need to buy the Stadia controller online.
You can connec your controller to your smartphone via USB connection. Bear in mind that this is the only option for certain controllers.
Since your smartphone will have a USB-C or microUSB port, you’ll need an adapter before you plug in your controller, which will likely have a USB 3.0 plug that you use to charge it in the console. This is to ensure a stable connection.
Another way to connect your smartphone to your controller is via Bluetooth. This works for the PS4 controller as well as the standard Xbox One, and Xbox Adaptive, controllers. Make sure your controller is disconnected from your console before you try and get it working on your smartphone.
On your smartphone, find the Bluetooth menu by swiping down from the top and pressing and holding on the Bluetooth icon.
How to get your controller working on Google Stadia
You paired the controller with your phone but why is Google Stadia not recognising it? This might have something to do with your Android version. Make sure to update your Android phone to its latest version, which will be Android 10.
In the Google Stadia app, press the controller icon in the top right corner of the screen.
If all has worked, your PS4, Xbox or Stadia controller should now be recognized by the app, and you can jump straight into your game.
While wired controllers on home consoles is acceptable, it is a bit strange when it comes to mobile because it means that it makes it less portable and a bit more clunky when setting it up. Oddly enough, wireless support for Google’s Stadia controller for Android devices was not available at launch, but that has changed.
If you do play Stadia games frequently on your Android phone, you’ll be pleased to learn that Google has announced that they will now be able to use their Stadia controller wirelessly on their Android device. This will come in the form of an update to the Stadia app that will be released on the 30th of June, so do keep an eye out for that.
According to Google, “To play games with your Stadia Controller wirelessly, set up your phone and your Stadia Controller on the same Wi-Fi network, launch a game, and follow the pairing instructions on the screen. It’s that easy!” This means that if you used to have to connect your controller using the USB cable, you will no longer need to do that starting from today.
The update should already be live so do keep an eye out for it, and as per Google’s update, all you need to do is launch the game you want to play, follow the instructions on the screen, and you’ll be good to go.
Google has officially introduced an update that allows you to use your Stadia Controller to play Stadia games wirelessly on Android mobile devices. Below, you’ll find how to set it up and get gaming.
The good news is that setting everything up is super easy – all you need is your phone with the latest version of the Stadia app, your Stadia Controller, a Stadia game, and a functional Wi-Fi network. Once you’ve gotten all your items, follow the steps below.
- Make sure that both your phone and Stadia Controller are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Stadia app on your phone.
- Choose a game.
- Follow the pairing instructions on the screen.
- Play!
As the official Stadia blog notes, if you’re playing with headphones, make sure you connect them to your phone wirelessly or with a cable.
If you don’t have a Stadia Controller or if you just want to buy another one or two or three, you can currently get 10% off on Just Black, Clearly White, and Spicy Wasabi coloured Stadia Controllers until July 2nd. You can buy your chosen controller by following the link here.
In related news, the price of the Google Stadia Premiere Edition was recently cut down from $130 to just $99. The catch is that you won’t be given a free three-month Stadia Pro subscription with this new bundle, but it’s still fairly cheap if you’re looking to get into Stadia.
Google Stadia launched over 6 months ago and a big selling point of the cloud gaming service is not needing a bunch of expensive gaming equipment. The only real hardware you need is a computer with access to a web browser like Google Chrome, a Chromecast Ultra, or an Android smartphone. However, if you wanted to play games with your phone using the Stadia Controller, you needed to awkwardly plug in the controller with a USB cable since the controller could not wirelessly connect. That restriction is finally being lifted today.
In the latest This Week on Stadia update, Google announced several new games coming to the platform in July. The newest free games for Stadia Pro subscribers include Crayta, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, SteamWorld Dig, and West of Loathing. The Elder Scrolls Online is coming later in July. Today is also the last day to claim Serious Sam Collection, Spitlings, and Stacks On Stacks (On Stacks) for free.
The biggest announcement, however, is a much-requested feature for mobile gameplay. The Stadia Controller can now wirelessly connect to your Stadia-capable Android smartphone. This change is coming through an update to the Stadia mobile app and it’s rolling out starting today. The controller and your phone must be on the same Wi-Fi network to connect.
Google also posted a recap of all the Stadia-related announcements made during the month of June. A few of the noteworthy additions include touch controls on mobile, expanded compatibility with OnePlus phones, per-device resolution settings, an experiment tab for playing on unsupported Android devices, and plenty of new game launches. While Stadia may have seemed like a lackluster cloud gaming service at launch, it has slowly gained a lot of great features and titles. The service still has a need for improvement, especially when it comes to its catalog of games, but it’s becoming a viable contender in the game streaming space.
It is likely that you have been encouraged to try Stadia now that Google opened the doors to everyone and that for two months it will also give free access to Stadia Pro. Therefore, if you have tried to play with keyboard and mouse but you are not comfortable, the option is to connect a gamepad . Which ones can you use? Let’s see it.
Stadia and its official gamepad
The official Stadia gamepad is the option that Google recommends to play its video game service via streaming. It does not matter if you are going to do it from a compatible Android phone or from a computer with Chrome. Compatibility is 100% guaranteed and it’s also the only way to do it on a TV using Chromecast Ultra.
This controller offers a design that will remind you a lot of the Plasystation, with those symmetrical analog controls. It is quite comfortable and with its three colors (white, black and light blue) it is practically the best option. But of course, it costs 69 euros .
Therefore, you may still be interested and liked not betting on it. Because you prefer something more versatile than using it with other devices or platforms. In that case, the ideal is to get a good wireless controller. Suggestions? Here we prepare a list with the best bluetooth controls on the market .
Gamepads for Stadia
A good bluetooth controller is one of the most successful purchases you can make right now if you like video games. Because not only will you be able to take advantage of it with Stadia, also with Apple Arcade or your television with Android TV. Without forgetting the use in computers and, logically, in game consoles with which they can be compatible.
All these controls have the peculiarity of connecting via Bluetooth, so it is very easy to connect and start using. Our two main recommendations are, how could it be otherwise, the official control of Xbox One and that of PlayStation 4. Although we would not rule out other proposals that due to design, size or extra features could also be interesting.
In the case of connecting the Sony and Microsoft, the process is very simple.
- The DualShock 4 pairs easily by simply holding down the Share button and then doing the same with the PlayStation logo button. The light will start to flash and you will only have to go to the device where you want to connect and from the Bluetooth settings select it.
- For the Xbox One controller, the process is practically identical except for the buttons you must press. Press the top edge button until the Xbox logo blinks. When it does, it is ready to be detected by your device and connect to it.
Both controls, in case you are going to use a computer, you can connect them through a USB to USB A (or USB C) cable . In case you find it more comfortable or you run out of battery and want to continue playing.
As we say, for us they are the two most recommended options, but there are other controls that even without being mentioned on the Stadia support page could also work. But if you want to avoid problems on Android devices, they are the best option.
Once you have control, it is when you can start to enjoy the service to the fullest. And assess whether or not it could really be the future of video games. By the way, do not forget (although surely you have already checked it) that you can play with keyboard and mouse, also on mobile devices if they are connected via bluetooth or via a USB HUB to USB C.
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Google’s Stadia Controller now works wirelessly with Android phones
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When it began shipping last year, the Stadia Controller worked wirelessly on TVs hooked up to a Chromecast Ultra, but using it with any phone or laptop required it to be connected via USB-C cable, which doesn’t make for the most comfortable gaming experience. Earlier this year, Google rolled out the ability to connect wirelessly via the Chrome browser, and starting today, users can now do it with any supported Android device as well.
Once the ability goes live for you, you’ll need to make sure your phone and Stadia Controller are on the same Wi-Fi network, then launch a game and follow the pairing instructions that appear on screen. Even with the latest APK file from APK Mirror, it doesn’t seem like wireless pairing is working for us yet, though your mileage may vary.
Stadia’s momentum has been hampered by a lack of features like iOS support and Google Assistant integration (although that seems like it’s getting a little closer now). If Google can keep on adding features that arguably should’ve been there from the start, it’ll do a lot to reassure game developers and players alike that Stadia is here to stay. And hey, the Stadia Controller happens to be on sale now!
