Edits
10/29/22 23:46 — The 8bitdo Ultimate Controller is not working on my Steam Deck, whether via Bluetooth or 2.4Ghz dongle with the Steam Dock. When connected to the Dock, the 8bitdo dongle lights up solid blue indicating it has a connection to the controller, but there is no response in the Deck when using the controller. When pairing to the Deck via Bluetooth, it shows up as «Pro Controller» and connects (similar to the behavior observed in Windows), but also doesn’t respond to any input (again, similar to the behavior observed in Steam on Windows). For the record, the first-party Switch Pro Controller does work flawlessly on the Deck.
10/30/22 12:55 — u/PookAndPie reported below that their own controller, after shutting it off and on again, exhibited no issues getting their PC to recognize it as a Switch Pro Controller over Bluetooth. Attempting to turn off/on the controller on my own end resulted in no change until I re-read the manual closely and noticed that there’s a way to force the controller off. I had assumed that when the LED light was off, the controller was off. That’s not necessarily the case.
After a force-shutdown of the controller and restarting it, my Windows desktop connected to the controller automatically over BT and Steam recognized it as a Switch Pro Controller. With the dongle connected to the same PC, I toggled the connectivity switch and sure enough, Steam on the same PC picked up the controller again, this time as an Xbox controller. And it worked fine again vice versa, toggling it once more to BT.
This was my biggest complaint about the controller so far and it seems to just be some kind of boot/initiation problem with the controller’s firmware, since a simple hard restart fixed it for me. However, I’d still love for a clarification on the Switch Pro Controller mode over 2.4GHz dongle option. The manual states this is possible on a Switch console, so why shouldn’t it be on a PC?
Unfortunately, this didn’t do anything to fix the controller’s inputs on my Steam Deck. Actually, now it works on my Steam Deck via BT. But it’s got a strange way of behaving: after pairing, I still don’t get any button inputs to register on the Deck, until I press the Home button on the controller. Then, it seems to «wake up» the controller (even though its LEDs were already on) and the Deck accepts input from it just fine.
10/30/22 19:15 — u/Natural_Design9481 requested checking the polling rate of the controller. I was only able to do this wired and with the 2.4G dongle, not through Bluetooth. If anybody can suggest how I attempt to get the polling rate through Bluetooth I can look into it. Here are the results:
| Wired | Wireless (2.4GHz) | Wireless (BT) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 0.556400 ms | 0.720700 ms | n/a |
| Max | 29.914400 ms | 14.998200 ms | n/a |
| Jitter | 2.161996 ms | 0.921656 ms | n/a |
| Average | 4.824247 ms | 4.768375 ms | n/a |
| Outliers | 7 | 5 | n/a |
| Polling Rate | 207.286257 Hz | 209.715058 Hz | 115 Hz Max / 80Hz Avg. * |
I tested using XInputTest and attempted overclocking the controller’s polling rate using HIDUSBF . The results were the same (within ±5ms) no matter what polling rate was set in the software. Again, if anyone can suggest a way to test this using BT/Switch Pro Controller mode, I’m open to trying things.
* u/RuphusSpeaks gave some advice on how to test the polling rate of the gyroscope via BT. It uses additional tools (reWASD) to parse the gyro input and translate it as mouse input for reading on https://devicetests.com/mouse-rate-test . If anybody has other ways to test this with more accuracy then I’m all ears.
10/31/22 17:07 — I received a response from 8bitdo support regarding my inquiry. Here is what they say:
- Is there a way to use the controller via 2.4GHz dongle on PC and have the computer detect it as a Switch Pro Controller? So far, I’ve only been able to get Steam to recognize the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller as an Xbox Controller in 2.4GHz mode.
So it seems the connectivity limitations are by design and I think it may be safe to assume 8bitdo has no plans to enable switching of controller modes over 2.4GHz.
11/15/2022 9:50 u/PolygonKiwii reported that 8bitdo is working on firmware that allows switching input modes on 2.4GHz. This is huge news for anyone who wanted the speed/performance of 2.4GHz but the input scheme and features of the Switch Pro controller.
Bluetooth
Note: Your Bluetooth dongle should be with version 3 or higher.
Sometimes your host device may ask you for a pin. In that case please use the pin: 0000
Contents
Bluetooth options
Your MOD device has a menu option dedicated to Bluetooth. Screens might look slightly different for different devices. For example, for MOD Duo / Duo X, please click and hold the left knob and scroll down to the «System» menu
On the right display, scroll down to the «Bluetooth» option rotating the right knob. Quick press the right knob to access the Bluetooth options:
Enable discovery will turn on discovery mode on for 2 minutes.
The MOD starts with discovery turned off by default.
Status. shows the current Bluetooth status
The following different status are available:
— Unavailable — no Bluetooth dongle is plugged in the MOD device
— Unsupported — the Bluetooth version of the dongle in use is too old (needs >= Bluetooth 3 or newer version)
— Starting. — Bluetooth service is starting
— Disconnected — Bluetooth active, no devices connected and not discoverable
— Discoverable — Bluetooth active, discoverable (and perhaps with devices connected)
— Connected — Bluetooth active, at least 1 device connected but not discoverable
Name. shows the Bluetooth device name for your specific MOD device.
Usually, includes batch and serial number as suffix for uniqueness.
You can customize this name by creating a file named ‘/data/bluetooth/name’ inside your MOD device. Its contents define the name. Or on the settings of the Web GUI.
Address. shows the MAC address of the current Bluetooth dongle in your MOD device.
Connecting using Bluetooth
The process to connect to a MOD device via Bluetooth is pretty simple.
We basically just need to enable discovery for 1st-time setups and pair it with the computer.
Then connect to its network and open http://192.168.50.1/. (note the ’50’ instead of ’51’ used for USB cable connection)
Just in case you still have doubts, the text below explains how to do the connection in a little more detail.
In all cases, plug your Bluetooth dongle before turning the MOD device on.
Windows
1. Plug a Bluetooth USB dongle into the MOD device
3. Right-click the Windows Bluetooth icon and click on «Join a Personal Area Network»
4. Open the settings menu of your MOD device as described above
5. Click on the ‘Add device’ button on the new window that appeared on the computer
6. Select your MOD device from the list and click ‘Next’
Note: your Windows device may request you a pin. If that happens type: 0000
7. Wait for Windows to finish setting it up
8. Select your MOD device icon and click ‘Connect using’ then ‘Access point’
9. The connection should be successful. If not, start again from step 3
10. That’s it. Open your browser and go to http://192.168.50.1/
Note: Every time you want to use the Bluetooth functionality you must enable Bluetooth discovery on your MOD device and repeat step 7
Mac OS
1. Plug a Bluetooth USB dongle into the MOD device
3. Open the settings menu of your MOD device as described above
4. Open System Preferences, go to Bluetooth and wait for your list to update. After a while, you must see your MOD device appearing and available to connect
5. Click «Connect» for your MOD device and the list will be updated showing your device connected
6. That’s it, your MOD device is connected. Open your browser and go to http://192.168.50.1/
Linux
There are quite a few different Bluetooth manager applications under Linux, so we won’t cover them all here.
So instead we can tell the basic steps:
1. Plug a Bluetooth USB dongle into the MOD device
4. Open the settings menu of your MOD device as described above.
5. Use your Bluetooth manager application to look for Bluetooth devices
6. Select your MOD device and connect to it
7. Join the Bluetooth network created by your MOD device
8. That’s it. Open your browser and go to http://192.168.50.1/
Connecting to mobile devices
As to access to the Web GUI of your MOD devices you don’t need to install any software, one of the coolest ways to tweak your pedalboards is by using a mobile device like your smartphone or tablet. This gets even easier if you use the Bluetooth connection.
Here we will let you know how to connect your MOD device via Bluetooth with iOS and Android systems.
iOS
1. Plug a Bluetooth USB dongle into the MOD device
3. Make sure that you have the Bluetooth active on your iOS device and that you enabled the discovery on the settings of your MOD device (check how to do it here)
4. Open the settings menu of your MOD device as described above
5. Go to Settings -> Bluetooth on your iOS device and wait until the MOD device appears on the list of «Other Devices»
6. Click on it and wait to connect
Note: your iOS device may request you a pin. If that happens type: 0000
7.You are now connected. Open your the browser on your mobile device and go to http://192.168.50.1/
Note: this screenshot was taken on an iPhone SE. iPad resolutions may allow you to see better your pedalboard
Android
1. Plug a Bluetooth USB dongle into the MOD device
3. On the settings of your Android device turn off the internet connection. Normally this is done on the WLAN selector. Also turn off 4G/mobile data too, if you have that.
4. Enable the discovery on the Bluetooth settings of your MOD device. On your Android device switch OFF the WLAN (WiFi) and switch ON the Bluetooth. Your MOD device must now appear on the list
5. Open the settings menu of your MOD device as described above
6. Click on the MOD device name in order to pair it with your Android
Note: If your Android device requests you a pin during this operation type: 0000
7. As soon as your MOD device is paired, click on its settings and activate the «Internet access» through it
Note: this will stop your access to your normal internet on this device
8. You are now able to edit your pedalboard from your Android device. Open the browser on your mobile device and go to http://192.168.50.1/
Bluetooth dongles tested by community
| Dongle | Dongle chipset | Chipset VID:PID | MOD Device | MOD Release | Test | User | Date | Device + OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxuni Bluetooth 5.0 — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CMP5LQC | MOD Dwarf | Passed | redcloud | 2022-01-26 | iPad 7 | |||
| Maxuni Bluetooth 5.0 — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CMP5LQC | MOD Dwarf | Not passed | redcloud | 2022-01-26 | Android 4, 10 | |||
| Avantree DG40S USB Bluetooth https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00VWEK4IG | MOD Dwarf | Passed | zwabo | 2022-04-21 | Android 11 Samsung Galaxy A32 | |||
| Kinivo BTD400 — https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007Q45EF4 | BCM20702 | 0A5C:21E8 | MOD Dwarf | 1.12.1 | Passed | sloedowncadet | 2023-01-11 | Windows 11 |
| Kinivo BTD400 — https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007Q45EF4 | BCM20702 | 0A5C:21E8 | MOD Dwarf | 1.12.1 | Passed | sloedowncadet | 2023-01-11 | Android 12 Samsung Galaxy S10e |
| tplink UB4A — https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YLDVM6B | CSR CSR8510 | 0A12:0001 | MOD Dwarf | 1.12.1 | Passed | sloedowncadet | 2023-01-11 | Windows 11 |
| tplink UB4A — https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YLDVM6B | CSR CSR8510 | 0A12:0001 | MOD Dwarf | 1.12.1 | Passed | sloedowncadet | 2023-01-11 | Android 12 Samsung Galaxy S10e |
| Olakin BT5.1 — https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09ZY2MTXT | Realtek RTL8671b | 0BDA:A725 | MOD Dwarf | 1.12.1 | Unsupported | sloedowncadet | 2023-01-11 | — |