[GH-ISSUE #3394] [APP BUG]: Controller stops working when tampering with Windows user sessions #1042

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opened 2026-02-27 21:09:37 +03:00 by kerem · 3 comments

kerem commented

2026-02-27 21:09:37 +03:00

Owner

Originally created by @zezoman on GitHub (Aug 6, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/shadps4-emu/shadPS4/issues/3394

Checklist

I have searched for a similar issue in this repository and did not find one.
I am using an official build obtained from releases or updated one of those builds using its in-app updater.

Describe the Bug

The Xbox series x controller stops working if I remotely connect and disconnect to my windows user account or if I temporarily switch to another user account on the same PC.
The controller keeps working with my normal windows games, only shadps4 is affected by this.
Also this is not some recent regression, I remember having this issue since the end of last year, but it probably existed even before that.

shad_log.txt

Reproduction Steps

There are two ways to reproduce this problem:

access user A session remotely (via WTS, windows terminal service or RDP, remote desktop protocol) from another PC and then disconnect
while logged with user A switch to another user B and then switch back to user A.

Both of these will lead to the same issue - my xbox series x controller inputs no longer work, pressing any button is ignored. Strangely enough the log shows the controller is detected.
The workaround is to logout and login or restart the PC. Probably disabling re-enabling the device in the Windows Device Manager would do the job as well but I had a problem with it in the past and would rather not go that way.

Expected Behavior

No response

Specify OS Version

Windows 10

CPU

Intel Core i5 4690

GPU

nVidia GTX 1080 Ti

Amount of RAM in GB

16 GB

Originally created by @zezoman on GitHub (Aug 6, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/shadps4-emu/shadPS4/issues/3394 ### Checklist - [x] I have searched for a similar issue in this repository and did not find one. - [x] I am using an official build obtained from [releases](https://github.com/shadps4-emu/shadPS4/releases) or updated one of those builds using its in-app updater. ### Describe the Bug The Xbox series x controller stops working if I remotely connect and disconnect to my windows user account or if I temporarily switch to another user account on the same PC. The controller keeps working with my normal windows games, only shadps4 is affected by this. Also this is not some recent regression, I remember having this issue since the end of last year, but it probably existed even before that. [shad_log.txt](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/21613509/shad_log.txt) ### Reproduction Steps There are two ways to reproduce this problem: 1. access user A session remotely (via WTS, windows terminal service or RDP, remote desktop protocol) from another PC and then disconnect 2. while logged with user A switch to another user B and then switch back to user A. Both of these will lead to the same issue - my xbox series x controller inputs no longer work, pressing any button is ignored. Strangely enough the log shows the controller is detected. The workaround is to logout and login or restart the PC. Probably disabling re-enabling the device in the Windows Device Manager would do the job as well but I had a problem with it in the past and would rather not go that way. ### Expected Behavior _No response_ ### Specify OS Version Windows 10 ### CPU Intel Core i5 4690 ### GPU nVidia GTX 1080 Ti ### Amount of RAM in GB 16 GB

kerem

2026-02-27 21:09:37 +03:00

closed this issue
added the
bug
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kerem commented

2026-02-27 21:09:38 +03:00

Author

Owner

@StevenMiller123 commented on GitHub (Aug 27, 2025):

I'm not entirely convinced this is our bug, as shadPS4 allows inputs from all connected devices, and usually detects a device disconnecting and reconnecting just fine on my end.
A developer more familiar with our input-related code will need to comment on this though.

@StevenMiller123 commented on GitHub (Aug 27, 2025): I'm not entirely convinced this is our bug, as shadPS4 allows inputs from all connected devices, and usually detects a device disconnecting and reconnecting just fine on my end. A developer more familiar with our input-related code will need to comment on this though.

kerem commented

2026-02-27 21:09:38 +03:00

Author

Owner

@zezoman commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2025):

Found smth that could help. When I opened the issue I forgot to mention that I have 2 Wireless Xbox Series X controllers that connect to the same receiver connected to my PC. Accidentally found out that the issue happens only to one of these 2 controllers, the other one is not affected. And again, the affected controller still works with other PC games, only the emulator does not, at least until I logout/login in which case it starts working with the emulator too.

@zezoman commented on GitHub (Aug 31, 2025): Found smth that could help. When I opened the issue I forgot to mention that I have 2 Wireless Xbox Series X controllers that connect to the same receiver connected to my PC. Accidentally found out that the issue happens only to one of these 2 controllers, the other one is not affected. And again, the affected controller still works with other PC games, only the emulator does not, at least until I logout/login in which case it starts working with the emulator too.

kerem commented

2026-02-27 21:09:38 +03:00

Author

Owner

@zezoman commented on GitHub (Sep 30, 2025):

I have a new PC now and tried to reproduce the problem on it but I can't.
I tend to accept that the issue was related to my old PC (though I don't know why exactly) and therefor should close it as it is quite an edge case anyway.

@zezoman commented on GitHub (Sep 30, 2025): I have a new PC now and tried to reproduce the problem on it but I can't. I tend to accept that the issue was related to my old PC (though I don't know why exactly) and therefor should close it as it is quite an edge case anyway.