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The short answer: there are four ways to get an Xbox controller that feels like yours. Design one in Microsoft’s Xbox Design Lab, or buy a pro-style controller with extra buttons. You can also add a few clip-on extras to the controller you already have, or change the buttons for free in the Xbox Accessories app.

This guide helps you pick the right one, whether it’s for you or a gift, and points out the “modded” controllers to avoid.

Four ways to make a controller yours

1. Design it in Xbox Design Lab

Best for: a one-of-a-kind gift. Microsoft’s own site lets you pick the colors of a standard Xbox controller or the pro Elite Series 2, then builds it for you.

It is a real Microsoft controller, so it works with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PCs and iPhone and Android phones. Plan ahead: delivery takes three to four weeks, and custom orders can’t be returned. Our Xbox Design Lab guide covers the rules.

2. Buy a pro-style controller

Best for: players who want to play better, not just look different. Pro controllers add back paddles (extra buttons under your fingers), trigger stops that shorten how far the triggers travel, and swappable thumbsticks.

Microsoft makes the Elite Series 2. Its cheaper Core version has the paddle slots but no paddles in the box; Microsoft sells them separately. Brands such as PowerA, 8BitDo and SCUF make licensed pro controllers, some with magnetic thumbsticks their makers say resist drift. Compare them in our pro Xbox controller picks.

3. Add a few extras to the one you have

Best for: small gifts and stocking fillers. Thumbstick caps that snap on, rubber grips, a rechargeable battery and new shells (outer cases) change how a controller feels or looks for much less than a new one.

Most clip on in seconds. A new shell means opening the controller with a small screwdriver, which suits a confident teen or adult. For batteries, Microsoft’s own rechargeable battery is the safe pick for the Series X|S controller: Microsoft warns that other brands’ battery packs may not fit. See our controller add-on picks.

4. Change the buttons for free

Best for: trying a new layout before spending anything. The free Xbox Accessories app, on the console or a Windows PC, works with any Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S controller.

You can remap buttons, swap the sticks or triggers, save profiles and set up Controller Assist (formerly Copilot), which lets two controllers act as one. The Elite Series 2 gets extra options, such as setting what each paddle does and how sensitive the sticks are.

Official, licensed or unlicensed: why it matters

Before you buy any controller that isn’t Microsoft’s, check which of these it is:

  • Official means Microsoft makes it: the Xbox Wireless Controller, the Elite Series 2 and the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
  • Licensed means Microsoft has approved the controller. Look for the “Designed for Xbox” badge on the box, not just the words “officially licensed” in an online listing, since anyone can type those. Microsoft’s own quick checks: a licensed controller has an Xbox button on its face, or an Xbox logo between the triggers.
  • Unlicensed controllers can stop working. An Xbox shows error 0x82d60002 when it spots one, and Microsoft says the accessory is blocked two weeks later. Check Microsoft’s error page for the current rules.

Watch for listings sold as “modded” with rapid fire, macros or anti-recoil. Xbox’s Community Standards ban using “unauthorized hardware or accessories” and “modified or tampered hardware,” and several big games ban these devices by name. Our guide explains what can get you banned.

Which controller do they have?

Add-ons fit some controllers and not others. Check which one they have before you buy:

  • Xbox Series X|S controller (2020 on): a Share button in the middle, below the Xbox button, and a USB-C charging port. This is the one sold today, and it also works with Xbox One.
  • Older Xbox One controllers: no Share button, and a smaller, older charging port. Microsoft says they work with Xbox Series X|S too.
  • Elite Series 2: rubber grips, a Profile button and four paddle slots on the back. It has its own add-ons.

Not sure? The model is printed on a label inside the battery compartment of standard controllers.

Warranty in plain words

In the US and Canada, Microsoft’s warranty covers a standard Xbox controller for 90 days and the Elite Series 2 for one year. It does not cover “damage caused by repairs or modifications done by someone other than Microsoft or a Microsoft authorized service provider, or damage caused by using another company’s parts.” It also excludes normal wear and tear. Check the current warranty for your purchase date.

So a snap-on thumbstick cap is a low-risk add-on. A shell from another brand is another company’s part: if the controller is damaged by it, or while fitting it, the warranty won’t cover that. If the controller is still under warranty, wait until it runs out before you open it.

Common questions

What's the best custom controller for a gift?

For most people, a controller from Xbox Design Lab in their favorite colors, ordered at least a month ahead. If time is short, a licensed controller in a special-edition color from a store is quicker. Check the store’s return policy before you buy, since Design Lab orders can’t be returned.

Do Xbox One controllers work on an Xbox Series X or S?

Yes, both ways, as the section above says. Add-ons are a different story: shells and some grips are made for one model only, so check the listing for the model it fits.

Can I buy Microsoft's own replacement parts?

In the US, Microsoft sells a few replacement sections for out-of-warranty Series X|S and Elite Series 2 controllers, such as the top case and the buttons. It doesn’t sell single parts, and it says any damage you cause while fitting them isn’t covered.

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