XOutput Troubleshooting Hub

Comprehensive solutions for every error code, crash, and bug.

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Startup & Installation Crashes

System.DllNotFoundException: ViGEmClient.dll

Symptom:
The application crashes immediately upon launch with a long error log.
Cause:
Windows cannot find the ViGEmBus driver libraries. This happens if the driver is not installed or if the PC wasn’t restarted.
✅ The Fix:
  1. Download and install ViGEmBus v1.21.442 from our downloads page.
  2. Crucial: Restart your computer.
  3. If it still fails, uninstall “ViGEm Bus Driver” from Control Panel and reinstall it as Administrator.

Application opens but closes instantly (Silent Crash)

Symptom:
You double-click XOutput.exe, the cursor loads for a second, but nothing happens. No error message.
Cause:
Missing .NET 7 Desktop Runtime. Windows Event Viewer will show a “.NET Runtime” error.
✅ The Fix:

Install the .NET 7.0 Desktop Runtime (x64). Note: The “SDK” or “ASP.NET” versions will NOT work. You specifically need the “Desktop Runtime”.

Unhandled Exception: SharpDX.DirectInput

Symptom:
Crash when clicking “Add Controller” or when mapping buttons.
Cause:
Missing legacy DirectX libraries. Windows 10/11 comes with DirectX 12, but XOutput needs older DX9 components to talk to old controllers.
✅ The Fix:

Download and run the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer from Microsoft. It will scan your PC and download the missing legacy DLLs.

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In-Game & Input Glitches

Game detects 2 controllers / Menus scroll twice

The Problem: Games like FIFA, Rocket League, or Dark Souls see both your real “Generic USB Joystick” and the virtual “Xbox 360 Controller”. This causes double inputs.

The Solution (HidHide):
  1. Install HidHide (reboot required).
  2. Open HidHide Client. Under “Applications”, add XOutput.exe to the whitelist.
  3. Under “Devices”, check the box for your physical controller (Sony/Generic).
  4. Enable “Device Hiding” at the bottom.

View detailed HidHide guide →

Camera spins or character moves by itself

Cause:
Your physical stick is old or sensitive, sending small input signals even when centered.
Fix:
Open XOutput, click Edit. Under the Axes section, increase the Deadzone slider.
Recommended: Start at 5% and increase until the drift stops.

Triggers (L2/R2) act as buttons (0 or 100%)

Context: You want analog control (e.g., for racing games throttle), but the trigger acts like a digital switch.

How to Fix:
  • Check if your controller has a physical “Mode” or “Analog” button. Press it.
  • In XOutput mapping, ensure you are mapping Triggers under the “Axes” section (usually Z-Axis), NOT the “Buttons” section.

No Vibration / Rumble

First, verify your controller actually has motors. Then:

  1. In XOutput, click Edit -> Force Feedback tab.
  2. Check if motors are listed. If empty, your controller driver does not support DirectInput vibration.
  3. Try this driver: For generic USB controllers, search and install “Generic USB Joystick Driver” (often found on CD discs or online archives).

💡 Tired of configuring old drivers?

Save hours of setup time. The PowerA Wired Controller is natively supported by Windows 10/11 – no XOutput required. Just plug and play.

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Advanced Logs & Reporting

Finding the Log File

XOutput generates a log file that records every startup event and error. This is crucial for diagnosing “silent crashes”.

Location: %AppData%\XOutput\logs\
Or (Portable): Inside the XOutput folder\logs\

What to look for:

  • [Error] lines usually indicate missing drivers.
  • [Warn] HidGuardian means access to the controller was blocked.
  • [Info] ViGEmClient indicates successful driver connection.

Still Stuck? Ask for Help Correctly

Since the official project is archived, you can seek help on communities like r/XOutput or r/Controller. To get an answer, use this template:

**OS:** Windows 10 / 11 (Build Version) **Controller:** [Name of your controller, e.g., PS3 DualShock] **XOutput Version:** v3.32 **ViGEmBus Version:** [Check Device Manager] **Issue:** [Describe what happens. E.g., "Buttons are mapped but Game Pass doesn't see the controller"] **Log Snippet:** [Copy the last 5 lines from your log file here]

* We are not the developers, but we monitor our contact form for major bug reports.

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Windows 11 Specific Issues

Windows 11 has stricter security features than Windows 10, which can sometimes block the ViGEmBus virtual driver from loading.

Driver won’t load? Check “Core Isolation”

If you installed ViGEmBus but XOutput still says “Driver missing”, Windows Security might be blocking the driver due to Memory Integrity.

How to Test:
  1. Go to Windows Security -> Device Security.
  2. Click Core isolation details.
  3. Temporarily turn OFF “Memory integrity”.
  4. Restart PC and try running XOutput again.

* Note: Only do this if necessary. ViGEmBus is generally compatible with Core Isolation, but older versions or conflicting drivers may trigger this block.