Windows 11’s feature to allow typing with your Xbox controller has vanished in a blow for owners of handheld gaming PCs

Windows 11 users who were keen to get nan caller gamepad keyboard layout – to facilitate easy typing utilizing an Xbox controller connected your PC via nan on-screen keyboard – will beryllium disappointed to study that nan characteristic has been put connected hold.

That astir apt includes a adjacent fewer handheld owners, who were doubtless excited to spot this functionality look in testing backmost astatine nan commencement of September 2024, earlier it started to rotation retired pinch nan latest Windows 11 update for 24H2 astatine nan extremity of October (we should statement that this is simply a preview update).

However, PhantomOfEarth, a well-known leaker connected X, noticed that nan mention of nan gamepad keyboard layout has been removed from this preview update for 24H2, and that it’s being abnormal connected PCs which person already installed that update.

Neowin reports that Microsoft really mentioned nan rollout has been paused successful a caller Beta transmission preview build, informing america that: “We person temporarily abnormal nan caller Gamepad keyboard layout for nan on-screen keyboard successful Windows 11 that began rolling retired to Windows Insiders successful nan Beta Channel pinch Build 22635.4145 to reside immoderate issues. This characteristic will beryllium rotation retired again successful a early flight.”

Analysis: Patience is simply a virtual keyboard

In theory, pinch nan gamepad keyboard appearing successful past month’s preview update for Windows 11 24H2, nan afloat rollout should person kicked disconnected adjacent week – pinch nan merchandise of nan vanished November spot 24H2. However, Microsoft appears to person taken nan characteristic backmost to nan drafting committee for now, arsenic intelligibly location are problems present – though Microsoft doesn’t driblet immoderate hints arsenic to what these stumbling blocks mightiness be.

What this intends is that it’ll astir apt beryllium a adjacent spot longer earlier nan characteristic really rolls retired to Windows 11 users extracurricular of testing. After all, Microsoft seemingly has a batch of fixing to do pinch Windows 11 24H2, which has encountered much than its fair share of bugs truthful far – and this appears to beryllium different hitch to propulsion connected nan increasing pile.

So, you’ll person to beryllium diligent for nan characteristic to travel to fruition, astir likely, and we’ll beryllium keeping an oculus connected nan trial channels to spot erstwhile nan controller keyboard layout returns into nan operation pinch Windows 11 preview builds.

The gamepad on-screen keyboard allows you to type swiftly pinch nan controller, and includes shortcuts to usage buttons for functions for illustration backspace, aliases pressing nan spacebar (which Microsoft calls ‘button accelerators’). The keyboard besides benefits from a tweaked layout that’s optimized for typing pinch your gamepad.

It’ll doubtless beryllium a useful summation for those who regularly crippled pinch their controller connected their PC, aliases so owners of Windows 11-powered handhelds for illustration nan Asus ROG Ally X.

You whitethorn besides like...

• Why Windows 12 needs to spell each successful connected Xbox Game Bar to enactment up of macOS
• Don’t make these 5 large mistakes erstwhile utilizing Windows 11
• Best free games of 2024: gaming nosy astatine nary cost