Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers are not cheap, but they have an excellent build quality and feel great when playing games. Even better, they can be used on PC and Android, making the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller a great all-purpose controller for your gaming needs.

Here's how to use a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller on PC and Android.

Ways to Connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

You may be surprised to learn that the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller can connect over Bluetooth. If this is news to you, you might be pleased to know that this is also true for the Joy-Con controllers, enabling you to use Switch Joy-Cons on Windows, Mac, and Android.

As such, if your PC or Android phone has a Bluetooth adapter, you can pair your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to it. Even if you don't have Bluetooth, you can still use a USB wire to connect the controller directly to a PC.

The Bluetooth method gives you the freedom to use it wirelessly but is a bit tricky to set up. If you choose the wired option, you have to stay sitting in front of your PC, but it's easier to get working.

How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to a PC via USB Cable

If you want to use a USB cable, the steps to do so are straightforward. You would have received a USB cable with the Pro controller in its box. Plug one end of this cable into the controller, and the other into a USB port on the PC.

If you're using Windows 10, it should automatically detect and set up your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for you. You'll know everything has gone well when the PC informs you of the driver's installation. Even better, you can charge the batteries on it as you play, ready for the next time you use your Nintendo Switch.

How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to a PC via Bluetooth

If you prefer the wireless road, it's trickier to set up. Once completed, however, wireless PC gaming is at your fingertips.

To get started, you need to tell your PC to begin looking for Bluetooth devices. If you're using Windows 10, you can do this by clicking the Start button, typing "Bluetooth," then clicking on Add Bluetooth or other device in the window that appears. Then, click on Bluetooth.

Once your PC is looking for new devices, you need to tell your controller to look for the PC. To do this, locate the button located near the USB port on the top of your controller. You're looking for two circles on either side of the socket; push in the larger circle. You may need a pen or another thin object to push the button down.

After a while, you should see the Pro Controller appear on the Bluetooth list. Click on it to pair the controller to the PC.

Using Your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller With Steam Games

Pairing the controller to your computer is tricky; getting it to play well with your games is something else. Thankfully, if you want to play Steam games, you'll find that Steam already supports your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

To activate Nintendo Switch Pro support, open up Steam. In the top-left, click on Steam, then Settings.

When the Settings menu appears, click on Controller, then General Controller Settings.

In the window that appears, tick the box next to Switch Pro Configuration Support. If you like, you can also click Use Nintendo Button Layout to make things less confusing.

Using Your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller With Other Games

If you want to use it on games that aren't on Steam, things get even trickier. You'll need software like XInput to correctly map your controller's inputs to actions in-game. This Reddit thread offers some useful drivers for getting the Pro Controller working, so be sure to check it out if you don't want to set it up manually.

How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to Android via Bluetooth

To use the controller on your phone, first, activate its Bluetooth. You can usually find Bluetooth in the Settings app, under Wireless & Networks or Connected Devices, depending on your Android version and phone build. Search for nearby devices on your phone, then hold down the large button on the top of the Pro controller by the USB port.

Once the Android phone has found the controller, it'll display Pro Controller in its list of discovered devices. Tap it to pair up, and you'll be ready to play.

How to Connect Your Pro Controller Back to the Nintendo Switch

Once you've finished playing games and want to use your Nintendo Switch again, you'll notice your controller won't link back up to your console. When you paired your controller with your PC or Android device, it became "unpaired" with the Nintendo Switch.

As such, the console and controller aren't communicating with one another, as the controller is now listening to the computer or phone rather than the Nintendo Switch. Thankfully, this is a straightforward fix.

Pairing With the Nintendo Switch Using a USB Cable

First, put the Nintendo Switch back into its charging dock. Then, take the USB cable that came with the controller; it has a large USB plug on one end, and a smaller one on the other. Plug the larger end into the side of the dock on the left, and the smaller one into the controller. Now, when you turn on the Nintendo Switch, it should see your Pro controller and reconnect with it.

Pairing With the Nintendo Switch Using Bluetooth

If you want to pair it wirelessly, boot up your Nintendo Switch and go to the Controllers menu on the Home page.

Find and select the option to Change Grip and Order. It asks you to press the L+R buttons on your chosen controller, but this only works if it's paired up.

Because you haven't re-paired the Pro controller yet, ignore this command and instead hold down the large button at the top of the controller; the same one used to connect the controller to your PC via Bluetooth.

After holding it down for a few seconds, you should feel it vibrate. If it doesn't appear immediately, try pressing L+R to see if it connects again.

More Nintendo Switch Accessories Worth Buying

It may have surprised you to discover that the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller can also connect to PCs and Android phones. But know you should know how to do it, and how to reconnect the controller back to the Switch when you're done.

The Pro Controller is just one of a number of Nintendo Switch accessories available. So, if you fancy kitting out your Nintendo Switch be sure to check out our list of the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy today.