Nvidia Shield Controller Not Working: How To Fix [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated August 03, 2023

Inasmuch as I enjoy gaming on my Shield Pro with the Shield Controller, I detest the occasional hiccup the Controller puts up, especially when it stops working altogether.

The Shield Controller is an excellent device for gaming, not only on the Shield TV but also on a PC.

But its futuristic contours and impressive touchpad won't cheer you up when it stops working. Fortunately, though, troubleshooting this issue isn't much trouble.

If your Nvidia Shield Controller is not working, check the battery status and refresh the Controller. Nvidia Shield supports a maximum of 4 Controllers. So, remove all unused accessories before pairing in case you have exceeded the limit. You could also try updating the Controller and the device firmware.

In this article, I will explain how to troubleshoot Nvidia Shield Controller.

Check the Battery Status of the Shield Controller

A good battery percentage is vital for the Shield Controller to work on the Shield.

Obviously, when the batteries die on the Controller, they no longer connect to the Shield TV. And this, in turn, renders the Controller unusable/unresponsive.

But if you can connect the Shield Controller to your SAhield TV, there's a way to check the status of the battery from within the Shield interface.

Once the Controller is connected to the Shield TV, the Nvidia logo on the Controller lights up and stays ON.

Follow these steps to check the status of the Controler battery on Shield TV:

1. Open the Settings tab of your Shield TV.

2. Scroll down and select Remote & Accessories.

3. Click on Shield Accessories.

You can now check the battery level on your Controller.

If the battery is on its last breath, better charge it with the supplied charging cable.

But before you do so, check and ensure the cable is in good condition with minimal wear and tear and that the leads aren't corroded.

All of these inconsistencies can contribute to charging issues on the Shield Controller.

If the Controller isn't charging or the battery has completely died on you, replacing the battery is the only fix.

You can DIY the battery replacement. However, best leave it to a professional for convenience's sake.

Refresh the Connection on the Shield Controller

Now, let's refresh the connection between the Shield Controller and the Shield TV.

One of the most rudimentary fixes to sort out issues with the Controller is to unpair the Controller from the Shield TV and re-pair it.

Doing so will refresh the connection, which may be a long due for such issues.

And I have to say - this may be the easiest of troubleshooting steps in this article.

Follow these steps to refresh the connection on your Shield TV and Controller:

1. Hold down the Nvidia logo on the Controller for about 20 seconds.

2. Wait for the device to power down. Once the LED goes out, the Controller has been successfully unpaired from the Shield TV.

3. Give it a good minute's rest.

4. Now, move the Controller closer to the Shield device, presumably within 1 foot.

5. Press the Nvidia logo on the Controller for about 3 seconds or until the LED blinks Blue.

6. Once the 'Connect Accessory'meassage appears onscreen, follow the prompts to pair back the Controller.

You have now successfully refreshed the pairing connection between the Controller and Shield TV. Check for the issue now.

Remove Unused/Excess Accessories from Shield TV

Clogging up the accessory list with things you don't actually want but prefer to be present, in case the occasion comes, will hinder the Controller from working.

Also, like most electronic gadgets, there is a limit to how many devices you can pair with the Shield TV.

If you have exceeded the limit of devices that can be connected to the Shield TV at a given time, you won't be able to sync up the Controller.

You can connect up to 4 Shield Controllers to a single Shield TV.

And so, if the Controller is not working on your Shield TV, you better unpair all the unwanted devices first.

Follow these steps to do so:

1. Open the Settings tab of the Shield TV.

2. Scroll down to the Remote & Accessories tab.

3. Click on Shield Accessories.

4. Select Forget All Accessories.

Confirm the selection. Now, try and pair the Shield Controller. Check for the issue now.

Reboot Shield Controller

Another effective yet necessary fix for Shield Controller issues is to reboot it.

Over time, the Controller can get a bit clanky and lose efficiency, like all modern electronic gadgets.

Usually, such temporal issues may warrant a routine service. Since we are not seasoned professionals, let's stick with rebooting it.

Here's how to reboot the Shield Controller:

1. While disconnected from the USB cable, press and hold the Back, Home, and the Nvidia logo together for about 15 seconds.

2. Wait till the LED starts to blink.

3. Once the LED stops blinking, the reboot is complete.

You can now part back the Shield Controller to the Shield TV by holding down the Nvidia logo until the pairing prompt pops up on the screen.

Check and Update Shield Controller and Nvidia Shield Firmware

Updates are the necessary evils of modern-day gadgets. They help uphold the security integrity of your devices and keep them up to date with the current standards.

Outdated firmware versions are synonymous with calling out the many bugs and errors waiting to pounce on your system.

It is through updates that the Manufacturer resolves issues with their devices.

And if there is something indeed wrong with your Controller, best check for a new firmware update or a security patch before jumping the gun and concluding the thing is done.

Usually, the Shield Controller updates automatically when you connect it to the Shield TV through the USB cable. But you can manually check and update the Controller as well.

Here's how to check and update the firmware of your Shield Controller:

1. Open the Settings tab and navigate to Remote & Accessories.

2. Select Shield Accessories.

3. Click on the Shield Controller.

4. Select Update Firmware to check and update the Controller manually.

Restart the device once the update is complete. Check for the issue now.

Coincidently, updating the firmware version is also one of the recommended fixes for resolving the Shield TV Remote not working issue.

Update Nvidia Shield

Since you have come this far, let's not stop now, and let's also get the Shield TV firmware checked and updated.

Like the Shield controller, the Shield TV also does well in the wake of proper security and otherwise updates.

Here's how to check and update the firmware version on Shield TV:

1. Open the Settings tab and select Device Preferences.

2. Choose About.

3. Select System Upgrade to run a check and update the Shield TV.

Updating the firmware version may also benefit you in resolving casting issues on Shield TV.

Clear the Bluetooth Cache on Nvidia Shield

As you may already know, Shield Controllers connect to and communicate with the Shield TV through RF signals, a.k.a Bluetooth.

And so, when you encounter an issue with the Shield Controller, you shouldn't turn a blind eye to the one thing that matters - Bluetooth.

Now, you can refresh the Bluetooth connection by unpairing the Shield Controller from the Shield TV. But that may not make the cut.

Instead, a more effective fix would be to clear the cache memory of the Bluetooth module on your Shield TV.

With each successive addition of accessories, may it be Controllers or external peripherals, the cache mem associated with Bluetooth on Shield TV starts to pile up.

And in time, this can cause a host of issues, including the problem at hand.

Hence, the need to refresh the cache memory.

Here's how to clean the Bluetooth cache memory on Shield TV:

1. Open the Settings tab and select Apps.

2. Click on See all Apps.

3. Select Show System Apps.

4. Navigate to and open the Bluetooth tile.

5. Click on Clear Cache, followed by Clear Data.

Restart the device once done. Connect the Shield Controller once more to the Shield TV. Check for the issue now.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, a comprehensive and informative guide on fixing the Shield Controller not working issue.

If you still can't get over the issue after going through the many fixes mentioned above, try factory resetting the Sheild TV as a last resort fix.

To factory reset the Shield TV, go to Settings> Device Preferences> Storage & Reset> Reset> Reset Everything. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the reset.

In case you have queries about anything along the way, feel free to contact the customer services of Nvidia for further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I use Nvidia Shield without the remote?

You can control and use Nvidia Shield with a Shield Controller if you don't prefer to use the Shield TV Remote. Or you could always rely on the Nvidia Shield app remote to navigate the Shield TV interface.

Does Nvidia Shield have a reset button?

No, Nvidia Shield devices do not come with a Reset button. To reset the Shield TV, you'll have to do so through the device interface. Go to Settings> Device Preferences> Storage & Reset> Reset> Reset Everything to reset the Shield TV.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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