Spider-Man 2 Controller Not Working on PC (Solved)

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, has finally made its way to PC after its massive success on PlayStation 5. However, some players are experiencing issues with their controllers not being recognized or failing to function correctly. If you’re struggling with Spider-Man 2 not detecting your controller, this guide will walk you through multiple solutions to fix the problem.

Why Is My Controller Not Working in Spider-Man 2?

Even if your Xbox, PlayStation, or generic gamepad is detected by your PC, it may not register any inputs, cause wrong inputs, or disconnect randomly. Some possible causes include:

✔ Conflicting input devices (such as a keyboard, mouse, or other peripherals).
✔ Controller drivers not being recognized by Steam or Windows.
✔ Incorrect Steam Controller settings preventing detection.
✔ Bluetooth connection instability (for wireless controllers).

Below, we’ve compiled a list of troubleshooting methods to fix the Spider-Man 2 controller issue on PC.

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We have a video tutorial guide to fix the Spider-Man 2 Controller Not Working issue on PC. Check out our video tutorial to troubleshoot this issue on your PC.

Fix: Spider-Man 2 Controller Not Working on PC

1. Restart Your PC

Before diving into complex fixes, restart your PC, game, and Steam client. This simple step can clear out temporary bugs and reconnect your controller properly.

2. Reconnect Your Controller

1. Close Spider-Man 2 and exit Steam completely.
2. Turn off your controller (for wireless controllers).
3. Reconnect the controller via USB or Bluetooth.
4. Restart Spider-Man 2 and check if the issue is resolved.

3. Unplug Other Peripherals

If multiple input devices (like an extra keyboard, mouse, or joystick) are connected, your game might be prioritizing the wrong one.

Try disconnecting:
✔ External keyboards, mice, or other controllers.
✔ USB drives, printers, or VR headsets.

Then restart your game and check if the controller is now working.

4. Press ALT + ENTER While In-Game

If your controller stops working mid-game, try pressing ALT + ENTER. This switches the game between fullscreen and windowed mode, refreshing input recognition.

5. Enable Steam’s Big Picture Mode

Steam’s Big Picture Mode improves controller compatibility:

1. Open Steam and click on View (top-left corner).
2. Select Big Picture Mode and Continue.
3. Go to Library > Games > Spider-Man 2.
4. Exit Big Picture Mode and relaunch the game.

6. Switch Monitor Refresh Rate to 60Hz

Some high refresh rates (144Hz, 240Hz, etc.) can cause issues with controller input.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Display.
3. Click Advanced Display Settings.
4. Set Refresh Rate to 60Hz and restart your game.

7. Launch Spider-Man 2 in Windowed Mode

You can manually force the game to launch in Windowed Mode via the config file.

1. Open File Explorer and go to:
   C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\Spider-Man 2\settings

2. Find and open Config.ini using Notepad.
3. Locate [window] mode = no and change it to yes.
4. Press Ctrl + S to save changes and restart the game.

8. Enable Steam Overlay for Spider-Man 2

1. Open Steam > Go to Library.
2. Right-click on Spider-Man 2 and select Properties.
3. Under the General section, enable “Use Steam Overlay while in-game”.

9. Configure Steam Controller Settings

1. Open Steam > Click on Steam (top-left corner) > Settings.
2. Navigate to Controller > General Controller Settings.
3. Check the box for your controller type:
   ✔ PlayStation Configuration Support
   ✔ Xbox Configuration Support
   ✔ Generic Gamepad Configuration Support
4. Click OK and restart Steam.

10. Set High Performance for Spider-Man 2

1. Click on the Start menu > Search for Graphics Settings.
2. Click Browse, and select Spider-Man 2.exe from its installed folder.
3. Select the game and choose Options > High Performance.
4. Click Save and relaunch the game.

11. Disable Controller in Steam Controller Settings

1. Open Steam and go to Settings.
2. Click Controller > General Controller Settings.
3. Uncheck all configuration support options.
4. Click OK and restart Steam.

12. Disable/Enable Steam Input

1. Right-click on Spider-Man 2 in Steam Library > Select Properties.
2. Click Controller > Find the option “Use default settings”.
3. Change it to Disable Steam Input.
4. Restart the game and check if the issue is resolved.
5. If not, re-enable Steam Input and test again.

13. Force Steam Input On/Off Per Game

1. Open Steam and go to Big Picture Mode.
2. Click Library > Spider-Man 2 > Manage Game.
3. Select Controller Options under Steam Input.
4. Expand the “Change Steam Input Per-Game Settings” option.
5. Choose Forced On > Click OK and restart the game.
6. If that doesn’t work, repeat the steps and select Forced Off instead.

14. Use DS4Windows (For PlayStation Controllers)

For PlayStation controllers, DS4Windows helps improve compatibility:

1. Download DS4Windows online and install it.
2. Run DS4Updater.exe to ensure it’s updated.
3. Open DS4Windows and go to Settings.
4. Enable “Hide DS4 Controller” to prevent conflicts.
5. Restart DS4Windows and check if your controller works.

15. Try a Wired Connection

Wireless Bluetooth controllers (PS5, Xbox, etc.) can sometimes lose connectivity.
✔ Try using a USB cable instead of Bluetooth.
✔ Ensure the cable is functional and data-supported (not just for charging).

Final Thoughts

These methods should help resolve the Spider-Man 2 controller issue on PC. If you’re still facing problems:
✔ Ensure Windows is fully updated.
✔ Check if Spider-Man 2 has pending updates.
✔ Try a different USB port or cable.
✔ Contact Insomniac Games’ support for further assistance.

Hopefully, this guide helped fix your controller not working issue. Let us know in the comments which method worked for you!