You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Nintendo Pro Controller not actually connecting to iPad

I’ve been trying to connect my controller to my iPad and it says it connects, but the green lights keep flashing on the controller.

iPad Air, iPadOS 16

Posted on Jul 3, 2023 10:05 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 3, 2023 12:58 PM

See if any of the following steps can help:


  • Go to the Settings app on your iPad and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You can do this by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center and checking if the Bluetooth icon is highlighted.
  • Put your Pro controller into pairing mode: On the Pro controller, press and hold the sync button located on the top edge of the controller, near the USB-C charging port. Hold the button for a few seconds until the lights on the controller start flashing.
  • Forget existing Bluetooth connections: On your iPad, go to the Settings app and tap on Bluetooth. Find the entry for your Pro controller in the list of devices and tap on the "i" icon next to it. Then tap on "Forget This Device" to remove the existing connection.
  • Re-pair the Pro controller: While the lights on the Pro controller are flashing, go back to the Bluetooth settings on your iPad and look for the Pro controller in the list of available devices. Tap on it to initiate the pairing process.
  • Ensure that your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS by going to the Settings app, tapping on "General," and selecting "Software Update." Additionally, you may want to check if there is a firmware update available for your Pro controller by visiting the Nintendo support website or using the Nintendo Switch console to perform the update.
  • Try restarting your iPad by holding down the power button and following the on-screen prompts to turn it off and then on again.
  • If the issue persists, you can try resetting the network settings on your iPad. Go to the Settings app, tap on "General," then "Reset," and choose "Reset Network Settings." Keep in mind that this will remove saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, so make sure you have those details handy.
  • If you're connecting the Pro controller to your iPad via a USB cable, try using a different cable to rule out any potential issues with the cable itself.


If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it's possible that there may be an incompatibility between your specific iPad model and the Nintendo Pro controller. In such cases, reaching out to Nintendo support for further assistance would be recommended.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 3, 2023 12:58 PM in response to Blue Vaporeon

See if any of the following steps can help:


  • Go to the Settings app on your iPad and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You can do this by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center and checking if the Bluetooth icon is highlighted.
  • Put your Pro controller into pairing mode: On the Pro controller, press and hold the sync button located on the top edge of the controller, near the USB-C charging port. Hold the button for a few seconds until the lights on the controller start flashing.
  • Forget existing Bluetooth connections: On your iPad, go to the Settings app and tap on Bluetooth. Find the entry for your Pro controller in the list of devices and tap on the "i" icon next to it. Then tap on "Forget This Device" to remove the existing connection.
  • Re-pair the Pro controller: While the lights on the Pro controller are flashing, go back to the Bluetooth settings on your iPad and look for the Pro controller in the list of available devices. Tap on it to initiate the pairing process.
  • Ensure that your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS by going to the Settings app, tapping on "General," and selecting "Software Update." Additionally, you may want to check if there is a firmware update available for your Pro controller by visiting the Nintendo support website or using the Nintendo Switch console to perform the update.
  • Try restarting your iPad by holding down the power button and following the on-screen prompts to turn it off and then on again.
  • If the issue persists, you can try resetting the network settings on your iPad. Go to the Settings app, tap on "General," then "Reset," and choose "Reset Network Settings." Keep in mind that this will remove saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords, so make sure you have those details handy.
  • If you're connecting the Pro controller to your iPad via a USB cable, try using a different cable to rule out any potential issues with the cable itself.


If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it's possible that there may be an incompatibility between your specific iPad model and the Nintendo Pro controller. In such cases, reaching out to Nintendo support for further assistance would be recommended.

Nintendo Pro Controller not actually connecting to iPad

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.