How to Set Up Copilot with an Xbox Adaptive Controller on the Xbox Series S/X

Close up photo of the Xbox Series S console, a standrad controller and an Xbox Adaptive Controller.
The Copilot process is the same for both the Xbox Series S (pictured here) and Series X.

Originally added to Xbox One and Windows 10 in 2017, Copilot is a feature that allows you to combine the inputs from two compatible controllers, so that either two people can play alongside each other to control one player in-game, or so that one person can divide their control inputs between two separate controllers to enable them to play in a more comfortable or accessible way for them, individually.

In addition to the Xbox One and Windows 10, Copilot is also available on the new Xbox consoles (Xbox Series S and Series X) released this month. The Xbox One standard controller and the Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC) are also compatible with these new consoles and can be copiloted to be used together and/or alongside the new standard controller that has been released for these consoles.

Photo showing Xbox Series X with an XAC and Standard Controller with two Logitech switches attached to the controller labelled A and B.
The Copilot process is the same for both the Xbox Series X (pictured here) and Series S.

This post will go through the steps used to Copilot compatible controllers (including the XAC) on the new Xbox consoles.

The steps for using the using Copilot on the Xbox One and Window 10 can be found in a previous post here: https://gameaccess.info/how-to-set-up-copilot-on-xbox-one-windows-10/

Step 1

On the Xbox home screen either navigate to the Xbox Accessories app (green square with white thumb stick icon) if already on the home screen:

Screenshot ahowing Xbox home page with Xbox Accessories app highlighted.

…or navigate to ‘My games & apps’ to locate it:

Screenshot showing the My games and apps icons highlighted on the Xbox homescreen.

Step 2

Once the ‘My games & apps’ screen has loaded, navigate down to ‘Apps’:

Screenshot showing the Apps option highlighted and Apps screen loaded.

Step 3

Navigate across to the Xbox Accessories app (green square with a white thumb stick icon) and select it:

Screenshot showing the Xbox Accessories app highlighted within the Apps screen.

Step 4

A green screen with the app icon in the centre will show you are entering the app:

Screenshot showing Xbox Accessories app splash screen which is green with a thumbstick icon in the centre.

Step 5

Turn on the controllers you would like to Copilot using the Xbox button (large circular button with large ‘X’ symbol on it) on each controller:

Photo an Xbox Series S, an XAC, astandard controller and Logitech switches.

…The connected controllers will then appear in the app:

Screenshot showing a controller image within the Xbox Accessories app. An Xbox Adaptive Controller image is shown appearing at the side of the screen. A message stating 'Xbox Adaptive Controller is connected' is at the centre bottom of the screen.

Step 6

To turn on Copilot, go to one of the controllers you are using with Copliot, then navigate down to the three dots icon below and select it:

Screenshot showing an Xbox Adaptive Controller image within the Xbox Accessories app. A standard controller image is shown appearing at the side of the screen. An icon at the bottom of the screen with three dots is highlighted.

Step 7

From the options that appear, go down to ‘Turn on Copilot’ and select it:

Screenshot showing an Xbox Adaptive Controller image within the Xbox Accessories app. An Xbox Adaptive Controller image is shown  with the 'Turn on Copilot' option highlighted.

…If you have just two controllers connected, it will automatically Copilot the two controllers and the screen will change to have the option to ‘Turn off Copilot’. If you have more than two controllers connected, it will ask you to select which controller you would like to Copilot to:

Screenshot showing two standard controllers side by side with a message stating ' Select the controller that your copilot will use.'

Step 8

Now the two controllers are connected, you can leave the app to play a game or use an app:

Photo showing a screen with Sea of Thieves, an Xbox Series S, an XAC, astandard controller and Logitech switches.

…They will now remain copiloted even when the console has been turned off and on again, until you turn Copilot off by returning to the app, navigating to one of the copiloted controllers and selecting ‘Turn off Copilot’:

Screenshot showing an Xbox Adaptive Controller image within the Xbox Accessories app. An Xbox Adaptive Controller image is shown  with the 'Turn off Copilot' option highlighted.

…Alternatively, Copilot can be turned off by holding down the Xbox button on the controller until a menu appears with the option to ‘Turn off Copilot’. Navigate to this option and select it:

Screenshot showing menu that appears when Xbox button is held with Turn Off Copliot highlighted.

For more posts about the Copilot feature, you can search the site for ‘Copilot’ and for more posts on the Xbox Adaptive Controller, use the XAC tag. For posts on the Xbox console use the Xbox category.