Mobile gaming on PC has exploded in popularity, especially in Southeast Asia where lightweight emulators like LDPlayer and NoxPlayer allow older laptops to run demanding apps. However, a common frustration for power users is the USB Controller Conflict: you plug in your generic generic gamepad, Windows sees it, but the emulator does not.
If you are trying to map your physical controller to on-screen touch buttons, but the emulator refuses to detect the input, the issue usually lies in “Ghost” USB drivers clogging your registry.
Here is how to use USBDeview to clean up your ports and get your controller running.
1. The “Ghost Device” Problem
Every time you plug a USB device into a different port, Windows creates a new driver entry. Over time, you might have 10 different instances of “HID-Compliant Game Controller” registered in your system.
When you launch an emulator, it often latches onto the first (inactive) driver it finds, rather than the one currently plugged in. This is why your controller works in Steam but fails in Android environments.
2. Cleaning the Registry with USBDeview
You don’t need to reinstall Windows to fix this.
- Download USBDeview (x64 version) and run it as Administrator.
- Filter the List: Sort by “Device Type” and scroll down to Human Interface Device (HID).
- Identify Old Entries: Look for devices with a grey icon (Disconnected) labeled as “Game Controller,” “Joystick,” or “USB Input Device.”
- Purge: Select all the disconnected instances, right-click, and select “Uninstall Selected Devices.”
This forces Windows to “forget” the old connections. Unplug your current controller and plug it back in. Windows will now treat it as a fresh installation, assigning it JS0 (Joystick 0), which emulators prioritize.
3. Testing the Mapping (Real World Example)
Once the driver is reset, launch your emulator. You should now be able to map keys effectively.
For testing, I recommend using a lightweight, touch-intensive app rather than a heavy 3D shooter. Many Malaysian users, for instance, use the Mega888 PC Version on LDPlayer to test input latency. Since this app relies on simple “Spin” and “Stop” commands, it is perfect for verifying if your USB buttons are triggering the correct touch zones without lag.
- Tip: Map your “A” button to the “Spin” coordinate and your “B” button to “Auto-Play.”
4. Power Management Settings
If your controller disconnects randomly during gameplay, it is likely a Windows power-saving feature.
- In USBDeview, look for the “Power” column.
- If the usage is suspiciously low (0mA), your USB Hub might be putting the port to sleep.
- Go to Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers > USB Root Hub > Power Management and uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
5. Summary
Android Emulators are notoriously finicky with USB pass-through. By keeping your USB registry clean with USBDeview, you ensure that your physical hardware talks directly to your virtual environment without getting lost in a sea of old drivers.