Pes 2016 Steam Controller Could Not Be Located Link Upd -

To fix the error where your Steam controller Go to product viewer dialog for this item. cannot be located or is not detected in Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2016 , you generally need to

bridge the gap between Steam's modern input system and the game's older configuration tool 1. Use the Settings.exe

PES 2016 handles controllers through a standalone executable rather than the game itself. Navigate to your game's installation folder (typically .../Steam/steamapps/common/Pro Evolution Soccer 2016/ Locate and launch settings.exe Controller

Ensure your controller is connected and select it from the "Device" dropdown menu. If using a modern controller, try switching between DirectInput to see which one detects your device. 2. Enable Steam Input Support pes 2016 steam controller could not be located link

If the settings.exe doesn't see your controller, Steam's built-in compatibility layers may be disabled for the game. Open your Steam Library, right-click , and select Properties Controller tab and set the "Override for Pro Evolution Soccer 2016" to Enable Steam Input Restart Steam and check the settings.exe Steam Community

How To Fix Controller Not Working In Steam (Easy Guide 2026)

This is a known issue with Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 (PES 2016) on Steam. The error usually appears when the game cannot detect the Steam Overlay or the specific controller configuration files required to run it. To fix the error where your Steam controller

Here is a step-by-step guide to resolving the "Controller could not be located" error.

4. Verified Working Configurations

| Controller | Steam Input | x360ce needed | Works after fix | |------------------|-------------|---------------|------------------| | Xbox One/Wireless | Off | No | Yes | | PS4/PS5 (wired) | Off | No | Yes | | Logitech F310 | Off | No (switch to XInput) | Yes | | Generic USB pad | Off | Yes (x360ce) | Yes |

1. Issue Description

When launching PES 2016 via Steam, the game displays the error:
“Controller could not be located” – even when a physical controller (Xbox, PlayStation, or generic gamepad) is connected and recognized by Windows. Navigate to your PES 2016 install folder

Phase 2: The "settings.exe" Fix (Specific to PES)

PES 2016 has a separate launcher executable that handles controller detection. If this launcher doesn't run or glitches, the main game won't see the controller.

1. Run the Launcher Manually

  • Navigate to your PES 2016 install folder.
    • Default path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Pro Evolution Soccer 2016
  • Find the file named settings.exe.
  • Right-click it and select Run as Administrator.
  • Go to the Controller or Device tab inside this menu.
  • Ensure your controller is listed and selected in the dropdown menus.
  • Click OK/Save, then launch the game via Steam.

2. Delete the Config File (Fresh Start) Sometimes the config file gets stuck looking for a controller that is no longer connected.

  • In the same folder as above, look for a file named settings.dat (or sometimes just labeled as a Configuration Settings file).
  • Delete this file.
  • Launch the game. It will recreate the file and attempt a fresh hardware scan.

2. Why Does PES 2016 Fail to Locate Your Controller?

To solve the problem, you need to understand the root cause. PES 2016 was released in 2015, a time when Steam’s controller API was in its infancy. The game was designed to work with DirectInput (older PC controllers) and limited XInput (Xbox 360 controllers). It was not designed for:

  • Steam’s modern Controller Configuration tool.
  • PlayStation 4/5 controllers with Steam Input enabled.
  • Nintendo Switch Pro controllers.
  • Generic USB gamepads that rely on Steam's translation layer.

When Steam forcibly enables "Steam Input" for PES 2016 (which it does by default for many non-optimized games), it creates a virtual Steam Controller device. PES 2016 looks for a traditional DirectInput or XInput hardware device, doesn't find one, and throws the error: "PES 2016 Steam controller could not be located link" – meaning the link between Steam's virtual driver and the game's legacy input system is broken.