this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2024
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I'm Running Linux Mint 21.3 mainly using Lutris and Steam for some native Linux games. It's so annoying, especially when it sometimes disconnects the gamepad. I'm using an Xbox One S controller connected through a USB cable.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

If you're playing the games in Steam, using Steam Input, there's an option to disable it.

Steam->Settings->Controller->Game rumble

A number of games will also have an option to do so.

EDIT: If you are certain that you don't ever want rumble, you could probably open up the controller and just disconnect one of the wires running to each motor. I think that the XBox controllers use security bits, though. I had to open one a while back.

kagis

Yeah:

https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/Xbox_Controller_Screwdriver

A TR8 Torx Security screwdriver can remove the fasteners securing Xbox 360 controllers and standard Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S controllers.

Note that the security Torx bits aren't regular Torx bits, so if you do want to do that, be sure to get the security bit.

Could even just remove the motors from the controller, make it a bit lighter.

EDIT2: I think that the controller uses the xpad driver (if it does, it should be loaded and visible when you run lsmod and have the game controller active). Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to have an option to disable force feedback at the driver level:

$ modinfo -p xpad
dpad_to_buttons:Map D-PAD to buttons rather than axes for unknown pads (bool)
triggers_to_buttons:Map triggers to buttons rather than axes for unknown pads (bool)
sticks_to_null:Do not map sticks at all for unknown pads (bool)
auto_poweroff:Power off wireless controllers on suspend (bool)
$

There are some software packages that let you create "virtual" controllers that take input from another controller. That adds more moving parts, but if none of the above options work for you, you could look into that.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Disabling it in steam input doesn't disable it in Lutris. I have already thought about disconnecting the motors as an alternative method after making sure there's nothing in the software that can do that, as in Windows.

Also, thanks for the info on the screwdriver.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

It sounds like the controllers may also have some persistent internal "disable rumble" setting that Microsoft's software can toggle:

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1440127/xubuntu-22-04-any-way-to-disable-gamepads-from-rumbling-force-feedback

Although the 'Xbox Accessories' tool on Windows 10 didn't give the option to update the firmware on these two generic controllers (20d6-2005 and 24c6-581a) it did enable the rumble to be turned off (in the Configure... menu).

I'm not sure exactly what I did, but I first attached a Microsoft-brand controller (045e-0b12) which had the rumble feature ticked. I then connected the other two controllers and their rumble feature was unticked too - without me having to untick it. When I moved all 3 controllers back to Linux none of them rumble anymore. And they are all working as expected and no longer affected by this problem.

Not sure if that's the same controller as yours, but also might be worth looking at.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

It did let me disable it on the Xbox Accessories app back on Windows.  Then it stopped working, and I couldn't open it again because it thought I had an old version of Windows for some reason. Now on Linux, it is still working aggressively to the point that the controller sometimes disconnects or falls off my hand.

[–] Chee_Koala 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

As a person who has opened up a few xbox controllers to clean them up 'to the max', it's probably beginner level DIY to open it up and disconnect the rumble motors. I think it was even broken in one or two we had ( OG xbox and wired 360 versions), and the system doesn't prompt you to do something about or, or refuse service (can you imagine? that would suck). Still, I'd try to disconnect it non-destructively first

[–] bisby 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Wow. I did not know about the Torx security thing. It looks like the ifixit kits come with a torx security instead of a regular torx, so I never even noticed when I took my controller apart to replace a shoulder button. 🤯

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

You could break the security pin or use a small flat-head screwdriver.

I didn't have a Torx screwdriver, so I broke the pin and used a regular polydrive, disconnected the red wire, and rolled tape around the exposed end.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

I took mine apart and just cut out the rumble motors. Bonus is it makes the controllers lighter.

[–] thezeesystem 2 points 2 weeks ago

My partner hates them so she straight up removed them. Lot lighter controller is Nice too