Starting today, my DualSense controller began controlling the mouse in Chrome and Firefox whenever Dolphin is closed, and Dolphin no longer receives background input. An Xbox controller behaves the same way. Updating either controller's drivers temporarily fixes both problems, but the mouse behavior returns after restarting or shutting down Windows 11. My Switch Pro Controller normally does not have this issue, although it started acting like a mouse when I used BetterJoy until I closed that program. I have already tried DS4Windows, but it did not resolve the background-input problem, and Steam is not running in the background. What could be causing Windows to revert the controllers or switch them into mouse mode, and how can I stop it from happening?
2 Answers
Because the driver update only fixes the issue until the next restart, Windows may be reinstalling or selecting a different HID driver at boot. In Device Manager, enable viewing hidden devices, remove stale duplicate controller and virtual HID entries, and uninstall the related driver software if it is listed. Then reboot with the controller disconnected, install the correct driver or remapping software cleanly, and reconnect it. If this began very recently, check Windows Update history and consider uninstalling the update or using System Restore if one was installed around the time the problem started.
Check whether any controller-remapping or virtual-input software is launching with Windows. BetterJoy, DS4Windows, Steam Input, manufacturer utilities, and similar tools can install HID devices or map the stick and buttons to mouse controls. Disable them from Startup and Task Scheduler, then reboot and test with only the controller connected. Also check Device Manager for duplicate or virtual HID/game-controller entries and remove the software’s virtual device rather than repeatedly updating the physical controller driver.
DS4Windows did not change the behavior, and Steam was already closed, so I’ll check for other remapping tools and virtual HID devices that may be starting automatically.