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'Do Xbox 360 controllers work on an Xbox One?': No, they do not — here's how to get a new Xbox One controller inexpensively

Written by Steven John
Xbox One S
You'll need an Xbox One controller for the newer Xbox consoles, as an old Xbox 360 controller will not work with the device. Florence Fu/Tech Insider
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The backwards compatibility of the Xbox One is one of the coolest features about the system.

You can play older Xbox 360 and original Xbox games on an Xbox One, and you can do so using your current Xbox One controller.

On the other hand, there is no forward compatibility, so to speak, when it comes to the Xbox 360 hardware. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Xbox One (From $249.99 at Best Buy)

Xbox One Controller (From $59.99 at Best Buy)

Xbox Wireless Controller (From $39.99 at Best Buy)

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One (From $24.99 at Amazon)

Xbox 360 controllers do not work on an Xbox One, so you'll need an Xbox One controller

You cannot use an Xbox 360 controller to play games on an Xbox One.

Other accessories from the older system are likewise incompatible with the Xbox One.

So if your Xbox One controller breaks, don't try digging out the old system to use an old controller. You'll have to buy a new (or used) one.

How to get a new Xbox One controller inexpensively, or find a used one 

Purchased directly from the Xbox.com website, a wireless Xbox One controller will cost you anywhere from $59.99 to $179.99 for special editions. 

You can also find great prices on Xbox One controllers on Amazon, where a wired controller sells for as little as $24.99 and wireless controllers can be found for $39.99.

Yet another option is to consider auction sites like eBay or a retail store like GameStop where great deals are often available on used but perfectly serviceable Xbox One controllers.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

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Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.