Tears of Metal Controller Not Working: Gamepad Fixes

If a controller is not working in Tears of Metal, update the game, connect only one gamepad, and restart without touching the keyboard during the first test. The game has official in-game button glyphs for PS4, PS5, and Xbox controllers, but mixed keyboard and gamepad input has caused lost camera or button control for some players.

Quick controller fix

1. Close Tears of Metal completely.
2. Disconnect extra controllers, wheels, flight sticks, and virtual gamepads.
3. Connect the controller you want to use before launching the game.
4. Start the game and navigate the menus with that controller only.
5. Reset custom controls to default if buttons remain unresponsive.
6. If you use Steam, test the Steam Input setting described below.

Controller support

Paper Cult says most gamepads should work and specifically provides in-game glyph support for:

• Xbox controllers
• PlayStation 4 DualShock controllers
• PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers

Other DirectInput, Switch, third-party, or virtual controllers may work, but the correct glyphs and full behavior are not guaranteed.

Fix no controller input on Steam

Steam Input can either translate an unsupported controller or create a conflict with a controller the game already recognizes. Test one mode at a time:

1. Open Steam Library.
2. Right-click Tears of Metal and select Properties.
3. Open Controller.
4. Start with the default setting.
5. If the controller is not detected, enable Steam Input for the game and relaunch.
6. If inputs repeat, buttons activate twice, or two devices appear, disable Steam Input for the game and relaunch.

Do not change the setting while Tears of Metal is still running.

Fix lost camera control after using the keyboard

Some players have reported that using the keyboard or Steam overlay during controller play can leave movement working while camera, dodge, or other inputs stop responding.

Try this order:

1. Open and close the in-game pause menu using the controller.
2. If control does not return, quit to the main menu using the controller.
3. Restart the game and avoid alternating input devices during the test.
4. Disable overlays temporarily if the problem starts immediately after opening one.
5. Reset the control layout to default.

This issue is easier to diagnose with one physical controller and no virtual-controller software running.

Drift Correction locks the controls

An earlier build could lock player controls when Drift Correction was set to 1. Paper Cult fixed that bug in version 0.10.57598.

If changing Drift Correction still locks input:

1. Update to the current standard build.
2. Reset the setting to its default value.
3. Restart the game.
4. Reset the controller layout if the lock persists.

Wrong button prompts

If an Xbox controller displays PlayStation prompts, or the other way around:

1. Disconnect every other gamepad.
2. Remove virtual controllers created by remapping tools for one test.
3. Reconnect the intended controller before launch.
4. Check whether Steam Input is translating it into another device type.
5. Restart after changing Steam Input.

Wrong prompts do not necessarily mean the controller is unsupported; they usually indicate that the game is receiving a translated device type.

Steam Deck and docked controllers

For a docked Steam Deck, set the external controller first in Steam’s controller order, then launch Tears of Metal. If the built-in controls and external pad both send input, temporarily disable or reorder one device and restart the game.

If the problem occurs only while docked, test the same controller over USB and Bluetooth separately. That isolates the controller from the dock or wireless connection.

Report a controller bug

If the failure is repeatable on the current build, record:

• controller model and connection type;
• Steam Input setting;
• whether the Steam overlay or keyboard was used;
• the exact input that stopped responding;
• game version;
• Player.log and Player-prev.log.

The Windows logs are in:

C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\Paper Cult\Tears of Metal

Return to the PC troubleshooting index if the controller problem happens together with crashes or launch failures.

Frequently asked questions

Does Tears of Metal support PS5 controllers?

Paper Cult lists official in-game glyph support for PS4, PS5, and Xbox controllers.

Should I enable or disable Steam Input?

Start with the default setting. Enable it when the controller is not detected; disable it when native and translated input appear to conflict.

Why does my controller stop working after I press a keyboard key?

Mixed input has caused control loss for some players. Restart using one input type and test without opening overlays.

Last updated August 2, 2026