Microsoft Brings New Gamepad Keyboard For Windows 11 Using Xbox Controller

Microsoft has released a new gamepad keyboard for Windows 11 users which helps to type with an Xbox controller. According to The Verge, it enhances the on-screen keyboard on Windows 11, making it easier to navigate with an Xbox controller and type into text fields throughout the operating system. The update comes as a big relief for the users as typing on a digital keyboard with a controller earlier seemed to be frustrating and time-consuming.

The new gamepad keyboard comes with significant shortcuts specifically designed for the Xbox controllers such as the X button for backspace, the Y button for the spacebar and the menu button for enter. These shortcuts are identical to those used by Microsoft in the Xbox dashboard. The company also states that it has vertically aligned keyboard keys for smoother usage.

The gamepad keyboard first went for beta testing back in September 2024, but now it is available in the company’s Release Preview version of Windows 11. This indicates that the update will be coming for the users in the next few days. However, the tech giant is yet to announce an official release date.

Talking about the update, Microsoft says, “We enabled the Gamepad keyboard layout for the touch keyboard in Windows 11. This modification allows you to navigate and type using your Xbox controller. This includes button accelerators (e.g., X button for backspace, Y button for spacebar), and the keyboard keys have been vertically aligned for better controller navigation patterns."

The improvement in typing with an Xbox controller is one of several alterations Microsoft is bringing to Windows for mobile gaming PCs. The company is trying to bring together the greatest features of Windows and Xbox, while also addressing basic demands such as the ability to navigate with a gamepad.

Microsoft is currently working on its first Xbox gaming handheld console which will apparently run on Windows 11. A portable console represents a major shift in the company's gaming hardware strategy, with the potential to enter the handheld gaming sector for the first time.