Xbox series X Controller Disconnect

Good morning!

I have an odd issue. I'm using a current Xbox controller but not via Bluetooth, I'm using the official Xbox wireless adapter as BT doesn't seem to have sufficient range.
The problem is when ES is active, the controller refuses to stay connected if I power it on after program launch.
It powers on, ES recognizes it, and then the controller disconnects immediately.
The workaround has been to power on the controller first, then launch RetroBat, at which point the controller stays connected.

...until the controller turns off for inactivity, at which point I have to exit RetroBat/ES in order to let the controller reconnect.

IT GETS WEIRDER.

If I'm playing a game, say in Retroarch or another where ES isn't actively in front, the controller can idle disconnect and reconnect just fine, no issues.
But as soon as I exit the game and return to ES, it drops the controller connection and I have to exit entirely back to desktop to make it work again.

It's only RetroBat/ES that is showing this behavior so far.

System details:
Dell XPS 9710
Win11 Pro
Xbox Series S/X controller
MS Xbox Wireless USB adapter, no Bluetooth

Thank you for any assistance!
-Rajel

I have exactly the same problem. I have already formatized my Windows, already installed the retrobat in another equipment, and the error remains the same in all scenarios.

Don't suppose anyone got to the bottom of this?

Same issue here, it's totally random, and does recover if win keyboard button is pressed, only happens in retrobat/es, I simply cant find reason why it does that, using xbox adapter or rather new bluetooth pci-e adapter, same issue keeps happening on both, so annoyed.

Hello to all of you.
Try to update your xbox controller driver (should be possible through xbox companion or windows directly, don't remember for this part).
If it don't solve, try to see, on the driver, if it's possible to remove the sleep function of the driver.

I have been testing this 2 days now, and the issue seems to be in emulation station, it simply loses a focus as a main window, same with retroarch and other emulators, if you press twice windows key it back focused and controller work, if that not work, clicking right mouse button on emulation station window, and it recovers the controller, basically same thing when you running retrobat windowed mode and click outside emulation station window, controller is then unresponsive, but as you click ES window again, controller works. there is some sorta bug in emulationstation window staying at top, it looses the focus as a main window, and the controller stops working, perhaps some windows program or service knock it out of being main window, no matter what i try, forced fullscreen, fullscreen, windowed, but same issue. so...what could it bee, such a annoying problem really. It's very bad as it can do that in the middlr of the game aswell. Problem is not controller firmware, faulty controller or bluetooth adapter, i tried several controllers and 2 bluetooth adapers. I am going to investigate this problem, I keep you all update if I resolve this annoyance.

Solution is windows 10, windows 11 has known focus issues, it even might loose focus in the middle of boss fight in a game...

Perhaps Windows 10 would fix it, but I cant use that anymore

This problem is with any controller, 8bitdo aswell, it loses focus to window is being used, in ES and Retroarch, but once you click with the mouse in the screen, controller work again. I am trying hard to figure this out, but more and more I think it's Windows 11 issue. I try wired controller next...

Problem is Windows 11 bluetooth connectivity, everything works fine with wired xbox one 8bitdo ultimate controller, next i try different bluetooth adapters, trying to find whats really going on.

But, while using an intro video to start RetroBat, users don't have this kind of troubles anymore (as the video force the focus on the ES windows)