THE SHORT ANSWER

Close controller software such as Steam, DS4Windows or reWASD, and disable all but one remapping extension. Then check the controller tester: you should see exactly one controller. If you see two, something is still creating a virtual copy.

Common symptoms

  • One button press registers twice, or triggers two different actions.
  • The same controller appears twice in a tester or in a game's controller list.
  • Buttons are swapped even though you didn't remap them.
  • Remapping seems to work in one place and not another.

1. Count the controllers your browser sees

Open the controller tester and press a button. If it lists more than one controller while only one is plugged in, a program is creating a virtual copy. The tester shows a warning when it spots this.

2. Close desktop controller software

  • Steam: Steam Input can present a virtual controller while Steam is running. Quit Steam completely, or turn off Steam Input for that controller, then reload the game page.
  • DS4Windows and similar tools: these often create an Xbox-style virtual controller for PlayStation pads. The browser may then see both the real and the virtual one. Use the tool's "hide" option for the real controller, or close the tool.
  • reWASD, JoyToKey and other remappers: close them or pause their profile while playing in the browser.

After closing a program, reconnect the controller and reload the page, so the browser starts from a clean list.

3. Use one remapping extension at a time

Browser extensions that emulate or remap controllers can all act on the same input. If you use Cloud Keys, disable other controller or keyboard-and-mouse extensions at chrome://extensions, then refresh the Xbox tab. Press F8 to pause Cloud Keys when you want to check what the raw controller does.

4. Buttons swapped but nothing else running?

Xbox Cloud Gaming uses positions, not the printed letters. On Nintendo-style controllers, A/B and X/Y are printed in swapped positions compared with Xbox, so the button in the bottom position acts as Xbox A. That's expected. Remap the buttons if you'd rather follow the printed letters. See how to remap gamepad buttons.