How can I use my phone as an Xbox controller on my TV?

Xbox is testing a way to turn a supported Android phone or iPhone into a controller for Xbox Cloud Gaming on supported smart TVs, with the touch controls loading in your phone’s mobile browser — no gamepad required to start playing. Here is how to try the preview, and what to check if the phone option does not appear.

Your controller batteries die mid-game night and the spare is nowhere to be found.Short answer: Xbox is testing a way to turn a supported Android phone or iPhone into a controller for Xbox Cloud Gaming on supported smart TVs — no gamepad required to start playing.Why it matters: The controls load directly in your phone’s mobile browser instead of through a dedicated app, so the phone you already carry becomes the backup controller. It is a preview feature Xbox announced this week, so availability rolls out gradually and not every home will see it on the first day.How to try it:1. Open Xbox Cloud Gaming on your TV.

On a supported smart TV, open Xbox Cloud Gaming the way you normally would to start a game.2. Follow the controller prompt. When the TV asks you to connect a controller, choose the phone option if it appears on screen.3.

Open the link on your phone. Use the on-screen link or QR code and open it in your phone’s mobile browser — do not hunt for a separate controller app.4. Let the touch controls load.

Wait for the on-screen buttons to appear on your phone, then pick your game and start playing.5. Keep the connection steady. Keep your phone charged and on the same good Wi-Fi as the TV for the steadiest connection while you play.Pro tip: Do not assume every TV and phone combination works yet — this is a preview test.

If the phone option does not show, your TV or region may not have it yet; a regular controller still works exactly as before.Ad’s take: “I love this kind of fix — it turns a dead-battery problem into a non-problem with stuff you already own. It will not replace a real controller for serious play, but for getting back in the game fast, it is exactly right.”