How to Control an Xbox Adaptive Controller with Your Face and Voice using PlayAbility Adaptive Software
How to Control an Xbox Adaptive Controller with Your Face, Voice, and Any Input
This guide shows you how to use PlayAbility Adaptive Software with a Raspberry Pi Pico W to control your Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC) using facial expressions, head movements, voice commands, keyboard keys, mouse motion, or even connected gamepads and joysticks.
Once set up, your camera, microphone, and peripherals all become part of a unified control system — letting you merge adaptive hardware, voice, and motion into one seamless experience for your Xbox or PC games.
1) What You’ll Need
- Raspberry Pi Pico W or Pico 2W
(Only these versions support Bluetooth.)
- Micro USB Cable
(Used to flash and power the Pico.)
- PlayAbility Adaptive Receiver Firmware (Bluetooth-enabled)
(Download the latest .uf2 file from the PlayAbility firmware releases.)
- PlayAbility Adaptive Software
(Download from playability.gg.)
- Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC)
(Connected to your Xbox or PC with your preferred switches, joysticks, or pedals.)
- Webcam + Microphone
(For face, head, and voice input.)
- (Optional) Keyboard, Mouse, or Gamepad
(All can be merged into your PlayAbility profiles for hybrid control.)
2) Flash the Pico W Firmware
- Enter Bootloader Mode
Hold the BOOTSEL button and plug in the Pico W via USB. It will appear as a drive named RPI-RP2.
- Copy the Firmware
Drag and drop the .uf2 file onto the RPI-RP2 drive. The Pico will reboot and run the firmware automatically.
3) Pair the Pico W with Windows
- Power on the Pico W and hold BOOTSEL for 5 seconds until the LED blinks rapidly — this means Bluetooth pairing mode is active.
- On your PC, open Bluetooth Settings → Add device → Bluetooth.
- Select PlayAbility Receiver when it appears.
- Once paired, the LED will stop blinking.
4) Connect PlayAbility to the Receiver
- Launch PlayAbility Adaptive Software on your PC.
- Open the Gamepad tab and click Enable Serial Output.
- A Connect to Receiver button will appear on the right — click it to link with your Pico W.
- When connected, PlayAbility will send virtual gamepad inputs directly to your Xbox Adaptive Controller through the Pico.
5) Map Your Inputs
PlayAbility can turn any input — camera, mic, keyboard, mouse, or external gamepad — into Xbox controls.
Input | Type | Xbox Action |
|---|---|---|
Smile | Face Gesture | A Button (Jump) |
Turn Head Left/Right | Head Movement | Left Stick (Move/Steer) |
Say “Fire” | Voice Command | X Button (Shoot) |
Say “Pause” | Voice Command | Start Button (Menu) |
Move Mouse | Mouse Motion | Right Stick (Aim) |
Press W | Keyboard Key | Up / Forward |
Left Stick (Physical Gamepad) | Gamepad | Left Stick (Move) |
You can customize these in the Profile Editor to match your preferred gestures and control layout.
6) Combine with Your Xbox Adaptive Controller
PlayAbility is designed to complement the XAC, not replace it. You can merge digital and physical controls for ultimate flexibility.
Input Type | Device | Action |
|---|---|---|
Head Motion (Yaw) | PlayAbility | Move/Steer |
Smile | PlayAbility | Jump (A Button) |
Voice Command “Fire” | PlayAbility | Shoot (X Button) |
Sip/Puff Switch | XAC | Fire (Right Trigger) |
Mouse Movement | PlayAbility | Aim (Right Stick) |
This hybrid setup lets you mix natural gestures, speech, and traditional hardware for both comfort and precision.
7) Troubleshooting
Can’t Pair the Pico?
Ensure the LED is blinking (pairing mode). Remove any old pairings from Windows, then retry.
No Response in Game?
Check that Toggle Output is enabled in PlayAbility, and that your Xbox Adaptive Controller is recognized by your console or PC.
Firmware Update?
Simply repeat the flashing process from Step 2 with the latest .uf2 file.
⚠️ Note on XAC Trigger Outputs
The Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC) cannot receive direct trigger output signals (LT/RT) from external HID devices such as the PlayAbility Receiver. This is a limitation of the XAC’s USB HID protocol.
To work around this, assign an alternative button in PlayAbility (for example, A, B, or RB) to act as your left or right trigger, then use the Xbox Accessories app to remap that button to LT or RT within your XAC configuration.
You can also use connected physical switches or analog triggers directly if preferred.
Play with Every Input You Have
Once connected, your Raspberry Pi Pico W becomes a universal Bluetooth bridge, translating all of your chosen inputs — from your face, head, and voice, to keyboard, mouse, and gamepad — directly into Xbox Adaptive Controller actions.
You can:
- Steer or aim with your head or mouse.
- Jump or attack with a smile or key press.
- Trigger actions by voice.
- Merge every input type into one perfect setup.
Together, they create a flexible, fully adaptive control system — no extra hardware or coding required.
Tip: Start simple with a few gestures or commands, then expand to include mouse or keyboard movement for full analog control.
🎮 Your face, head, voice, keyboard, mouse, and gamepad are now all part of the controller — play your way.
Updated on: 01/11/2025