Valve Index Controller Not Charging? (Try These Fixes!)

We understand the frustration when your Valve Index controller not charging, forcing you to stay tethered while playing.

This limits your freedom of movement while holding the controller.

It’s important to determine whether the controller simply can’t hold charge and whether it works while connected.

There are two major possibilities:

• If the controller works while connected but turns off the moment you unplug it, this shows that there is a potential battery problem. 
• If the controller is not receiving a charge–there is no orange light (charging), it indicates a problem with the cable, source, or port.

Whatever the issue is, we got you covered!

Valve Index Controller Not Charging – 7 Quick Ways to Fix!

Pro Tip: To check whether the USB-C cable is interrupted somewhere, gently twist the cable near the connectors and observe if the orange light will appear/disappear.

1. Hard Reset the Index Controller

First, things first–let’s try getting that orange LED light on your controller to show up, so you can confidently say that the device is receiving charge.

The easiest thing to begin with would be the so-called hard reset, which would refresh the unit’s system and hopefully resolve potential problems.

However, your controller must be working while performing the procedure, so follow these instructions:

• If your controller is working while disconnected from the power, hold the System button for 10–15 seconds to trigger the hard reset.
• If your controller is turning off while disconnected, connect it to the power and then hold the System button for 10–15 seconds.

If your controller turns off after the hard reset, press the System button once to turn it on and then reconnect it from the cable to test the charging.

Reminder: The orange light means the controller is charging successfully!

2. Try Different Charging Methods

There are a couple of different ways to charge your Valve Index controllers, hence switching the method of charging can help you diagnose the problem. 

Here’s everything you can try:

Connect to a Power Outlet

The most reliable way of charging your Valve Index controller is by using USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C cable along with a compatible power adapter.

The power adapter then plugs into a working power source (wall outlet), which should immediately start charging the controller.

Connect to PC USB Port

Another way to charge your controller is to connect the USB-A end of the cable to a USB 3.0 port on your computer.

You should try multiple ports, but the most reliable USB ports on a PC are on the back side–the ports coming straight from the motherboard.

If your computer is showing a “power surge” error when your controller is connected to a USB port, try different ports.

If the error continues to appear avoid using this charging method until the reason for the charging problem is identified and resolved.

Warning: A power surge error on your PC can lethally damage your controller!

Optional: Try a Power Bank

If you have a charged-up and ready power back with a USB-A or USB-C output port, feel free to connect your controller to it, just for the try.

If your controller is charging, this means that the fault is not coming from the charging cable or controller port.

3. Plug Directly into the AC Source

As mentioned, the most reliable way of charging a Valve Index controller is through a connection to a wall outlet via USB-C or USB-A adapter. 

However, if you’re not plugging the controller directly into the outlet, and you’re using third-party device outlet connectors, they might be your culprit.

We recommend plugging the adapter directly, without any:

• Electrical surge protectors
• Power extenders/dividers
• Smart plugs and sockets

If your controller is still not charging, the problem comes due to a faulty piece of your equipment. 

4. Replace the Charging Equipment

If your Valve Index controller won’t charge, it’s time to start replacing pieces of your equipment one by one, which will help you identify the culprit.

Let’s begin with:

Testing a Different Wall Outlet:

Relocate the charging equipment of your Valve Index, the USB-A or USB-C cable along with the power adapter, into an alternative power outlet in your home.

Testing a Different USB Cable:

The next critical piece in the charging equipment of your controller is the power cable.

You have a choice here, since if you have a compatible power brick you can either use USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C cable.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have a compatible power brick, connect it directly to your PC or console!

Testing a Different Power Brick:

The last but not the least important charging piece is the power brick (adapter).

These adapters typically operate under high internal temperatures, making them vulnerable to overheating, which is often the cause of why they stop working. 

So, if you have a replacement power adapter, implement it in your setup and give it a good try!

5. Clean the Controller’s USB-C Port

If you’ve tried everything by now, it’s evident that the problem is not coming from your charging equipment and is more likely to be related to the controller.

The first thing to inspect is of course the charging port, which may be clogged by dust, dirt, hair, and other particles that went inside.

The most effective way to unclog a charging port would be by using a toothpick while shining a light through your smartphone’s flashlight.

Important: Be gentle when reaching the port with the toothpick to avoid damaging the pins!

6. Allow the Battery to *Acclimatize* 

The Valve Index controllers come with a non-removable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and when it’s not charging, it’s probably not acclimatized.

If you’re just unboxing the controllers, and they have been exposed to extreme cold, the battery might refuse to charge for some time.

If that’s the case, the best thing to do is leave the controllers in a room’s temperature for about 30–40 minutes, until the hardware is acclimatized with the environment.

Then, you can plug in your controllers and check whether the orange light will illuminate, meaning successful charging.

Important: Check for Overheating!

While the battery may not charge because it’s too cold, the same goes if the controller has been left exposed to extreme heat.

If you’ve left your controller under direct sunlight for hours, or the controller feels very hot after a gaming session, let it cool down for 15 minutes before charging.

7. Recalibrate the Controller’s Battery

Whenever your Valve Index controller not charging, and the orange light does not show up when connected, many users recommend recalibrating the battery.

This means draining the controller’s charge to absolute zero percent and charging the controller to the maximum 100%.

Considering that your controller is not charging, drain the battery to 0%, then plug and leave the controller to charge overnight.

If the controller turns off immediately after you disconnect it from the source, this means that the battery is incapable of holding change, hence it’s near its death.

Note: If your controller is not holding a charge, the best thing to do is to get in touch with Valve, or attempt to claim your warranty through the local merchant.