Shadow can support many different USB devices in addition to your basic mouse, keyboard, and gamepad. There are two ways you can set up your USB device with Shadow.
💬 Note: Some USB devices, like webcams or external hard drives, may require an upload speed of 100Mb/s. Try connecting to the internet using an Ethernet cable for potentially faster upload speeds.
Plug and Play
Common USB devices, including PlayStation and Xbox controllers, can be used as soon as they are plugged in via USB. This is commonly referred to as Plug and Play (PnP). To set up any of these devices, plug it into your computer, Shadow Ghost, or Shadow Box, then start your Shadow. Shadow will automatically forward these devices for you.
To see if your device was detected, check the Controllers tab in the Quick Menu.
USB Redirection
USB redirection allows you to pass a connected USB device through your computer to Shadow.
To enable USB redirection:
- Log in to the Shadow launcher, then click Settings
> My Shadow.
- Go to Use my USB devices on my Shadow > click Install drivers.
- When User Account Control (UAC) appears, click Yes.
Shadow will install the drivers needed to detect your device. Start your Shadow and check the Quick Menu to see if your device is available. You can choose which devices you'd like to redirect to Shadow.
Some devices may need you to install drivers on both your local computer and Shadow. See if your device manufacturer has additional drivers you need to install.
💬 Notes:
- The USB Peripherals feature is supported on devices with Windows 10, macOS, and Ubuntu operating systems. This feature is already enabled on the Shadow Ghost and Shadow Box.
- Your device must be natively compatible with Windows and the device you're using.
- Some devices may be incompatible with Shadow or require upload speeds faster than 50Mb/s. This includes webcams, virtual reality headsets, racing wheels & pedals, flight sticks, or other gamepads.
Common issues connecting a USB to Shadow
I don't see my device on Shadow.
📍 Summary
Your device is recognized in the USB Peripherals menu and the device is enabled, but Shadow does not respond to any input.
💡 Solution
- Install drivers for your device onto your Shadow
- Uninstall the drivers from the launcher, then reinstall the drivers and try again
- Shut down Shadow using the Start
menu, or click the Help
icon on the Shadow launcher
- Restart your computer
- Go to the launcher Settings
, then click Reset all settings at the bottom
- Plug your device into a USB 3.0 port
- Connect to the internet using an Ethernet cable or a 5GHz WiFi connection
My device is enabled, but it does not work.
📍 Summary
Your device is recognized in the USB Peripherals menu and the device is enabled, but Shadow does not respond to any input.
💡 Solution
It's possible the device is not yet compatible with Shadow. High latency, low upload speeds, and packet loss can also prevent your device from connecting to Shadow. See how to test your connection for any signs of these issues and see if it needs improvement.
I can't check the box next to my device.
📍 Summary
You've tried to check the box next to your device in the Quick Menu, but it refuses to check.
💡 Solution
Completely reinstall the USB Peripherals driver.
- Stop streaming Shadow and go in the launcher Settings.
- Click My Shadow, then click Uninstall drivers.
- Restart your local computer. Shadow's USB drivers won't uninstall properly
until your computer has restarted. - Open the Shadow launcher and reinstall the USB drivers.
Your device should be forwarded once the drivers have been reinstalled.
I forwarded a device, but it disappeared.
📍 Summary
You forwarded the device using USB peripherals, and although the device seems
to work, it disappears from Shadow.
💡 Solution
Confirm all of your devices are displayed in the Quick Menu and they have
been forwarded.
If they have been forwarded but you can't use them with Shadow, click Remove all devices in the Quick Menu:
If this doesn't work, unplug the USB device from your local computer, then retry to connect it.
If you still need help, ask a Support Hero for assistance.