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Why it matters: If you've ever tried typing with a controller on Windows, you know how excruciatingly slow and tedious the process can be. Moving the focus across each virtual key is enough to make users want to hurl their gamepad across the room. But Microsoft is trying to make things a little less frustrating with a new gamepad keyboard for Windows 11.
Tucked away in the latest Windows beta builds is an optimized on-screen keyboard layout designed specifically for Xbox controllers. The virtual keys have been realigned vertically to speed up typing. Some handy shortcut buttons have also been mapped – hit X for backspace, Y for space bar, and the menu button for the enter key.
You can access the new gamepad keyboard by clicking the settings icon at the top-left corner of the on-screen keyboard. Next, select the keyboard layout and hit the 'Gamepad' option.
The change is currently available in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145 (KB5041881), which was released to the Beta Channel earlier this week.
Microsoft's Windows is currently locked in a race with Valve's Linux-based SteamOS, which is allowing installation on third-party handhelds. In fact, the Ayaneo Next Lite launched earlier this year is already a competitor. These recent efforts to make Windows more usable with gamepads seem to be a result of this competition. Previously, Microsoft overhauled its Windows Game Bar with a new compact mode intended for smaller displays.
Of course, Microsoft still has a long road ahead before the Windows handheld experience is truly seamless. For one, it would be great if users could actually log into the OS using a controller instead of being forced to hunt and peck a password every time.
Other input enhancements in the latest Windows 11 beta include an updated Settings panel for tweaking mouse behavior under 'Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mouse.' There's now a new toggle to disable "enhanced pointer precision" (aka mouse acceleration), which ramps up cursor speed based on how vigorously the mouse is flung around. A new drop-down for reversing the scroll direction has been added as well.
For touch input, users can now choose to disable touch gestures from the left or right edge of the screen via 'Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch.'