8BitDo Arcade Controller not working with Android Server on NVIDIA Shield Pro

Submitted by Andrew on #1

I am looking to use VirtualHere to upgrade my Moonlight streaming experience on my Shield Android TV Device. I'm streaming from a Windows 11 PC, which has the VirtualHere Client installed. I was able to plug my Victrix Pro BFG dongle into the Shield and got that working great. However my 8BitDo Arcade Controller doesn't seem to work. 

When I plug the 2.4G Receiver into the Shield, I get the expected message popup, click on "OK", and allow the receiver to open VirtualHere whenever it's connected. Then I turn on the controller and see similar popups constantly appear and disappear (before I can even click "OK") until I turn the controller off. This also caused my trial to go from 4 uses (according to the Windows Client popup) to expired just about instantly. So I can't even test this or any other controllers.

Any word on getting this controller to work? Is there a list of compatible controllers somewhere? Searching the forums shows a few threads with 8BitDo controller issues but the changelogs show you've also done work on some of the 8BitDo receivers in the past.

Thanks!

Submitted by Michael on Fri, 2026/07/17 - 07:56

#2

The 8bitdo is tricky because it reboots and appears as a "Microsoft" controller or a "Playstation" controller etc when it detects what type of wireless controller you want it to be. This confuses android and android thinks its a different device so it asks for permission again. The permission popup is not from virtualhere but from android. If you purchase via the play store i think there is a small time window e.g 2 hours or 2 days or something where you can get a refund if it doesnt work. You might need to purchase and try to accept that permission dialog popup at the right time then i think it will work. Its a major PIA but i cannot control that permission thing. Its android asking before it can go to virtualhere.

Submitted by Andrew on Fri, 2026/07/17 - 14:20

#3

"You might need to purchase and try to accept that permission dialog popup at the right time then i think it will work. "

I don't think I can accept the dialog - it's way too fast. I've got those gamer reflexes and I couldn't do it after trying a dozen times or so. It flashes too quickly for a person to interact with before disappearing.  The receiver easily works and the dialog mentions it's a "Reciever" (sic). The dialog for the controller that constantly flashes mentions that it's the "8BitDo Arcade Controller" rather than a MS or PS controller. This receiver only goes with this one particular device. It's different than the 8BitDo adapters that connect to generic controllers and make them appear as first-party controllers. It's like the Ultimate or Pro controller 2.4G receivers.