How to Make a Custom Xbox Controller: Step-by-Step Guide? | Design Lab Walkthrough

Xbox Design Lab makes custom Xbox controllers in two models, starting at $79.99 for the Xbox Wireless Controller and $169.99 for the Elite Series 2.

Design edits aren’t permitted after submission, and Microsoft charges the controller when the order is submitted. The walkthrough below covers both supported models, the exact order of steps, and compatibility details most buyers skip.

Which Controllers Can You Customize?

Only two models are available through Xbox Design Lab in the US: the Xbox Wireless Controller and the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. The standard model starts at $79.99, the Elite Series 2 at $169.99. Final prices climb with finishes, patterns, grips, and engraving; the official pages publish no ceiling. Rubberized grips come standard on the Elite Series 2 and are an optional add-on for the standard model.

How Do You Build and Order the Controller?

Choose your model, customize the exterior, preview it, then pay.

1. Select either the Xbox Wireless Controller or the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2.
2. Customize the available parts: front case, back case, grips, bumpers, triggers, thumbsticks, the D-pad, ABXY buttons, and the View and Menu buttons.
3. Add engraving if you want it: a name, Gamertag, or short message of up to 16 characters, at extra cost.
4. Inspect the on-screen preview and save alternates to your personal gallery before committing.
5. Review configuration, price, and delivery details, then submit and complete checkout.

Once payment clears, your order confirms with the exact design you submitted — and that design is locked, since changes aren’t permitted after submission. Double-check the engraving text, button layout, and colors on the preview screen, not in the confirmation email.

Deciding between the two models is its own question; this roundup of tested custom Xbox controllers covers that comparison in detail.

What Do You Need To Know After It Arrives?

A custom Elite Series 2 lets you remap buttons through the Xbox Accessories app, and Microsoft recommends keeping firmware current on both models to protect compatibility and capability.

To remap on the Elite Series 2, open Xbox Accessories, select the controller, choose Configure, pick a profile or create one, then select Edit. Open the Mapping tab, choose the input, pick its new function, and confirm with OK. The new layout saves to the profile and the app reflects it immediately.

Firmware updates install wirelessly, over USB, or through a Windows PC using Xbox Accessories — but the app won’t detect the controller when connected by Bluetooth alone, so use Xbox Wireless or a USB-C cable. Microsoft also notes that a recent firmware update may affect Bluetooth connectivity with some older non-Xbox devices; reversion exists for frequent connection problems, but not every older controller offers that option.

Mobile play is real but partial: Microsoft warns that Android and iOS support depends on the device and OS version, some functionality may not be supported, and performance can vary by OS version.

What Mistakes Cost Buyers Money?

The biggest mistake is ordering before reviewing the design, because the charge fires at submission and no edits follow. The second is assuming every Xbox controller qualifies — only the two supported models do.

Design Lab changes exterior components only. Xbox documentation does not authorize opening the controller, soldering, swapping internal electronics, or using unapproved batteries and accessories; those moves carry damage, electrical, warranty, and safety risks. Outside the US, availability, options, taxes, shipping, and pricing differ by market, so confirm your region’s catalogue before designing anything.