Wii: Sync a New Controller or Remote to the Console

Contributor Icon Contributed by David Kirk    Date IconJanuary 12, 2012  
Tag Icon Tagged: Nintendo Wii  

Following these steps will permanently sync the bluetooth of a new controller to a wii console system.


Cyndi tweeted us the following question:

I just purchased my second wii remote, but I do not know how to link it to the wii console. How do I sync the my new remote with my system?

In helping people setup their wii, I have experienced this question a lot. Getting the new controller (which many people refer to as a “remote”) to sync correctly can be difficult. If you follow these steps, you should have no difficulties.

1. Turn on your wii and let it finish booting up
2. Take off the battery cover off the new controller
3. Press the sync button on the new controller. All the blue leds will light up and blink.
4. Press the sync button under the SD card slot on the wii console.



5. The blue leds on the controller will stop blinking when you are done.



You must follow these steps for each individual new controller you sync with your wii system. If these steps fail, you can try these additional recommendations. Occasionally, a wii controller with weak batteries will not sync correctly. If you are having a difficult time with syncing, try loading the remote with fresh batteries first. Sometimes, the wii console is not responding appropriately. Remove the power cord for a 20-30 seconds and then reboot the wii before trying to sync the controller again.

There is a myth about having to hold the sync button for 15 seconds. This is not true and is not required.

This article has been revised and updated with additional information. If you are still having problems, just leave your question in the comments below.

 

62 Comments -


  1. Pugwash said on October 19, 2008

    Thanks, exactly what I need to know.

  2. mmhunter said on November 30, 2008

    What do you do if the sync button on the Wii console is stuck in the console and you can’t push it anymore?

  3. Kathy said on December 10, 2008

    After I sync my second controller the buttons work but it does not recoginize motion.

  4. bundy said on December 27, 2008

    my remote was synced but quit working, i resynced it and it worked for about 2 minutes then quit. everytime i synce it again it only lasts a few minutes. i bought a new remote thinking that my controller was bad and the same thing happened for some reason none of my controllers other than the one will stay synced. any suggestions?

  5. jim said on December 27, 2008

    thanks!

    nice tid bit of information missing that would have been nice to be included in package with the 2nd controller!

  6. WizMedic said on January 6, 2009

    Thanks for the information. Didnt think adding a 2nd controller would have me lk it up on the internet. But good thing your information was here. Thanks…..

  7. d said on January 11, 2009

    wow this site just saved my life.

  8. Mimi Kyle said on January 16, 2009

    Thank you!!!! As the others have mentioned- LIFESAVER!!

  9. Anonymous said on January 20, 2009

    My Second contoller won’t sync up? Seems others have received the answer here?

  10. Anon said on February 2, 2009

    THANkS!!!!!

  11. james said on March 1, 2009

    cool

  12. Chelsea said on March 23, 2009

    Thanks so much for your info on how to sync my new Wii controller and Wii! It worked the first time!

  13. Josh said on April 15, 2009

    Do i have to push 1 and 2 everytime I go to play two player for the second remote. Why won’t th Wii just recognize my second controller automatically? Is it possible to do this or do i have to hit 1 and 2 everytime. thanks for you help…who ever you are.

  14. SamJo said on April 19, 2009

    AWESOME this really helped me!

  15. jadabell said on May 3, 2009

    thanks, really helped, was exactly what i needed

  16. SR said on May 17, 2009

    My Wii controllers stopped working completely, they wouldnt sync, the lights would flash on then just stop flashing, and i couldnt get any connection whatsoever. I just about sent it back to nintendo, but i phoned the automated help line. Such a simple fix, if this ever happens, just unplug the power cord from the wii, let it sit for like 10 seconds, plug it back in and VOILA! LOL!! So silly, but hey, it got us!

  17. chrissy said on June 8, 2009

    I have added a second remote, but it still won’t work with any of my games. I have a wii fit, wii sports & mario kart. When I use mario kart I get to the starting line car goes forward but cannot turn the car, it won’t work at all with either of the other games,

  18. joe said on June 20, 2009

    what if the controller will not sync up and it erased my original controller now both of them do not work

  19. sp said on June 24, 2009

    but when i was setting up my wii fit it disconected. do i do the same thing

  20. sp said on June 24, 2009

    thats eactly what happened to me

  21. jerry_potts said on June 27, 2009

    thank you!

  22. Anonymous said on July 14, 2009

    My wii console dosent power on noting happening.

  23. Anonymous said on July 14, 2009

    What can i do to get the wii to power on, coz nothing is happening, found out the controll battery wass dead , can thaat cause console to not work.

  24. Anonymous said on July 14, 2009

    wii console not powering on, what is the problem.

  25. Anonymous said on July 18, 2009

    Thanks…

  26. Christine said on November 21, 2009

    Thank you!
    this just what i needed

  27. Anonymous said on December 6, 2009

    HELP needed!
    I pressed the sync button of the wii fit plus for more then 10 seconds. How can I restore the settings?

  28. Anonymous said on January 12, 2010

    This actually worked! i was frustrated when i went to the Nintendo website because their information did not work but thank you for you help.

  29. Anonymous said on March 14, 2010

    Thanks soo much, awesome!!

  30. frenchky_007 said on May 2, 2010

    I have a problem with the synchronization of my remotes to the console. I tried several remotes including the one at games stop shop but still my console does not sync. Itried the sync console button and everything possible but still no sync.

    Please help…….

  31. RandyWilliams1 said on June 15, 2010

    I tried what you said with no luck. Any ideas? RW

  32. Belte said on July 3, 2010

    thanx

  33. Longyanpang said on September 9, 2010

    I have just bought a new controller (for a 2nd player) and pressed the sync button but the 2nd blue light does not flash whilst it’s syncing and it doesn’t work. Can anyone help me on this please?

  34. Renemvalencia said on September 27, 2010

    Did you get an answer to your question? I bought a wii with the same problem. can you let me know thanks

  35. Carte ds said on November 2, 2010

    My controller gets out of work easily, maybe it’s time to buy a new one.

  36. Apple_90 said on December 6, 2010

    i still can’t sync it!

  37. Cavan13 said on December 7, 2010

    i try syncing my wii remote but no lights no motion nothing what do i do? what do i do?

  38. Bwalsh said on December 24, 2010

    tks a mill cheers

  39. Guest said on December 25, 2010

    hey thanks alot guys, site helped alot

  40. Shar_wills said on December 26, 2010

    does anyone know how i can get my 4th remote to work ive synch’ed all of them but when it comes to playing the game it just wont let me….HELP

  41. Art-fan said on December 27, 2010

    thanks!

  42. Aahtson said on December 29, 2010

    how can i sync a bluetooth headset to my wii?

  43. Chrismansfield said on December 31, 2010

    Thanks for your help…gotta love the internet!

  44. Brian Primett said on January 8, 2011

    thanks, bought controller off ebay and thought it was faulty.

  45. Beth said on February 25, 2011

    Thank you – this solved it all for me!!

  46. Arnold R. Kok said on March 3, 2011

    It works like a charm. Just synched 4 controllers in just the order I wanted. Just press the button on the controller first, then on the WII. Now after power off they stay synched, whilst synching through the menus only worked until power off.

    Thanks!

    Arnold

  47. Selfserveinc said on March 7, 2011

    Life Saver!!!!! Thanks

  48. Tflaf said on March 10, 2011

    aarrrrgghhhh!!!! New controller. I get it to work until I try to actually play then it doesn’t recognize anything I do. The original remote works fine. Seriously what am I doing wrong? I followed to directions!

  49. Nbonafiglia said on March 20, 2011

    Thank you!

  50. Kristin said on March 27, 2011

    Did you get your question answered because Im having the same problem?

  51. cindie said on May 5, 2011

    my wii controllers just stopped working the lights just flash when i tried to sync them they just continue to flash. getting very frusterated with them i don’t know what to do. the batteries are brand new controllers are almost new. Please help

  52. guest said on July 2, 2011

    my wii controllers un-synced themselves, and  i tried to re-sync them but even though i held both sync buttons for about 30 minutes, and the blue led’s  did not stop flashing what shall i do? 

  53. Kimberlythooker said on July 13, 2011

    Unplug your machine – wait 15 seconds.  Turn it back on.  Open the battery cover on the remote(s) then press and release the sync buttons like you are ringing a door bell.  First press and release on the remote, then press and release on the system. You can’t hold them down, and you can’t do them together. 

  54. ProudMommy77 said on July 24, 2011

    THANK YOU! We’re new to Wii and this helped us so much!

  55. Rjohnson6 said on July 29, 2011

    no luck unpluggin the power cord for me and I got grandkids coming

  56. Rjohnson6 said on July 29, 2011

    I have 4 controllers and get any of them to sync

  57. Prab said on November 25, 2011

    help by Kimberlythooker worked exactly for my situation, thank you

  58. Catherine said on December 21, 2011

    Thank you:))

  59. Eric said on December 29, 2011

    We have three controllers. Two work and the third quit working. I tryed to sync it, but when I push the sync button, the lights blink once and then it shuts off. It was working fine the last time we used it. We purchased a new controller, it sync’d fine, but then the same thing happened to the new one. Did we just get a bad controller? Please help.

  60. Erin said on January 1, 2012

    thanx soo much this helped me !

  61. Sue said on January 3, 2012

    I have my remote sync’d to the game, but nothing is working except for the + and – buttons. how do I get the rest of it to work? I unplugged my game for 20 seconds and re sync’d the remote, but I still can not get anything else to work. Not even the on/off button. HELP.

  62. Harold said on January 22, 2012

    The winter track game displayed that i have add an additional controller??
    What is an additional controler?

 

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