How to Fix Lag and Stuttering Caused by Controllers in Borderlands 4

Controller lag is an issue that most PC gamers, probably 99.9% of them, don’t even think about. The bulk of people spend hours chasing down what they believe are hardware and settings related performance problems, without realising their controller could be the cause. While this doesn’t affect every game or every gaming session, some titles are more prone to controller-related stuttering, and certain controllers tend to cause more issues than others. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to fix controller-induced stuttering in Borderlands 4.

Can a Controller Cause Lag and Stuttering in Borderlands 4?

Most PC gamers don’t realise that controller lag is a real issue, and it’s almost always put down to general performance problems. In reality, though, the root cause usually comes down to the controller itself and the way it communicates with your system. For most people, the issue will be outdated firmware, low battery levels, Bluetooth interference, or background processes eating up system resources.

What causes controller lag in Borderlands 4

There are quite a few different things that can make controllers cause lag and stuttering in games. All of which can be fixed quickly and easily. Below is a short list, so go through them and fix the ones you haven't thought to check.

• Outdated firmware on Xbox or PlayStation controllers
• Low battery power on wireless controllers
• Weak or unstable Bluetooth connections
• Background applications consuming CPU or memory
• Conflicts with Steam Input settings

To save yourself time, work through this list from top to bottom. And obviously pick the controller that you're actually using...

How to fix lag and stuttering caused by controllers in Borderlands 4

Start with a few simple checks before making larger changes:

• Fully charge your controller. Low battery levels can cause both latency and connection drops.
• Test your controller in another game. If lag appears elsewhere, the issue is not specific to Borderlands 4.
• Switch to a wired connection. A USB cable bypasses most wireless interference problems.
• Try a different controller if you have one available to compare performance.

If these steps do not fix the lag, it's time for some serious work!

Fixes for Xbox and PlayStation Controllers

Xbox Wireless Controller

• Install the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store.
• Connect your controller to the PC with a USB cable.
• Open the app and update the controller firmware if prompted.
• Remove the controller from the Windows device list, restart your system, and reconnect it.

PS5 DualSense Controller

• Download the official DualSense Firmware Updater from Sony’s website.
• Install and run the tool on your PC.
• Connect the controller with a USB-C cable.
• Follow the instructions to update the firmware.
• Disconnect and reconnect the controller before launching Borderlands 4 again.

Other Non-Controller Related Things to Check

Below are a few other things you will want to check that aren't controller-related but might just fix some of the performance issues you are having in-game.

System and game settings adjustments

Lower in-game graphics settings
Heavy graphics settings can indirectly affect controller responsiveness. Open the settings menu in Borderlands 4 and reduce shadows, effects, and draw distance. If your graphics card supports FSR, DLSS, or XeSS, enabling one of these options can also improve smoothness and reduce perceived input delay.

Disable Steam Input for Borderlands 4

I haven't had any issues with Steam Input myself, but some people have stated that it can cause issues in some games so it's worth checking to see what happens when you disable it.

• Open your Steam Library and right-click on Borderlands 4.
• Select Properties, then open the Controller tab.
• From the dropdown menu, choose Disable Steam Input.
• Relaunch the game and check if responsiveness improves.

Turn On Windows Game Mode

• Open Windows Settings and navigate to the Gaming section.
• Select Game Mode and switch it on.

Microsoft doesn't get too many things right these days, but Game Mode makes quite a difference. It's generally on by default, so you don't have to do anything. But I would double-check just to be sure.

Close Junk Background Bloatware, Apps and Services.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and close unnecessary applications such as overlays, streaming tools, or additional game launchers. Freeing up resources ensures that your controller inputs are processed without delays. And any other garbage software you might have running. The less crap you have running in the background, the better things will run on your system.

Use Lossless Scaling

This isn't directly related to control lag and stuttering, but if you have general performance issues and are using a budget build, you might want to check out Lossless Scaling. It's only a few bucks on Steam and will give you an amazing performance boost in some titles. It is also really good at smoothing out stuttering. I use it quite often in games built in Unreal 5, which is known to be a stuttering mess.