Wii remote (also referred to a Wiimote) is a device that controls the Nintendo’s Wii console.
It's a very comfortable controller for gaming, therefore if you want to learn how to use Wii remote on PC, read on.
Wiimote also works with with Wii U. Wii remote is more powerful than the previous video controllers. This is because Nintendo designed them to have advanced features to enhance usability.
For example, it can even communicate with the PC’s wireless Bluetooth link.
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What Do You Need to Use Wii Remote on PC?
When connecting the Wii Remote to personal computer, you require the following:
Optionally, you can also get a Nunchuk. The Nunchuk is a controller that users occasionally connects to Wii remote to improve simplicity and control.
How to Sync Wii Remote on PC – Connecting PC to Wii Remote
Connecting Wiimote to PC requires following these steps:
- 1Download Wiimote Drivers
- 2Disable Driver Signature and Install Wiimote Driver
- 3Ensure you have working Bluetooth Adapter
- 4Connect to Wii Remote
- 5Setting up GlovePIE
1. Download Wiimote Drivers
The first step in how to use Wii remote on PC is download the Wiimote drivers. The Wii remote drivers are freely available online for download. You need Wii drivers installed on your PC to enable the PC to recognize the drivers.
Depending on your Windows Operating System, you can easily find the Wiimote drivers for both 32 bit and 64 bit versions.
As usual, the game developers bundle the drivers in a zip file so you have to unzip them into a folder before installing. If your computer cannot open zip files, download and install Winrar.
Please ensure that you use compatible drivers that meet your system specifications or else you may find errors.
You can find the drivers here:
How To Know if Your System is 32-bit or 64-bit?
That is pretty simple.
You need to access your system information.
On Windows 7, you can do this by
- 1Right Click “My Computer”
- 2Click Properties
- 3Read what it says next System Type
On Windows 10, you can do this by using serveral methods including:
- 1Right Click “This PC”
- 2Click Properties
Or
Search for “System” in the search bar.
2. Disable Driver Signature and Install Wiimote Driver
Currently, Windows may have not digitally signed the Wii remote drivers. Therefore, you may find errors associated with driver signature as you attempt to install.
However, in most cases, this error is less prevalent with 64-bit Windows users since the operating system version can ignore it.
If you find such error, you have to disable driver signature restriction by following the steps below:
These steps are for latest update for Windows 10
- 1Press the Start Button
- 2Press the Power Button
- 3Hold Shift Key + Press Restart Button
- 4Before the Windows Restarts an Option Screen will come up
- 5Choose Troubleshoot
- 6Then Choose Advanced Options
- 7Select Start Up Settings
- 8After Restarting, the Startup Settings Screen will appear
- 9Choose the 7th option by pressing 7 Number Key or F7 Key.
Here is a Video Tutorial as well
Click on the executable file “TinyInstaller” that you downloaded to install the driver.
The PC may prompt you to provide admin credentials to allow the installation to proceed. Once installed, you can verify whether you have installed the driver correctly.
You can do this by searching if it exists in the Program and Features Window. Within this Window, you can update or uninstall the driver.
3. Ensure you have working Bluetooth Adapter
Your Personal computer should have inbuilt Bluetooth adapter that is functioning.
You should then ensure that you installed your personal computer with the necessary Bluetooth drivers that meets the operating system specification.
You can download Bluetooth’s device drivers from your PC manufacturer’s websites.
4. Connect to Wii Remote
Having installed both Wiimote and Bluetooth drivers, you can turn Bluetooth adapter on and ensure that you have Bluetooth visibility turned to “Always On“.
On your Wii remote, press the 1+2 buttons concurrently until your PC Bluetooth detects and displays the Wii Remote’s controller’s icon.
At this entire time, you should ensure that the Wii remote’s LED lights blink continuously.
If your PC’s Bluetooth device is unable to detect the Wii remote device, turn the Bluetooth adapter off and on and attempt pressing the orange circle.
Once the Bluetooth connection is successful, the screen will display Wii remote’s name that is similar to “NINTENDO-RVT-CNT-01”.
Click the 1+2 buttons once more on the controller. Then right click the Wii Remote icon and select Refresh Services.
You can now use the Wii remote to work with software programs such as WiinRemote and GlovePIE.
5. Setting up GlovePIE
GlovePIE is an application that is primarily used to control the computer using the virtual reality glove.
However, it has more functionalities of accepting signals from wide varieties of devices such as Wii Gear and further translating them into actions that are similar to mouse and keyboard events.
You can download GlovePIE from Here. Ensure that you download the latest version of the application.
Unzip the downloaded application to Program Files folder and create its shortcut link to the Windows Desktop.
Launch the app by clicking the shortcut and a white screen that contains “Untitled”, “Variables” and “GUI” (Graphical User Interface) tabs will be displayed at first.
Since it uses scripting language, you need to learn its script to be able to work with it. Don’t worry the scripting is very simple and it uses simple text to bind keys.
Other Apps that can be used to bind keys include the following:
All are essential in accomplishing Wii Remote’s capabilities and interface with PC, but they are not as powerful as GlovePIE.
Using Wii Remote as Game and Mouse Controller
The JoyToKey application also allows you to set the remote to perform actions that can be performed by typical PC mouse.
Such actions include scrolling through a list, steering a wheel and aiming, among other features.
You can download the software from here: JoyToKey
Wiimote’s Uses and Features
Wiimote’s significant feature is that it uses optical sensor and accelerometer technology to sense motion. This allows a video gamer to easily manipulate and interact with screen items. You can use Wii remote for multiple tasks such as:
You can use Wii remote for gaming purposes, slide presentation and working with audio or video playlist.
Wrap Up
Here I briefly talked about how to use Wii Remote on PC. If you have any questions, details to share, or any other concerns, please feel free to leave a reply.
If there is a newer or better software for interfacing Wii Remote on PC, please let your fellow gamers know.
Andrew White is the founder of TechGearoid, a leading technology review & information website that is designed to help consumers make better decisions when it comes to their IT purchases. As a specialist tech writer (nerd) with over 10 years of experience, he enjoys writing about everything there is to do with modern technology & the newest market innovations. When he isn’t providing value for his readers, he’s usually drinking coffee or at the beach. Andrew lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and family.
