RetroCompass
RetroCompass

8BitDo M30 — Bluetooth

Quick answer

Button combo

power-on combohold PAIR(2 sec)·START to reconnect

Steps

  1. 1Power on in the right mode (Y + START Switch, X + START Windows, A + START macOS, B + START Android).
  2. 2Hold PAIR 2 seconds the first time to make it discoverable.
  3. 3Select it in the device's Bluetooth list (or Change Grip/Order on Switch).
  4. 4After the first pairing, just press START to auto-reconnect.

LED states

  • RotatingDiscoverable / connecting
  • SolidBluetooth connected
Last verified: 2026-06-20Source: support.8bitdo.com

Bluetooth on the M30 is mode-aware: start it with the right power-on combo for your platform, then hold PAIR for two seconds the first time so it shows up. On Switch use Change Grip/Order; elsewhere pick [8BitDo M30 gamepad] (or [Wireless Controller] in macOS mode). After the initial pairing it auto-reconnects to that platform when you press START. The M30 keeps a separate pairing per platform mode.

FAQ

Why won't it reconnect after I change platforms?
Power on with the matching combo for the platform you want; the M30 stores a different pairing per mode.