Microsoft Offers Free Battery Packs for Xbox Controllers Missing AA Batteries

Microsoft has acknowledged that a limited number of Xbox Wireless Controllers and Xbox Design Lab controllers shipped without batteries starting in December, prompting the company to offer affected customers a free rechargeable battery pack and USB-C charging cable as compensation.

The issue affected controllers purchased from the Microsoft Store, Xbox Design Lab, or third-party retailers. Normally, these devices include two AA batteries in the packaging to allow immediate wireless use. Xbox Support addressed the problem in a post on X on April 8, 2026, stating, "A limited number of controllers have shipped without batteries since December. If you received one of these controllers, go here aka.msbatteries for a rechargeable battery on us. All controllers moving forward will include batteries."

Customers who believe they received an eligible controller can claim the one-time offer without needing a receipt. The process requires registering the device using its serial number, found inside the battery compartment. Eligible users visit account.microsoft.com/devices, select "Register device" and complete the flow for a new device. They then choose the registered controller, start an...