X-Force Haptics Kit Troubleshooting and Replacement Support

Use this article after the X-Force Haptics Kit has been installed and something is not working as expected. If you are still doing the first installation, start here instead:

X-Force Haptics Kit Installation and Quickstart Guide

Start here: choose the symptom

Use the section that matches what you are seeing:

Before checking inside the unit, turn the kit off, unplug wall power, disconnect USB/audio cables, and wait a moment before touching internal connectors.

If the kit does not power on

Stop using the kit and contact support if you see smoke, smell burning, see heat damage, or see a visibly broken board, connector, or wire.

For a normal no-power check:

  1. Make sure the wall cord is connected to the power brick.
  2. Make sure the inline power switch is in the ON position.
  3. Push the 24V power plug firmly into the Haptics Kit power socket. It can feel seated before it is fully connected.
  4. Check whether the power brick light is on.
  5. Check whether the Haptics PCB or control-panel lights turn on.

Important: the light on the power brick only confirms that the brick is receiving wall power. It does not always prove that power is reaching the Haptics Kit.

If the kit still has no power, do not keep power-cycling it. Contact support with photos and a short video.

No-power repair: panel board versus main board

Scope: the original Arcade2TV-XR with the separate X-Force Haptics Kit, not the integrated XR MAX.

A lit power brick and a dark internal board do not by themselves identify which PCB failed. After the inline-switch and fully seated supplied 24V connection checks, send support the adapter label, panel/board light observations and wiring photos. Do not substitute an arbitrary monitor adapter or infer compatibility from a matching plug.

In a customer-confirmed case, replacing only the haptics panel PCB restored power while the original main Haptics PCB stayed installed. This is a possible panel-side repair, not proof that every dark board needs the same part. If support supplies replacement boards, replace and test the panel board first as instructed; only move to the main board if the symptom remains and support directs it. Disconnect wall power and USB/audio cables before internal work.

Check power lights and normal functions after each single change. Restored power does not prove that speaker noise or SOL-button control has also been fixed. Report those symptoms separately and do not return unused parts until support confirms the next step.

If sound or haptics do not feel right

The X-Force Haptics Kit is audio-driven. It uses the analog 3.5mm audio signal from your headset, PC, console, or other audio source.

Solenoid clicks work but ball-contact vibration is missing

On the original XR with the separate kit, working flipper solenoids, plunger and nudge do not prove that the audio-driven vibration path has a signal. If only table-impact rumble is missing, check the 3.5mm audio connection and source/game volume before another firmware reflash. A reviewed case recovered vibration after this audio-path guidance; earlier controller/dongle reflashes had not fixed that symptom. Confirm that table sounds now produce vibration, separately from flipper clicks. If not, report source audio, cable connections and Audio/VIB settings.

First check the audio path:

  1. Make sure your device is outputting audio through the 3.5mm jack, not Bluetooth.
  2. Confirm the 3.5mm audio cable is fully inserted.
  3. Test with a known-good stereo 3.5mm cable.
  4. Test without any splitter first.
  5. If you also use external speakers or wired headphones, use a stereo TRS splitter, not a headset/microphone TRRS splitter.
  6. In the game audio settings, raise effects/physics audio and lower music if the game allows separate sliders.

For weak haptics, turn the headset/device volume up first, then adjust the Haptics Kit controls. The kit needs a strong enough audio signal to create vibration.

For hum, buzz, or high-pitched whine:

  1. Disconnect the 3.5mm audio cable and check whether the noise remains.
  2. Move audio cables away from power cables where possible.
  3. Try a different power outlet.
  4. If the noise only happens when connected to a PC or other audio source, a ground-loop isolator may help.
  5. If the noise continues with no audio cable connected, send support a short video for review.

Related article:

X-Force Haptics Kit: Use With External Speakers or Wired Headphones

If Pinball FX VR does not respond

For wireless Quest / Pinball FX VR play, the Arcade2TV-XR should be powered by USB-C wall power and the USB-B printer-style cable should be disconnected.

Check in this order:

  1. Disconnect the USB-B printer-style cable from the Arcade2TV-XR.
  2. Power the Arcade2TV-XR from the rear USB-C port using wall power.
  3. Plug the Gen2 dongle into the powered-on Quest headset.
  4. Pair the dongle.
  5. Set the required dongle mode before launching Pinball FX VR.
  6. Fully close and reopen Pinball FX VR after changing dongle mode.
  7. If the Quest menu sees input but Pinball FX VR does not, fully power off and restart the headset, then launch the game after the dongle is recognized.

If USB-B is connected during wireless play, the controller may stay in wired mode and the wireless dongle may not receive input correctly.

If VPX does not respond

For PC / VPX / Visual Pinball X, the controller input must go to the PC running the game.

If the Gen2 dongle is plugged into a Quest headset, it will not send Arcade2TV-XR input back to a separate PC through Steam Link, Virtual Desktop, Meta Remote Desktop, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet.

Check in this order:

  1. Connect the controller or Gen2 dongle to the PC running VPX.
  2. On Windows, press Windows key + R.
  3. Type joy.cpl and press Enter.
  4. Select the controller entry and click Properties.
  5. Test buttons, nudge, and plunger there.

If the controls work in joy.cpl but not in VPX, focus on VPX or JoyToKey mapping. If they do not work in joy.cpl, focus on connection mode, firmware, dongle mode, or internal connectors before changing VPX settings.

For keyboard-mode checks, use:

Online keyboard tester

SOL button cannot turn off the solenoids

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR plus the separate X-Force Haptics Kit. This is different from solenoids that never fire and is not an XR MAX repair instruction.

Record whether the SOL button light changes, whether the solenoids fire in both button positions and whether the rest of the controller works. Tell support exactly which panel, main board and cables have already been tried; do not repeat the same swaps without a new reason.

In one customer-confirmed case, replacing cables and trying both Pinball Extension v1.5 boards did not restore SOL on/off control. A later replacement of the complete haptics panel assembly (wood panel, speakers and control panel, using that assembly's attached wiring) restored the SOL button's ability to switch the solenoids on and off. The main Haptics PCB and other components were not replaced in that successful step.

This isolates a successful assembly-level repair, not a proven individual switch, cable or PCB defect. If earlier individual swaps failed, ask support to review the complete panel-assembly path and exact revision before further replacements. Do not order or substitute parts solely from this example. Disconnect wall power and external cables before any support-directed internal work. After each approved change, verify both SOL-on and SOL-off behavior and report the result. A replacement offer alone is not proof of a repair.

If the plunger or nudge feels wrong

First check the independent kit power and SOL/ACC indicators in the section "Flippers work but plunger and nudge are dead" below. Then distinguish game behavior from a hardware/input issue.

On Windows, test with joy.cpl:

  1. Press Windows key + R.
  2. Type joy.cpl and press Enter.
  3. Select the controller entry and click Properties.
  4. Pull the plunger slowly and watch the input response.
  5. Move or nudge the unit and watch whether input appears.

If the plunger is smooth in joy.cpl, Pinball Classics VR, or Star Wars Pinball VR but moves in steps only in Pinball FX VR, the hardware may be working correctly. Pinball FX VR can process plunger input in stepped increments depending on the game/table.

If the plunger or nudge is not smooth in joy.cpl, check the current firmware guide:

Recommended firmware/remapping tool: Start with the Arcade2TV-XR Web Configurator for controller remapping and supported firmware upgrades for the Arcade2TV-XR controller, Gen2 wireless dongle, and Haptics PCB. It runs in a browser on Mac and Windows PC. If the web app is unavailable, use the downloadable software fallback from the main software and firmware guide. Always choose the firmware for the correct component; Gen1 dongles are not firmware-upgradable.

Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR software and firmware usage guide

Use the firmware path that matches your symptom:

If the plunger is completely non-responsive after the current firmware checks, contact support.

If it still does not work after these steps

Contact Xgaming support with the details below. Please do not post order numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses, or tracking numbers publicly.

Include:

If a replacement part was already sent and did not solve the issue, include which part arrived. That helps support confirm whether the next step should be a power adapter, control-panel PCB, main Haptics PCB, speaker, cable, plunger assembly, or another part.

Preorder or shipping questions

For an original Arcade2TV-XR ordered with the separate X-Force Haptics Kit, the add-on kit can arrive in its own package after the controller and pedestal. Delivery of the main unit, or an order-level "fulfilled" indication, does not by itself establish delivery of the kit. Ask support to identify which tracking record covers the missing item. This separate-kit guidance does not describe the integrated Arcade2TV-XR MAX.

Use the current order's promised ship window and item-specific tracking. Do not reuse a past customer's estimated month or assume a tracking-app discrepancy proves either delivery or loss.

If your Haptics Kit order is a preorder, use the ship window shown on the product page and your order confirmation email as the source of truth.

If the current ship window has passed or tracking has not updated, contact support with your order number.

Source article: <https://support.xgaming.com/support/solutions/articles/12000108886-x-force-haptics-kit-troubleshooting-and-replacement-support>

Controls show NA or some player-two buttons fail after installation

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR with the separate X-Force Haptics Kit, not integrated XR MAX.

Separate a mapping problem from an individual disconnected button. In one customer-confirmed case, the configuration tool showed NA assignments after installation. A support-directed Factory Reset in keyboard mode over USB-B, followed by reconnecting, restored mappings and much of the input. Player-two buttons 2 and 4 still failed. The customer then found and reconnected a disconnected black button/PCB wire and reported the controls working. The report did not establish the wire's electrical function, so do not identify it as ground solely from its color.

  1. Record the exact assignments and failing controls before changing anything. If using Factory Reset, record custom mappings first because a reset can replace them; follow the original XR configurator instructions for the connected component.
  2. Retest each control after reconnecting. Restored mappings do not prove every physical button connection is sound.
  3. If only individual buttons remain dead, disconnect wall power and external cables before inspecting their connections or following support's internal-work instructions. Do not work inside a powered unit.
  4. Retest the affected buttons individually and report remaining failures, including board/cable photos and steps already tried.

This restored controller input in the reviewed case; it did not confirm resolution of a later, separate wireless plunger problem. Do not repeat already-completed firmware updates as a substitute for comparing wired and wireless plunger test results.

Repeated replacement boards did not restore stable power

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR with separate X-Force Haptics Kit. A customer tried several panel boards without a lasting fix, then reported the kit working after disassembly and reconnection. This supports reviewing the complete connection path when earlier board swaps failed; it does not prove a particular connector, solder joint or main PCB was defective. Long-term reliability was not confirmed.

Do not infer that a dark internal LED proves the main PCB needs replacement, or continue an automatic panel-board/main-board/power-supply replacement sequence. Give support the exact boards already tried, revision labels, light behavior and connection history before selecting another part. The earlier customer-confirmed panel-only repair and complete-panel SOL-control repair remain separate possible branches, not universal remedies.

A pop, burning smell, visible damage or heat changes the safety branch: stop use, unplug power and contact support. Do not repeat powered connector-wiggling or reconnection experiments after those symptoms. Any internal inspection or reconnection must be support-directed with wall power and external cables disconnected. After an approved repair, verify stable power and each affected function separately; report recurrence rather than assuming a durable fix from a single successful start.

Previously working kit suddenly loses functions with dim panel lights

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR and separate first-generation X-Force Haptics Kit, not integrated XR MAX. A reviewed case lost audio, haptics, nudge and plunger together; audio/SOL indicators became roughly half-bright. A reconnect restored operation only briefly. An input-voltage reading alone did not identify the faulty component.

Support suspected a DC connector solder connection on an early panel PCB and arranged a panel replacement. A customer with professional electronics tools and experience reported restoring all functions by repairing that connector's solder joint; support acknowledged the recovery. This confirms that a panel connector fault can be relevant in this symptom branch, not that every dim-light case has that cause or needs the same part.

Do not attempt soldering or probe an energized board based on this example. Unplug power and external cables, stop repeated power cycling, and send support the symptoms, board revision and already-tried checks. Any board repair must be performed by a qualified technician under appropriate guidance. After an approved repair, verify audio, vibration, SOL control, nudge and plunger separately and report recurrence. Receiving a replacement is not evidence that it was installed or fixed the problem.

Physical sticking is different from stepped game input

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR with the separate X-Force Haptics Kit. If the shaft physically sticks or does not spring back to rest, separate that mechanical symptom from a smooth shaft whose in-game movement is stepped.

  1. Record whether the physical shaft returns freely and whether launch input continues or fires unexpectedly while it is being pulled.
  2. Tell support which controller, dongle and Haptics PCB updates were already completed. In one reviewed case the matched updates did not remove physical binding or erratic launches; repeating the same update was not the next useful step.
  3. Stop forcing the shaft. Send a short video showing physical travel and the game response, with exact product/revision and previously tried steps. Disconnect power and cables before any support-directed internal inspection.
  4. Support can review the assembly for replacement. Do not assume a sensor, PCB or firmware defect solely from these symptoms. Confirm the applicable part, current availability and service terms with support.

A replacement in that case felt better to the customer on receipt, but had not yet been installed. Receipt and improved hand-feel are not a confirmed in-game repair. A staff suggestion to wipe the shaft also had no reported result; it is not a proven cure or permission to apply lubricant. After an approved replacement, confirm free return and repeat the affected game's launch test, reporting any remaining failure.

Main-board replacement failed; panel-board replacement restored power

Scope: original XR with separate X-Force Haptics Kit, including the reviewed Pinball Extension v1.5 main board and Pinball Interface v1.4 panel board. Do not transfer these part labels or repair steps to XR MAX.

A customer first reported speaker noise, then a pop and loss of power. Different external supplies and an outlet change did not restore operation. Replacing the main Haptics PCB also made no difference. Replacing the panel PCB containing the power socket finally restored power and operation, which the customer explicitly confirmed. This is evidence for reviewing the panel-side path after a failed main-board swap, not a guaranteed diagnosis for every dark-board case.

  1. After a pop or suspected damage, stop use and unplug wall power and external cables. Do not repeat live socket-wiggling, energized probing or arbitrary power-adapter experiments from old correspondence.
  2. Tell support which supply, outlet and board changes were already tested and the exact board labels. Ask them to verify the replacement shipment actually contains the intended panel board; a main board alone is not the same part.
  3. Use only support-approved parts and revision-specific instructions, with power disconnected for internal work. Verify stable power and affected functions after each change.
  4. Report any new symptom separately. This customer's later input-lag concern was withdrawn after further comparison with another controller; it did not establish a general wired-latency defect.

The earlier assumptions of a failed main board, a PSU-only noise cause, or obvious burnt components were not established by the initial photos/LED readings. Yellow material may be adhesive, but a photo alone cannot rule damage in or out. A disconnected harness photographed during inspection is not proof it was disconnected during operation. Record the customer's actual test setup and clarification. Return/reimbursement arrangements for unused parts remain case-specific.

Flippers work but plunger and nudge are dead: check independent haptics power

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR with the separate X-Force Haptics Kit, not XR MAX. Working controller buttons, trackball, firmware detection or flipper input do not establish that the separate kit is powered. A reviewed customer already had Haptics PCB v1.8 and working game flippers after mode correction, but no plunger/nudge and dark SOL/ACC indicators. After support pointed out the inline 24V power switch, turning it on restored operation. This was a combined correct-mode and independent-power recovery, not a firmware-only fix.

  1. Check the supplied 24V adapter connection and its inline switch; the brick's green light alone is insufficient. Observe the panel's SOL/ACC indicators. Keep the controller's appropriate data/power connections separate from the kit's 24V supply.
  2. Verify the required input mode using the actual input test, not decorative light colours. For Windows, press Windows key + R, enter joy.cpl, then open each relevant controller's Properties and identify which responds. The legacy app's missing XInput display does not prove a missing device. Use the documented Pinball/XInput path for analog plunger/nudge testing.
  3. Test plunger and nudge, then SOL control and audio-driven vibration separately. Two flipper solenoids are not the same as the four audio-driven exciters. A bass-audio test checks vibration, not every input.
  4. If the kit stays dark or input still fails, report exact versions, mode, indicator states and already-completed tests to support. Do not keep reflashing an already matched set or guess a bad PCB. Disconnect wall power and external cables before any support-directed internal connector work.

In the same history, removing the spinner path and reconnecting the trackball directly stopped reported USB disconnects before the power fix. That is a separate observation, not proof of a failed spinner or a universal wiring change. Identify the exact mixer/board and connection layout with support before applying it to another setup.

Confirmed power-board replacement with revision recorded

For the original XR separate X-Force Haptics Kit, one customer reported a lit power brick but no kit power after trying another outlet and reseating the power-board connection. The customer later confirmed the kit worked after replacing the power PCB: the removed board was marked v1.4 and the received board v1.5. Support acknowledged that result. These are physical board revisions, not firmware versions, and the report does not establish that every v1.4 board is faulty or every v1.5 board fits every kit.

Give support photos of the actual board labels, power socket and wiring, plus the checks already completed. Ask them to identify the exact replacement rather than ordering by a version number alone. Unplug wall power and all external cables before internal work; never probe or wiggle a powered connector. After the approved swap, check stable power and each affected function separately. A shipment or a lit adapter alone is not a successful repair.

One speaker cuts out when the AUX plug position changes

For the original XR separate Haptics Kit, a customer reported a low or muted right speaker that briefly returned when the AUX plug moved. Multiple cables had already been tried. Support selected a replacement haptics panel PCB, but the history ended with shipping discussion; there was no confirmed installed-replacement result. Do not treat this as a proven jack fault or guaranteed board repair.

Record which channel fails, which cables and source were tested, and whether the symptom changes with ordinary plug seating. Do not repeatedly bend or wiggle the socket during play. Send support a short recording and photos of the panel/board revision so the connector path and exact part can be reviewed. Unplug power and external cables before internal work. After an approved replacement, retest both channels and report whether sound remains stable during normal use.

Power restored, but flipper solenoids still do not fire

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR with the separate X-Force Haptics Kit, not integrated XR MAX.

A reviewed case had a fading board light and no kit power. After a support-supplied board replacement, the customer reported power, tilt and plunger restored but no flipper solenoid effects. Support then asked the customer to toggle the SOL on/off switch and test both positions; the customer explicitly confirmed that this restored the missing effects.

These were two separate steps: the board replacement restored power, and the SOL switch check restored solenoid operation afterward. The switch was not proved to repair the original power failure, and the history does not identify a universal defective component.

Before further board replacement for silent solenoids on an otherwise powered kit, test SOL in both positions and press the flipper buttons; record whether the clicks switch on/off. Check power, plunger, nudge and audio-driven vibration separately. If the kit is still dark, use the no-power branch instead. If SOL has no effect, tell support which board was already replaced, its revision and the other working functions. Disconnect wall power and external cables before any internal work.

Internal LEDs and audio work, but green panel buttons are dark

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR with the separate X-Force Haptics Kit. Lit internal LEDs or speaker sound with dark green panel-button indicators do not by themselves prove a defective panel I/O board.

In one reviewed case, support initially suspected that board, but the customer reported the kit powering up and working after moving the wires/power-socket area during inspection, without a board replacement. The customer tested repeatedly with the panel off. A later staff message described it as working with the panel back on, but the customer had not confirmed that reassembled condition or lasting reliability. The exact loose connection was not identified.

  1. Record existing observations: which LEDs light, whether actual source audio plays, whether the panel buttons toggle their indicators, and any previously seen connection-sensitive behavior.
  2. Do not repeat live wire or socket wiggling. Unplug wall power and all external cables before support-directed connector inspection; send board-revision and connector photos.
  3. Ask support to assess the complete panel power/connection path before selecting a replacement. A lit main board, a hum or a temporarily recovered function is not a component diagnosis.
  4. After an approved correction and safe reassembly, check stable power, both panel indicators, speaker audio, flipper input/effects, plunger and nudge separately. Report recurrence and whether failure differs assembled versus open. Stop use for heat, burning smell, a pop or visible damage.

This is a reported recovery with the panel off, not a proven solder-joint repair or a confirmed board replacement.

Front haptics module spins or falls out of its mount

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR separate X-Force Haptics Kit, for the front module and recessed plastic mount described in the installation tutorial. A module that inserts but spins or falls out can be installed from the wrong side; that alone does not establish a missing locking part. Support corrected orientation and the customer then reported passing that step and finishing installation.

  1. Disconnect wall power and all external cables before handling the mount. Identify the matching module and recessed face with the supplied guide.
  2. Insert the module from the recessed side of the plastic mounting panel and push it into place from that side. Do not force it from the opposite face or modify/drill the mount to make it fit.
  3. Check that it stays seated without spinning or dropping out before closing. If it still does not lock, stop and send support photos of both sides and the exact revision so missing or damaged parts can be assessed.

The confirmed result was completion of this mounting step, not every haptics, audio or dongle function. Test subsequent symptoms separately. This is not an XR MAX mounting procedure.

One silent speaker channel after a main Haptics PCB replacement

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR with the separate X-Force Haptics Kit, not integrated XR MAX. If both physical speakers work from the left output but neither works from the right, that isolates the symptom to the right-channel signal path; it does not prove the main Haptics PCB is defective.

In a reviewed case, replacing the main Haptics PCB did not restore the right speaker. The customer also reported much weaker right-side haptic output. Support then suspected the panel-side 3.5mm audio path and arranged a panel PCB replacement, but no installed-panel result was reported. The main-board repair was disproven in that case; the panel repair remained outcome unconfirmed.

Give support the exact source/cable tests, board labels, socket comparison and failed main-board replacement history. Do not repeat the same swap or automatically buy another board. Any support-directed internal connector comparison must be performed with wall power and external cables disconnected; reconnect only for the normal test after safe reassembly. A dim LED alone does not diagnose an amplifier. After an approved repair, verify both speaker channels and both sides of vibration separately, and report whether normal use stays stable.

Wired VPX recognition failure is not a dongle-pairing problem

Scope: original Arcade2TV-XR with the separate Haptics Kit, using the standard controller profile. Establish whether the customer is testing wired PC VPX or wireless Quest play before giving pairing instructions. For a wired baseline, use the rear USB-B data connection to the PC running VPX; a Quest dongle is not a prerequisite for that test. Follow the matching controller guide for Pinball Mode, then test actual buttons and axes in joy.cpl before changing VPX mappings. Do not apply this standard profile's mode colors to a dedicated VPX build or XR MAX.

If Windows reports Code 43 or no controller entry, record the exact error, whether the trackball or other inputs enumerate, light/beep behavior, and results already obtained with another data cable and PC. A beep, returned lights, a blinking dongle or a successful updater message does not prove stable Windows recognition. In one reviewed history, web-based recovery restored lights and dongle activity but repeated controller recovery did not restore recognition after reboot. Support moved to a replacement rather than continuing the same firmware loop. That history did not prove that the customer flashed the wrong file, that Code 43 always means a defective board, or that every such unit is recoverable by firmware.

After the documented, correctly scoped recovery fails or only restores lights, stop repeating it and ask support to review the recorded evidence and replacement options. Do not force unrelated firmware onto an unidentified device. Disconnect wall power and external cables before internal work. A replacement offer, shipment or receipt is not a confirmed technical fix, and moving an installed kit can require additional disassembly and replacement adhesive parts; agree on the exact supported service plan before dismantling it.

Plunger works on some VPX tables: check the table before reflashing

For the standard original-XR Pinball profile, use the wired PC input test and matching purple Pinball Mode guidance above. Confirm the analog axis in joy.cpl, then test a table known to support an analog plunger and review that table's input settings. In a reviewed replacement-unit history, the customer had already selected Pinball Mode and subsequently found tables where the analog plunger worked. This was narrower than a confirmed repair of every table or every earlier recognition failure. A table without the same analog-launch support is not by itself evidence of a bad plunger or outdated Haptics PCB.

Do not require another Haptics PCB or dongle update solely because one table lacks plunger response. Staff advised that customer to retain the working v1.6 Haptics setup rather than update to v1.8 without a symptom requiring it. This is a stable-setup decision, not a universal v1.6 requirement, a ban on matched stability updates, or proof that another customer's unread version is v1.6. Obtain the actual component versions from a supported readback or support review; do not infer them from shipment date, a staff assumption or the controller version. If the axis fails outside the game, return to the power/input branch and report the exact profile, table, versions and already-tried tests.