If you are seeing the error message "The procedure entry point Steam Controller could not be located in the dynamic link library," it generally means your system is missing critical Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable libraries that the game requires to bridge the connection with Steam's controller API. Primary Fix: Install Missing Libraries
This error typically points to a missing or corrupted component in the Visual C++ library.
Download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages (specifically versions 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2013) from the official Microsoft website. Restart your PC after the installation is complete.
For a visual walkthrough on fixing the 'procedure entry point' error by updating your libraries, watch this guide:
To fix the error where your Steam controller Go to product viewer dialog for this item. cannot be located or is not detected in Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2016 , you generally need to
bridge the gap between Steam's modern input system and the game's older configuration tool 1. Use the Settings.exe
PES 2016 handles controllers through a standalone executable rather than the game itself. Navigate to your game's installation folder (typically .../Steam/steamapps/common/Pro Evolution Soccer 2016/ Locate and launch settings.exe Controller
Ensure your controller is connected and select it from the "Device" dropdown menu. If using a modern controller, try switching between DirectInput to see which one detects your device. 2. Enable Steam Input Support
If the settings.exe doesn't see your controller, Steam's built-in compatibility layers may be disabled for the game. Open your Steam Library, right-click , and select Properties Controller tab and set the "Override for Pro Evolution Soccer 2016" to Enable Steam Input Restart Steam and check the settings.exe Steam Community
How To Fix Controller Not Working In Steam (Easy Guide 2026)
PES 2016 controller detection issues, often appearing as "Steam Controller could not be located," are typically resolved by configuring the game's external Settings.exe file or enabling Steam Input override. Ensuring the controller is connected before launch and verified within Steam settings is essential for proper functionality. For further troubleshooting, see this Steam Community discussion. Steam Community
In the late hours of a rainy Tuesday, Leo sat before his monitor, the glowing pitch of Pro Evolution Soccer 2016
calling to him. He had just unboxed a sleek new Steam Controller, ready to lead his team to glory. But as he clicked "Play," the screen didn’t transition to the stadium. Instead, a cold, clinical error message appeared:
"The procedure entry point Steam Controller could not be located in the dynamic link library steam_api.dll."
Leo’s heart sank. His "link" to the game was broken. He wasn't just a gamer; he was a problem solver. He knew this wasn't a hardware failure, but a digital puzzle of missing files and outdated libraries. The Quest for the Missing Library The error suggested the game's "interpreter"—the steam_api.dll
file—was speaking a language the new controller didn't understand. To fix the broken link, Leo embarked on a three-step journey: Updating the Translators
: He realized his computer was missing the "vocabulary" needed to run modern controllers. He went to the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
page and downloaded the latest packages (specifically the 2013 and 2015 versions), which provide the necessary dynamic link libraries for games to talk to hardware. The Hidden Settings
: He navigated to the PES 2016 installation folder and found a relic from the past: settings.exe . Opening it, he moved to the Controller
tab. He switched the input from "XInput" to "Direct Input" and saw his controller finally appear in the dropdown menu. Steam's Big Picture : Finally, he launched Steam's Big Picture Mode
, the native habitat for his controller. He navigated to the game's properties and enabled Steam Input
, ensuring the "link" between his handheld device and the digital pitch was solid.
The error message vanished. The roar of the digital crowd returned. Leo gripped his controller, the "located link" now a bridge to victory. step-by-step technical guide to help you resolve this specific error on your own PC?
The error "The procedure entry point Steam Controller could not be located" typically indicates missing or corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable components Primary Fix: Reinstall Visual C++ Libraries
This error occurs when the game cannot find specific libraries required to communicate with Steam's controller API. Download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
packages (specifically 2013, 2015, and 2022 versions) from the official Microsoft Support page Install both the Restart your computer. Game-Specific Configuration (PES 2016)
If the error is gone but the controller still doesn't work, follow these PES-specific steps: Settings.exe Utility : Navigate to your PES 2016 installation folder, open Settings.exe , go to the Controller
tab, and ensure the DirectInput/XInput setting matches your device. Administrative Privileges : Right-click the PES 2016 executable or Steam and select Run as administrator Steam Input : Right-click PES 2016 in your Steam Library, select Properties > Controller , and set the "Override for Pro Evolution Soccer 2016" to Enable Steam Input Other Common Solutions How To Fix Steam Not Detecting Controller - Full Guide
The Phantom Link
Arjun’s Friday night had been planned for two weeks. Pizza was ordered. The lights were dimmed to a perfect, stadium-like gloom. And on his monitor, the Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 title screen hummed its familiar, synth-heavy anthem. It was 2016, and this was the ritual.
He picked up his Steam Controller—that strange, haptic-feedback pad with the twin trackpads that his friends mocked but he secretly loved. It fit his large hands perfectly. He pressed the center button. The Steam icon glowed. The controller vibrated once, a confident, bassy thrum.
Then the screen went black for a second.
When the game reappeared, a small, gray dialogue box sat in the center of the screen, as innocuous as a tax form.
"Steam Controller could not be located. Please reconnect and restart the game."
Arjun blinked. The controller was in his hands. It was on. The USB dongle was plugged into the front of his PC, its little blue light winking at him like a mocking eye.
“Okay,” he muttered. He unplugged the dongle. Counted to three. Plugged it back in. The controller vibrated again. The error message remained.
He restarted Steam. Nothing. He restarted the PC. Nothing. He tried the controller wired. Nothing.
Frustration curdled into something else—a quiet, creeping unease. He’d seen this error before, back in the game’s buggy launch month. But it had been patched. For two years, the game had worked flawlessly. Why now?
He opened the Steam Big Picture mode—the controller’s native habitat. The controller worked perfectly there. He navigated menus, adjusted settings, even launched PES 2016 from within Big Picture. The game booted, the Konami logo flashed, and then—gray box. Could not be located.
It was as if the game itself had forgotten how to see.
That’s when Arjun noticed the date on his taskbar. October 2, 2016. The same day he’d first installed the game. The same day he’d broken up with Maya, after she’d driven an hour to surprise him and found him in the middle of a Master League derby. “You located that game just fine,” she’d said, tears in her eyes. “But not me.”
He’d laughed it off then. Now, the error message felt less like a bug and more like a message.
He grabbed his phone and searched the exact phrase: "pes 2016 steam controller could not be located link".
One result stood out. A tiny, dead forum post from 2015. Only one reply, from a user named ghost_in_the_trackpad.
“The controller is not the problem. The game is looking for a connection that no longer exists. It’s not about hardware. It’s about what you were connected to when you first played. Unplug that memory, and the controller will return.”
Arjun stared at the screen. The pizza arrived. He didn’t answer the door.
He went to his Steam screenshots folder. Scrolled back to October 2, 2015. There it was: a screenshot of his Master League victory screen. And in the corner of the image, reflected in the black bezel of his monitor, was the faint outline of a person sitting next to him. Maya. She was leaning over, watching him play, her hand resting on his arm.
He had forgotten she was there that night.
Slowly, he unplugged everything. The dongle. The charging cable. He placed the Steam Controller on his desk, facedown, as if putting a pet to rest.
He opened PES 2016 with his keyboard and mouse. The game loaded. No error. The main menu music played—that melancholy, mid-2000s rock ballad.
He navigated to Exhibition. He picked his team—Arsenal, always Arsenal. He picked an opponent—her favorite, Bayern Munich. He kicked off, playing with keyboard keys that felt foreign and cold.
In the 23rd minute, he paused the game.
He reached over, picked up the Steam Controller, and held it. Not to connect it. Just to feel its weight. The phantom vibration he’d imagined earlier returned—a single, soft buzz.
He plugged the dongle back in. The controller synced. The screen flickered. The gray box did not appear.
He unpaused the game. The controller worked. It had never stopped working. But only after he’d remembered what, or who, had been lost.
Arjun never saw the error again. But sometimes, late at night, when the room was quiet and PES 2016 was running, he’d feel a second pair of hands on the controller—guiding his thumbs, just slightly off-center, toward a pass he hadn’t meant to make.
And the ball would always find the net.
If you are seeing an error like "The procedure entry point Steam Controller could not be located in the dynamic link library,"
it usually points to a missing or corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable or a conflict with how Steam is managing the game's inputs 1. Fix Missing System Files The most common cause for "could not be located" errors in is a missing visual library Install Visual C++ Redistributables: Download and install both the x86 and x64 versions of Microsoft Visual C++
. Many users find success after installing versions from 2010 through 2015. Check Antivirus Quarantines:
Sometimes your antivirus might mistakenly flag a game file (like a ) as a threat. Check your Antivirus Protection History and restore any files related to PES 2016. 2. Configure PES 2016 Settings Tool
PES 2016 uses an external configuration tool that must be set up before the game recognizes your controller. Go to the folder where PES 2016 is installed (usually Steam\steamapps\common\Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 Settings.exe Controller Ensure the Controller is set to "Controller 1" and the DirectInput option is correctly selected based on your device. 3. Fix Steam Input Issues
If the controller works in other games but not PES 2016, Steam's own "Steam Input" might be overriding the game's legacy settings. Enable Steam Input: Right-click PES 2016 in your Steam Library, select Properties , go to the Controller tab, and set the dropdown to Enable Steam Input Launch in Big Picture Mode: Try launching the game through Steam Big Picture Mode
(the TV icon in the top right of Steam). This often forces the game to recognize the active controller profile. 4. Verify Game Integrity If a specific file is actually missing, Steam can replace it for you: Right-click PES 2016 in Steam > Properties Installed Files Verify integrity of game files Does the error message mention a specific filename steam_api.dll ) or does it just say "Steam Controller"? How To Setup Any Controller On Steam - Easy Guide
This is a known issue with Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 (PES 2016) on Steam. The error usually appears when the game cannot detect the Steam Overlay or the specific controller configuration files required to run it.
Here is a step-by-step guide to resolving the "Controller could not be located" error.
The game is looking specifically for a Steam Controller (Valve’s now-discontinued touchpad controller) or a controller configured through Steam Input. When it fails to detect one, it throws this error and often refuses to recognize any other gamepad.
The keyword here is "link." In programming terms, a link refers to the communication pathway between the physical controller, Steam’s driver, and the game’s executable.
When you see the "could not be located link" error, it means:
You are essentially trying to plug a modern guitar into a 1980s amplifier without an adapter. The solutions below provide the missing adapter link.
Document ID: PES2016-CTRL-01
Applies to: Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 (Steam edition), Windows 10/11
This is the fastest fix and works for 70% of users.
Step 1: Open your Steam Library. Step 2: Right-click on Pro Evolution Soccer 2016. Step 3: Select Properties > Controller. Step 4: In the dropdown menu for "Override for PES 2016," select "Disable Steam Input". Step 5: Close the properties window and launch the game.
Why this works: By disabling Steam Input, you break the virtual Steam Controller link and force the game to talk directly to your controller hardware (assuming it’s XInput compatible).
If this fails: Your controller might not be natively XInput (e.g., a PS4 controller without DS4Windows). Move to Fix #2.
If you are seeing the error message "The procedure entry point Steam Controller could not be located in the dynamic link library," it generally means your system is missing critical Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable libraries that the game requires to bridge the connection with Steam's controller API. Primary Fix: Install Missing Libraries
This error typically points to a missing or corrupted component in the Visual C++ library.
Download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages (specifically versions 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2013) from the official Microsoft website. Restart your PC after the installation is complete.
For a visual walkthrough on fixing the 'procedure entry point' error by updating your libraries, watch this guide:
To fix the error where your Steam controller Go to product viewer dialog for this item. cannot be located or is not detected in Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2016 , you generally need to
bridge the gap between Steam's modern input system and the game's older configuration tool 1. Use the Settings.exe
PES 2016 handles controllers through a standalone executable rather than the game itself. Navigate to your game's installation folder (typically .../Steam/steamapps/common/Pro Evolution Soccer 2016/ Locate and launch settings.exe Controller
Ensure your controller is connected and select it from the "Device" dropdown menu. If using a modern controller, try switching between DirectInput to see which one detects your device. 2. Enable Steam Input Support
If the settings.exe doesn't see your controller, Steam's built-in compatibility layers may be disabled for the game. Open your Steam Library, right-click , and select Properties Controller tab and set the "Override for Pro Evolution Soccer 2016" to Enable Steam Input Restart Steam and check the settings.exe Steam Community
How To Fix Controller Not Working In Steam (Easy Guide 2026)
PES 2016 controller detection issues, often appearing as "Steam Controller could not be located," are typically resolved by configuring the game's external Settings.exe file or enabling Steam Input override. Ensuring the controller is connected before launch and verified within Steam settings is essential for proper functionality. For further troubleshooting, see this Steam Community discussion. Steam Community
In the late hours of a rainy Tuesday, Leo sat before his monitor, the glowing pitch of Pro Evolution Soccer 2016
calling to him. He had just unboxed a sleek new Steam Controller, ready to lead his team to glory. But as he clicked "Play," the screen didn’t transition to the stadium. Instead, a cold, clinical error message appeared:
"The procedure entry point Steam Controller could not be located in the dynamic link library steam_api.dll."
Leo’s heart sank. His "link" to the game was broken. He wasn't just a gamer; he was a problem solver. He knew this wasn't a hardware failure, but a digital puzzle of missing files and outdated libraries. The Quest for the Missing Library The error suggested the game's "interpreter"—the steam_api.dll
file—was speaking a language the new controller didn't understand. To fix the broken link, Leo embarked on a three-step journey: Updating the Translators
: He realized his computer was missing the "vocabulary" needed to run modern controllers. He went to the official Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
page and downloaded the latest packages (specifically the 2013 and 2015 versions), which provide the necessary dynamic link libraries for games to talk to hardware. The Hidden Settings
: He navigated to the PES 2016 installation folder and found a relic from the past: settings.exe . Opening it, he moved to the Controller pes 2016 steam controller could not be located link
tab. He switched the input from "XInput" to "Direct Input" and saw his controller finally appear in the dropdown menu. Steam's Big Picture : Finally, he launched Steam's Big Picture Mode
, the native habitat for his controller. He navigated to the game's properties and enabled Steam Input
, ensuring the "link" between his handheld device and the digital pitch was solid.
The error message vanished. The roar of the digital crowd returned. Leo gripped his controller, the "located link" now a bridge to victory. step-by-step technical guide to help you resolve this specific error on your own PC?
The error "The procedure entry point Steam Controller could not be located" typically indicates missing or corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable components Primary Fix: Reinstall Visual C++ Libraries
This error occurs when the game cannot find specific libraries required to communicate with Steam's controller API. Download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
packages (specifically 2013, 2015, and 2022 versions) from the official Microsoft Support page Install both the Restart your computer. Game-Specific Configuration (PES 2016)
If the error is gone but the controller still doesn't work, follow these PES-specific steps: Settings.exe Utility : Navigate to your PES 2016 installation folder, open Settings.exe , go to the Controller
tab, and ensure the DirectInput/XInput setting matches your device. Administrative Privileges : Right-click the PES 2016 executable or Steam and select Run as administrator Steam Input : Right-click PES 2016 in your Steam Library, select Properties > Controller , and set the "Override for Pro Evolution Soccer 2016" to Enable Steam Input Other Common Solutions How To Fix Steam Not Detecting Controller - Full Guide
The Phantom Link
Arjun’s Friday night had been planned for two weeks. Pizza was ordered. The lights were dimmed to a perfect, stadium-like gloom. And on his monitor, the Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 title screen hummed its familiar, synth-heavy anthem. It was 2016, and this was the ritual.
He picked up his Steam Controller—that strange, haptic-feedback pad with the twin trackpads that his friends mocked but he secretly loved. It fit his large hands perfectly. He pressed the center button. The Steam icon glowed. The controller vibrated once, a confident, bassy thrum.
Then the screen went black for a second.
When the game reappeared, a small, gray dialogue box sat in the center of the screen, as innocuous as a tax form.
"Steam Controller could not be located. Please reconnect and restart the game."
Arjun blinked. The controller was in his hands. It was on. The USB dongle was plugged into the front of his PC, its little blue light winking at him like a mocking eye.
“Okay,” he muttered. He unplugged the dongle. Counted to three. Plugged it back in. The controller vibrated again. The error message remained.
He restarted Steam. Nothing. He restarted the PC. Nothing. He tried the controller wired. Nothing. If you are seeing the error message "The
Frustration curdled into something else—a quiet, creeping unease. He’d seen this error before, back in the game’s buggy launch month. But it had been patched. For two years, the game had worked flawlessly. Why now?
He opened the Steam Big Picture mode—the controller’s native habitat. The controller worked perfectly there. He navigated menus, adjusted settings, even launched PES 2016 from within Big Picture. The game booted, the Konami logo flashed, and then—gray box. Could not be located.
It was as if the game itself had forgotten how to see.
That’s when Arjun noticed the date on his taskbar. October 2, 2016. The same day he’d first installed the game. The same day he’d broken up with Maya, after she’d driven an hour to surprise him and found him in the middle of a Master League derby. “You located that game just fine,” she’d said, tears in her eyes. “But not me.”
He’d laughed it off then. Now, the error message felt less like a bug and more like a message.
He grabbed his phone and searched the exact phrase: "pes 2016 steam controller could not be located link".
One result stood out. A tiny, dead forum post from 2015. Only one reply, from a user named ghost_in_the_trackpad.
“The controller is not the problem. The game is looking for a connection that no longer exists. It’s not about hardware. It’s about what you were connected to when you first played. Unplug that memory, and the controller will return.”
Arjun stared at the screen. The pizza arrived. He didn’t answer the door.
He went to his Steam screenshots folder. Scrolled back to October 2, 2015. There it was: a screenshot of his Master League victory screen. And in the corner of the image, reflected in the black bezel of his monitor, was the faint outline of a person sitting next to him. Maya. She was leaning over, watching him play, her hand resting on his arm.
He had forgotten she was there that night.
Slowly, he unplugged everything. The dongle. The charging cable. He placed the Steam Controller on his desk, facedown, as if putting a pet to rest.
He opened PES 2016 with his keyboard and mouse. The game loaded. No error. The main menu music played—that melancholy, mid-2000s rock ballad.
He navigated to Exhibition. He picked his team—Arsenal, always Arsenal. He picked an opponent—her favorite, Bayern Munich. He kicked off, playing with keyboard keys that felt foreign and cold.
In the 23rd minute, he paused the game.
He reached over, picked up the Steam Controller, and held it. Not to connect it. Just to feel its weight. The phantom vibration he’d imagined earlier returned—a single, soft buzz.
He plugged the dongle back in. The controller synced. The screen flickered. The gray box did not appear.
He unpaused the game. The controller worked. It had never stopped working. But only after he’d remembered what, or who, had been lost. The Phantom Link Arjun’s Friday night had been
Arjun never saw the error again. But sometimes, late at night, when the room was quiet and PES 2016 was running, he’d feel a second pair of hands on the controller—guiding his thumbs, just slightly off-center, toward a pass he hadn’t meant to make.
And the ball would always find the net.
If you are seeing an error like "The procedure entry point Steam Controller could not be located in the dynamic link library,"
it usually points to a missing or corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable or a conflict with how Steam is managing the game's inputs 1. Fix Missing System Files The most common cause for "could not be located" errors in is a missing visual library Install Visual C++ Redistributables: Download and install both the x86 and x64 versions of Microsoft Visual C++
. Many users find success after installing versions from 2010 through 2015. Check Antivirus Quarantines:
Sometimes your antivirus might mistakenly flag a game file (like a ) as a threat. Check your Antivirus Protection History and restore any files related to PES 2016. 2. Configure PES 2016 Settings Tool
PES 2016 uses an external configuration tool that must be set up before the game recognizes your controller. Go to the folder where PES 2016 is installed (usually Steam\steamapps\common\Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 Settings.exe Controller Ensure the Controller is set to "Controller 1" and the DirectInput option is correctly selected based on your device. 3. Fix Steam Input Issues
If the controller works in other games but not PES 2016, Steam's own "Steam Input" might be overriding the game's legacy settings. Enable Steam Input: Right-click PES 2016 in your Steam Library, select Properties , go to the Controller tab, and set the dropdown to Enable Steam Input Launch in Big Picture Mode: Try launching the game through Steam Big Picture Mode
(the TV icon in the top right of Steam). This often forces the game to recognize the active controller profile. 4. Verify Game Integrity If a specific file is actually missing, Steam can replace it for you: Right-click PES 2016 in Steam > Properties Installed Files Verify integrity of game files Does the error message mention a specific filename steam_api.dll ) or does it just say "Steam Controller"? How To Setup Any Controller On Steam - Easy Guide
This is a known issue with Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 (PES 2016) on Steam. The error usually appears when the game cannot detect the Steam Overlay or the specific controller configuration files required to run it.
Here is a step-by-step guide to resolving the "Controller could not be located" error.
The game is looking specifically for a Steam Controller (Valve’s now-discontinued touchpad controller) or a controller configured through Steam Input. When it fails to detect one, it throws this error and often refuses to recognize any other gamepad.
The keyword here is "link." In programming terms, a link refers to the communication pathway between the physical controller, Steam’s driver, and the game’s executable.
When you see the "could not be located link" error, it means:
You are essentially trying to plug a modern guitar into a 1980s amplifier without an adapter. The solutions below provide the missing adapter link.
Document ID: PES2016-CTRL-01
Applies to: Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 (Steam edition), Windows 10/11
This is the fastest fix and works for 70% of users.
Step 1: Open your Steam Library. Step 2: Right-click on Pro Evolution Soccer 2016. Step 3: Select Properties > Controller. Step 4: In the dropdown menu for "Override for PES 2016," select "Disable Steam Input". Step 5: Close the properties window and launch the game.
Why this works: By disabling Steam Input, you break the virtual Steam Controller link and force the game to talk directly to your controller hardware (assuming it’s XInput compatible).
If this fails: Your controller might not be natively XInput (e.g., a PS4 controller without DS4Windows). Move to Fix #2.