Google has finally killed the Stadia Bluetooth tool — but this person rescued it | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAICESHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Google has finally killed the Stadia Bluetooth tool — but this person rescued itComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingGoogleCloseGooglePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GoogleGoogle has finally killed the Stadia Bluetooth tool — but this person rescued itStadia is now fully dead.Stadia is now fully dead.by Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean HollisterJan 20, 2026, 7:50 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPhoto by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergePart OfRIP Google Stadia: the latest news on the discontinued cloud gaming servicesee all updates Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean Hollister is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.Did you save your Google Stadia controller like I told you last month? It’s still not too late. This week, Google has finally removed the tool that converts the now-useless controller into a decent Bluetooth gamepad. But there’s another way.Christopher Klay, who previously developed the Stadia Enhanced browser extension, is one of many who saved a copy of the tool to a personal GitHub page. What’s more, they’re hosting a working copy of that Google website right here to make it even easier.I haven’t tried Klay’s mirror, as both of my gamepads are already converted, but here’s my video on how easy the process is. It’s worth doing now that the pads work relatively well with Steam! I maintain that while Google made a lot of mistakes, it’s an amazing example of shutting down a service the right way.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean HollisterGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingGoogleCloseGooglePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GooglePC GamingClosePC GamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PC GamingTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMore in: RIP Google Stadia: the latest news on the discontinued cloud gaming serviceRemember Google Stadia? Steam finally made its gamepad worth rescuingSean HollisterDec 11, 2025PSA: You’ve got another year to save your Google Stadia gamepad from a wired-only existence.Sean HollisterDec 11, 2024The Stadia controller is neither gone nor forgotten.Sean HollisterFeb 22, 2024Most PopularMost PopularSony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLHow much can a city take?Netflix revises Warner Bros. bid to an all-cash offerBungie’s Marathon shooter launches on March 5thRoland’s Go:Mixer Studio turns your phone into a mobile music studioThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Google has effectively ceased providing a straightforward method for users to convert their Stadia controllers into functional Bluetooth gamepads, a development highlighted by a resourceful individual named Christopher Klay. This action, occurring in January 2026, followed the complete shutdown of the Stadia cloud gaming service, a process marked by significant strategic missteps on Google’s part. The core issue stemmed from Google’s decision to remove the specialized browser tool that facilitated this conversion, effectively locking users into a wired-only experience for their Stadia controllers. However, Klay, a previously involved developer who had developed the Stadia Enhanced browser extension, proactively secured a copy of the original Google website and subsequently made it available for public access via a personal GitHub page. This action serves as a notable example of community response and preservation in the face of a corporate decision.

The availability of Klay’s mirrored website represents an accessible workaround for those who had previously invested time and effort in converting their Stadia controllers. This preservation is particularly noteworthy given the rapid and largely unmanaged shutdown of Stadia. The circumstances surrounding the removal of the Google tool underscore a lack of foresight on Google’s part. The company’s decision, seemingly motivated by a desire to rapidly wind down the service, inadvertently created a barrier for users who had already converted their controllers.

The situation has been further complicated by a shift toward a predominantly wired experience for Stadia controllers. Prior to the removal of the tool, the conversion process offered a viable, albeit slightly cumbersome, solution to utilizing the controllers with popular platforms like Steam. The default transition now mandates a wired connection, diminishing the utility of the previously converted controllers. This underscores a critical failure in Google’s approach to managing the Stadia ecosystem—a strategy that prioritized a swift exit without considering the potential impact on users who had adopted the service.

The response by Klay demonstrates a form of digital activism and a commitment to maintaining functionality within a service that Google had abandoned. Klay's actions offer a critical illustration of how a resourceful community could address issues stemming from large-scale corporate decisions. This situation is a relevant case study regarding technological disruption, user support, and the importance of anticipating the long-term consequences of service shutdowns. The availability of this mirror site represents a tangible benefit for those who initially invested in the conversion process, and highlights a decentralized approach to problem-solving in the tech landscape.