The MSI Claw, after its recent global release in March 2024, has been well-received by fans of handheld gaming. Where handhelds like the Deck, Rog Ally, and Legion Go, which are released by renowned brands, only offer players the option to go with an all-AMD system, the MSI Claw, on the other hand, partnered with Intel to provide all-Intel-specific hardware for handheld gamers. And, this approach did work for MSI. Considering that the handheld is a recent release, its popularity is quite commendable in the handheld scene, with many praising its capability to handle AAA titles with ease. But, with every new system comes a plethora of issues, and the MSI Claw is no exception to this fact. Players have reported many problems in the MSI Claw, and this guide is all about the triggers not working issue. If you have been playing games on your MSI Claw only to find out mid-game that the triggers featured in the handheld aren’t working, consider reading this guide for more details on the same.
No handheld is free from issues. Be it the Steam Deck, where crashing issues when launching games are very common to the Rog Ally’s controller not getting detected by a game, every handheld comes with its own set of problems. Similarly, the triggers not working issue in MSI Claw is not something to be surprised by. In fact, this issue is also present in Deck, Rog Ally, and Legion Go. Anyway, let’s discuss what you can do to fix the issue.
Also read: MSI Claw not turning on: How to fix it
MSI Claw triggers not working: How to fix it
If you didn’t already know, the MSI Claw runs on Windows 11, unlike the Deck, which uses a custom Linux-based Steam OS. But even after this, such issues are prevalent on this device. That said, consider trying these workarounds to get the triggers on your MSI Claw to work as intended:
1) Restart the handheld
The triggers not working issue can be a one-time issue that can be fixed with a simple restart of a device. So, consider doing so first before trying out other workarounds. If the issue persists even after a restart, try the next workaround.
2) Update BIOS
This issue can also be the result of an outdated BIOS used by your MSI Claw. So, to rule out this possibility, we suggest that you update the BIOS of your MSI Claw, and then check if the issue persists. You can visit here to download the latest BIOS update. But if you don’t know how to access the BIOS menu, check out this guide from MSI:
3) EC Restart
Another workaround worth trying is to just perform an EC restart. Executing this is pretty straightforward as well. To start, make sure that the handheld is not being charged. After this, press and hold the power button on the device for more than 25 seconds. If the LED on the Claw is blinking, you are doing it right. Once the device restarts, check if the triggers work.
4) Open the back panel (Be Cautious)
If the issue persists, you can try opening the back panel of the MSI Claw and then checking if the triggers work. But do note that doing so can void the warranty.
5) Factory Reset
If none of the workarounds fix the issue, then you can perform a Windows Factory Reset. For this, head over to the Windows Settings menu, and select the System tab. Here, select the Recovery option, and then the Reset this PC option. Select the Keep the My Files option, and then confirm your selection. Wait for the factory reset to take place and then check if the triggers work.
6) Contact support
If your device is not susceptible to physical damage, you can contact the official MSI Support team to provide you with a free repair or even a replacement.
That said, now you know all about the workarounds that can fix the triggers not working issue in the MSI Claw. If you find this guide informative, consider visiting Android Gram regularly for more such guides.
