There are no differences between these and regular 360 controllers(wireless controllers will need to be re-synced when using between console and PC.) Any 360 controller works on PC, what makes it a For Windows controller is that it includes a driver disc and for the wireless controllers, it includes a usb receiver. The wireless controllers need the receiver since it uses a proprietary 2.4ghz connection. Unfortunately you can't use a play & charge cable because it only provides power to the controller, no data is passed. You can however use the cord to automatically sync the controller to your PC without the need for pressing the sync button(this trick works on consoles as well).

Around 2011, the packaging changed from all blister plastic that requires scissors/knife to open, to a cardboard box that still has some clear plastic on the inside, but can be opened by simply cutting or peeling 2 round tape seals on the top left and right or 1 seal on the bottom middle. The cardboard can be brittle and tear easily, so always handle with care and caution. The downside to the cardboard design, is how easy it is to sell as “new” when it’s not. So always check for the tape seals being intact if seller is claiming it as new.

Blister packaging had different operating system logos as the years progressed, from XP to Win7. Once the cardboard packaging came in, there really wasn't a set logo on the front. But did include a list of compatible Windows versions on the bottom. In 2016, they also added a small Windows icon on the front, top-right, and also added Win10 in the compatibility list. This box will say Copyright 2016, and is the latest year of packaging I've found.

As for the controller itself, the latest manufacturing year I have found is early 2017(710). I haven't found much of a pattern to their serials or part numbers that proves they come from For Windows packaging. But I have noticed the wireless white/grey or black/grey tend to be WKS368 models, no matter the year, such as 2010. It may not be an absolute thing as I don't have enough data, but it is something I see consistently. Perhaps the factory that makes For Windows controllers only had access to wks boards?

Once the controllers were switched to all black wireless/wired in 2011, the board was changed to 1403 like they did on consoles.

Because I got my start with using 360 controllers on PC, the For Windows packaging will always be my favorite even though sometimes I wish they would have kept the same console green theme instead of all red for the packaging.

*The PC receiver adapter has always said ‘Microsoft’. The knockoffs/fakes say ‘Xbox 360’, “X360” or nothing at all(blank). Also the white one was the only one to get individual packaging. The black receiver was always bundled with a controller or other Microsoft products(headset) or in OEM plastic wrap packaging that wasn't sold in retail.

This was the first 360 controller released on PC. Unfortunately the wireless receiver/controller bundle wouldn’t be released for another 1.5 years.

The PC packaging is a blister clear plastic with red cardboard on the inside. It provided a driver CD which was considered convenient at the time as the main OS(Windows XP) didn’t have the driver's built in. However, the driver could also be downloaded from Microsoft's website.

It has a 9.7ft or 2.7m grey cord, with a breakaway section near the end, and a regular USB 2.0 plug. If fully new, the cord should be wrapped in a white tietie. Being wired, means it is pretty much plug and play, rumble will also be more noticeable on wired 360 controller than wireless.

Once it was announced that all 360 controllers would work on PC, many people were excited to get to use wireless controllers with their computers. While the wired controller simply worked by plugging it in(after a driver install), the wireless controller would need a separate dongle in order to connect/use it with your PC. And unfortunately PC gamers had to wait until Feb. 2007 to get this receiver.

The top shell is the same off white color as the white/grey controller with Microsoft written in grey. Below that is the little sync button and then a green led below the button. The led will blink when pressing the sync button until it syncs with the wireless controller. It has a 2m(6ft) grey cord that has a PN/Serial tag towards the end of it, and a the usb housing at the end is black that also has Microsoft engraved in it. The backside of the shell is a mixed light/dark-grey tone and has a rubber ring around it to help keep it in place when sitting on a desk. Inside the rubber ring, it has a big Microsoft® written on the first line, then Microsoft® Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows® on the second, and finally a hologram sticker on the 3rd line.

The power rating on the tag is 5VDC, and 500mA. and the size of the devices isn't all that big, but since it also has a long cord, it can take up space on your desk or in cases where using it with a laptop, it's not all that portable since the usb housing at the end also sticks out quite a bit. I'm sure it was possible to be smaller, but being 2006/2007 tech, perhaps it wasn't very cost effective. The device doesn't get very warm while in use and does have a good range with wireless controllers.

It allows up to 4 controllers to connect to it, but there is no light indicator like the 360 console had to let you know how many controllers are connected/which player they are. Also very few PC games ever allowed 4 players, so using multiple controllers may have been more of a benefit for emulators.

*Both the white and black adapter have a known defect where a fuse will blow in it. It is fixable by reconnecting it with solder or even a tiny piece of foil. Connects via USB for Windows XP SP2 and above.

*An interesting history note. Before the white receiver was released, I found that the 2006 through early 2007 Xbox.com and Gamesforwindows.com both had the receiver mockup with ‘Xbox 360’ written on the front instead of ‘Microsoft’. My guess for the change is that it could be confused with a console accessory, and therefore ultimately decided to go with Microsoft on the front.

This could also be the reason you’ll come across fakes that have written ‘Xbox 360’ on the front. Don’t be fooled, they are unofficial receivers. Microsoft did fix the mockup and the banner in mid-March 2007. However, it seems they never did fix it on the GFWL website.

Released during the Windows Vista era, it’s the same wireless white/grey controller from the consoles but it also included a white PC receiver. This was the first wireless bundle to be sold for PC and while any 360 controller will work with the receiver. Buying this bundle was a way to save money if you needed both the controller and the receiver. Controllers were $50, the receiver was $20, so buying this for $60 saved you 10 bucks.

It's a full clear blister plastic packaging with red cardboard on the inside, houses the receiver on top, controller in the middle, and the batteries at the very bottom. The Windows logo does change from Vista to Windows 7 in the later packaging, so that's the only minor variation you'll see.

*During mid-2018, an Ebay seller sold roughly 100 of the Windows Vista sku as New Sealed for $22-$30USD. I ordered a few, and the ones I got had serials ending in 817, so the controllers were from early 2008. Pretty crazy to think these can be found in such a high amount 10yrs later. The packaging itself isn't holding up all too well as I saw complaints and personally had them come broken up a bit on the edges. So handle these with extra caution since the plastic is getting brittle. If you plan on leaving it sealed, I'd suggest cutting out the batteries as well; Example.

Unfortunately PC gamers didn't get very many colour options. If you weren't a fan of the white/grey controller, this black grey became the next option in late 2008.

It's the same black/grey controller that was released for the 360 console on April 29th, 2007, and a new colour PC receiver by being in all black. The packaging is a full blister clear plastic with red cardboard on the inside, and it has a sku with a Vista logo, and another sku with the Windows 7 logo.

The black receiver is all the same as the white, but now with a black top shell, a black sync button and still the same green led. Microsoft is now written in white and on the backside it has a black rubber ring. Since the black receiver was never sold individually, this would have been your only way to get it by buying this bundle.

Through out all my ebay searching, I rarely come across these, so I'm not sure if a high amount was made. Hoping one day I can find this cheap enough to pick up for myself.

Not sure why it was never sold individually at retail like the white receiver. The first bundle that this was found in is the Black/Grey Wireless for Windows kit that was released in 2008 or so and then in 2011 with the Black/Black Wireless for Windows. I also found some OEM packaging that comes in a small clear plastic bag with a manual and a driver disc. I also found that the receivers could be bundled with non-gaming Microsoft Windows products, but it was harder to find the details on which items had it other than a headset of some sort.

You’d think with the black being a bit newer, it would be improved, or at least fixed the blown fuse problem. But I could only find 1 board type for all receivers when looking through FCC filings. They also use the same part number for white and black receivers, so other than cosmetic changes, it's no different.

The receiver is pretty much full black housing, cord and usb connector. It also has Microsoft written horizontally on the front in white.

There are some minor differences throughout the years. The very early receivers have the exact same back design layout as the white. 3 lines, with a big ‘Microsoft®’ logo written on the first, and a smaller “Microsoft® Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows®” on the second line, then a hologram on the 3rd. In cases where it’s new, it will have that green paper over the usb port. And lastly, won’t have a year on the tag of the cord.

In 2011, they took away the hologram sticker, but layout is the same 2 lines. But they did start putting the actual year on the tags on the cord.

Then sometime in 2012 or 2013, the layout changed to a one line wording in the back of “Microsoft® Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows®”. And the backing has a slightly different shade of colour compared to the 2011 and earlier adapters.

Only the early ones had the green sticker paper over the USB port like seen above. Most likely 2008-2010.

While the Wireless had many options/variations throughout the years, the wired only got 1(this). Microsoft changed to the all black wired in Sept. 2010 for the console, but it would take 6 more months before the PC packaging would be released in March 2011. Not that PC gamers couldn't just buy the console version as it's all the same, it's an interesting thing to have such a delay in package change. This also meant the white/grey wired could be manufactured until early 2011.

Just like they changed the Xbox 360 controller packaging in mid-2010, the PC packaging is now a red cardboard box with clear and dark-grey plastic on the inside. It still comes with a driver disc, but by this time, internet connections were getting better, so probably faster to just download the driver.

Released in the Windows 7 era the disc still could be considered useful as the drivers still weren’t built into the OS. Finally when Windows 8 released in Aug. 2012 the driver was built in so no more need for the disc or to find the download file. This continued with the release of Windows 10 in summer of 2016, so all 360 controllers became even easier to use on PC.

You won't find any difference from this and a console black wired, but it has a 9.7ft(2.7m) black cord, with a breakaway section near the end, and uses a regular USB 2.0 plug. If fully new, the cord should be wrapped in a black tietie. Being wired, means it is pretty much plug and play.

It’s the all black controller with a shiny guide button. These newer controllers also changed the engraved logo between LB and RB from “Microsoft” to “Xbox 360”. It’s the exact same controller released with the new Xbox 360 Slim in summer of 2010 and came with the all black adapter(pretty much the same receiver from the black/grey controller bundle). So the main change is the controller and the packaging.

The driver disc should be v1.2(think that was the highest it ever went) and sometimes the manual/paperwork included may even say a manufacture date, but you can also use the serial 3 digit trick to date your controller/receiver anyways. The latest year I have found for the wireless controller is 710, and the receiver being 708, making them being manufactured in late Feb. - Mar. of 2017. Microsoft supposedly stopped in 2016 officially, and I wonder if that was strictly for the console accessories, while PC manufacturing went on a bit longer. I'm unsure if there is later than a 710 controller out there, but I wouldn't be surprised at this point.