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Short answer: the 8BitDo Retro 68 Keyboard – NES 40th Limited Edition connects to a Windows PC in three ways: 2.4G wireless with its included adapter, Bluetooth Low Energy, or a USB cable. It is a 68-key keyboard, not a joystick-equipped gamepad. The box includes Wireless Dual Super Buttons, but no thumbstick. If you need a genuine joystick, the separate NES40 Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller has TMR joysticks and connects to Windows over 2.4G or wired USB.
Windows compatibility begins at Windows 10 version 1903. Use USB first if you want the simplest setup, 2.4G for a dedicated low-latency wireless link, or Bluetooth when you need to preserve a USB port. Once Windows recognizes the keyboard, 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 for Windows can provide programmable key mappings and macros for the supported Retro 68 Keyboard – N40 device.
What you actually get in the NES 40th keyboard package
The product most people mean by an “8BitDo NES-inspired keyboard” is the Retro 68 Keyboard – NES 40th Limited Edition. Its package contents are important because the title can create the wrong expectation: 8BitDo lists the keyboard, a 2.4G wireless adapter, a USB cable and Wireless Dual Super Buttons. It does not list a joystick or a separate thumbstick module.
The Wireless Dual Super Buttons are programmable-style accessory buttons designed for this keyboard. 8BitDo says they connect exclusively to the Retro 68 and that wired Keyboard Extensions are unsupported. Do not assume that accessories advertised for the broader Retro Mechanical Keyboard family, such as a Super Stick or Super ABXY extension, work with this specific NES40 edition.
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The Retro 68 is specified as a 68-key keyboard. The stated Windows requirement is Windows 10 version 1903 or later. The same product information also lists Android 9.0 or later, but this guide focuses on Windows PCs.
Which NES40 product has a real joystick?
If “joystick” means a gamepad thumbstick, you are looking for a different product: the NES40 Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller. Its product information lists physical TMR joysticks. For Windows, 8BitDo specifies 2.4G wireless or wired USB connectivity for that controller.
| Feature | Retro 68 Keyboard – NES 40th | NES40 Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Typing and keyboard input | Gamepad control |
| Controls supplied or built in | 68 keys; package includes Wireless Dual Super Buttons | Physical TMR joysticks and controller buttons |
| Windows connection options | 2.4G adapter, Bluetooth Low Energy, or wired USB | 2.4G or wired USB |
| Is it included with the other product? | No joystick is listed in the keyboard package | Separate product |
Therefore, a PC setup that needs both typing and analog movement normally uses the Retro 68 as the keyboard and the Ultimate 2 as a separate controller. The keyboard’s Ultimate Software support should not be treated as evidence that it can remap the separate controller’s joysticks.
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Before connecting: Windows and hardware checklist
- Use a PC running Windows 10 version 1903 or later.
- Have the included USB cable available, even if you intend to use wireless mode. It is useful for initial testing, charging or isolating a wireless problem.
- Keep the included 2.4G adapter available for the keyboard’s dedicated wireless mode.
- Install the latest Windows updates and restart if Bluetooth or USB device discovery has recently failed.
- Place the keyboard close to the PC during first pairing. Remove other nearby wireless devices temporarily if you are diagnosing interference.
- If you also own the NES40 Ultimate 2 controller, decide which device you are configuring before opening software; they are separate products.
How to connect the Retro 68 with a USB cable
Wired USB is the least ambiguous connection because it does not require a wireless pairing record. It is also the best first test when the keyboard appears not to work.
- Connect the included USB cable to the keyboard and to a direct USB port on the PC. Avoid a passive hub while troubleshooting.
- Allow Windows a few seconds to install or identify the keyboard. Open a text editor and press several letter keys to verify ordinary typing.
- If the keyboard has a hardware mode control, set it to the wired mode as shown in the official Retro 68 manual. The available product information confirms USB operation but does not publish the exact switch position or button sequence.
- Once typing works, open Windows Settings and check Bluetooth & devices only if you want to confirm that Windows has added a device entry; a normal USB keyboard does not need Bluetooth pairing.
USB is useful even if you plan to use 2.4G or Bluetooth permanently: it separates a keyboard fault from a radio, adapter or pairing fault. If Windows does not react at all, try another direct port, inspect the cable for damage, and test the keyboard on a second Windows computer before changing wireless settings.
How to connect the Retro 68 over 2.4G wireless
The keyboard ships with a 2.4G adapter, so this mode does not require the PC’s Bluetooth hardware.
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- Plug the supplied 2.4G adapter directly into the PC. A short extension cable can help if the desktop case or other USB equipment blocks the adapter.
- Power the keyboard and select its 2.4G mode using the physical controls described in the official manual.
- Wait for Windows to recognize the adapter and keyboard, then test in a text editor.
- If there is no input, move the keyboard close to the adapter and remove other 2.4G sources temporarily. Try a different USB port for the adapter.
- If the adapter and keyboard have lost their link, use the re-pairing procedure in the Retro 68 manual. The exact hold time and key combination are not established in the available product text, so do not rely on a sequence copied from another 8BitDo model.
2.4G is generally the most convenient wireless choice for a desktop PC because the adapter is included and Windows does not need a Bluetooth pairing record. Keep the adapter with the keyboard if you move between computers; the keyboard’s 2.4G connection depends on that hardware.
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Yes. 8BitDo lists Bluetooth Low Energy as one of the Retro 68’s three connection modes. Bluetooth is useful on a laptop or mini PC where you want to avoid occupying a USB port.
- On Windows, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices and turn Bluetooth on.
- Choose Add device, then select Bluetooth.
- Put the Retro 68 into Bluetooth pairing mode with the keyboard’s hardware controls. The manufacturer’s detailed hold time and key combination should be followed exactly from the current Retro 68 manual; they are not reproduced here because the available product listing does not specify them.
- Select the Retro 68 entry when it appears in Windows and wait for the status to change to connected.
- Open a text editor and test several keys. If Windows asks for a PIN, follow the on-screen instruction; do not enter a code taken from a different model’s manual.
If the keyboard does not appear, remove an old Retro 68 entry from Settings > Bluetooth & devices, switch Bluetooth off and on, restart the PC, and start pairing again. Keep the 2.4G adapter unplugged while diagnosing Bluetooth so you can tell which connection is active.
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Switching between USB, 2.4G and Bluetooth
The Retro 68 supports all three connection types, but Windows can retain several device records. For predictable results, change one variable at a time:
- For wired operation, connect USB and test before plugging in the 2.4G adapter.
- For 2.4G, use the supplied adapter and select the keyboard’s 2.4G mode; disable or disconnect Bluetooth during troubleshooting.
- For Bluetooth, remove the 2.4G adapter and select the keyboard’s Bluetooth mode before pairing.
If two connection methods appear active, the last mode selected on the keyboard may determine where keystrokes go. Windows’ device list alone cannot confirm the keyboard’s physical mode, so verify by typing after each change.
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8BitDo’s official software page lists Ultimate Software V2 for Windows and includes Retro 68 Keyboard – N40 among its supported devices. The related keyboard support information describes programmable key mappings and macros. Use the current Windows release of that software rather than an older utility intended for another 8BitDo device.
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- Download and install Ultimate Software V2 from 8BitDo’s official software or support page.
- Connect the Retro 68 by USB for the first configuration attempt. A wired connection removes wireless pairing variables while the software searches for the device.
- Launch the software and select the entry labeled Retro 68 Keyboard – N40, if it is shown.
- Open the key-mapping area, select the key or supported accessory control you want to change, and choose the desired keyboard function.
- Use the macro editor only when you need a sequence of keystrokes or commands. Keep timing and repeat behavior conservative so the result works consistently in the target application.
- Apply or save the profile using the controls displayed by your installed software version, then test the changed key in a text editor and in the application where you intend to use it.
The exact screen labels can change between software releases. The supported-device listing establishes compatibility with the Retro 68; it does not establish that every control on a separate NES40 controller can be edited from the keyboard profile. Configure the keyboard and the Ultimate 2 controller as independent devices.
Configuring the Wireless Dual Super Buttons
The Wireless Dual Super Buttons are the accessory specifically listed with the NES40 keyboard. 8BitDo describes them as exclusive to the Retro 68. Pair or configure them through the process shown for the Retro 68 in the current manual and software. Do not connect them as if they were generic wired Keyboard Extensions: the product page explicitly says wired Keyboard Extensions are unsupported.
If the software shows only the keyboard and not the buttons, first confirm that the keyboard itself is connected in a supported mode, then consult the accessory section of the manual. Avoid assigning a profile until the software identifies the correct Retro 68 device; otherwise you may edit a different supported product.
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The 8BitDo support index lists a Retro 68 Keyboard – NES 40th item and shows firmware version 1.00 in the available listing. Before applying an update, verify that the support page identifies the file for your exact model and region.
- Use a stable USB connection for firmware work unless the instructions explicitly allow another method.
- Do not disconnect the cable, close the updater or power off the keyboard during an update.
- After updating, restart Ultimate Software V2 and reconnect the keyboard before testing mappings.
- If a new software release no longer lists the keyboard, check that you installed the Windows version and selected Retro 68 Keyboard – N40 rather than a similarly named controller.
Troubleshooting by symptom
Windows does not detect the keyboard over USB
- Try a different direct USB port and the supplied cable.
- Restart Windows with the keyboard connected.
- Test in a basic text editor before opening configuration software.
- Check Device Manager for a keyboard or USB device with a warning icon. If the same cable and port fail on another PC, suspect the cable or keyboard rather than software.
The 2.4G adapter is plugged in but there is no input
- Confirm that the keyboard is actually in 2.4G mode, not Bluetooth or wired mode.
- Move the adapter away from crowded USB ports and place the keyboard nearby.
- Try another USB port and restart Windows.
- Use the official manual’s re-pair procedure if the link was lost. Do not substitute a pairing sequence from another keyboard.
Bluetooth pairing fails or the keyboard disappears
- Remove stale Retro 68 entries in Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
- Turn Bluetooth off and on, then restart the PC.
- Unplug the 2.4G adapter while pairing so the active mode is unambiguous.
- Keep the keyboard close to the PC and begin pairing from the keyboard’s Bluetooth mode.
Ultimate Software V2 cannot find the keyboard
- Connect by USB first and close other 8BitDo configuration programs.
- Confirm that the application lists Retro 68 Keyboard – N40 as the selected device.
- Update or reinstall the Windows software from 8BitDo’s official support page if the installation is incomplete.
- If the keyboard types normally but remains absent, check the software’s supported-device list before assuming the keyboard is defective.
A remapped key or macro does not behave as expected
- Test the key in a plain text editor to distinguish a mapping problem from an application shortcut.
- Check whether the profile was applied or saved after editing.
- Remove the macro temporarily and assign a single key to verify that the control itself works.
- Remember that a keyboard profile does not automatically remap the TMR joysticks on the separate NES40 Ultimate 2 controller.
Choosing the right setup for your PC
| Your priority | Recommended connection or device | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest, simplest keyboard test | Retro 68 over USB | No wireless pairing is required. |
| Wireless desktop keyboard | Retro 68 over 2.4G | The adapter is included and the mode is dedicated to the keyboard. |
| Laptop with few free USB ports | Retro 68 over Bluetooth LE | Uses the PC’s Bluetooth radio instead of the supplied adapter. |
| Analog movement in games | Separate NES40 Ultimate 2 controller | It is the NES40 product listed with physical TMR joysticks. |
| Custom shortcuts or sequences | Retro 68 plus Ultimate Software V2 | The supported Windows software provides key mapping and macro functions. |
Important limitations to keep in mind
- The Retro 68 package does not establish that a joystick is included.
- The broader Retro Mechanical Keyboard family’s extension options should not be transferred to the NES40 model; this edition specifically lists Wireless Dual Super Buttons and says wired Keyboard Extensions are unsupported.
- The exact mode-switch, Bluetooth-pairing, 2.4G re-pairing and accessory-mapping button sequences belong to the official Retro 68 manual. Because those sequences are model-specific and the product listing does not publish them, verify them in the current manual instead of guessing.
- Windows 10 version 1903 is the stated minimum for the keyboard. A newer Windows release may have different Bluetooth or Settings wording, but the connection modes remain the same.
Bottom line
Connect the Retro 68 by USB for the most straightforward setup, by its included 2.4G adapter for a dedicated wireless desktop link, or by Bluetooth Low Energy when you want to avoid a USB adapter. Configure supported key mappings and macros with Ultimate Software V2 for Windows after selecting Retro 68 Keyboard – N40. The NES 40th keyboard includes Wireless Dual Super Buttons, not a joystick; for a genuine NES40 thumbstick controller, use the separate Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller.
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