Halo Combat Evolved Co-Op on One PC: Setup Guide

This guide shows you how to set up and play Halo: Combat Evolved’s co-op campaign on a single PC, using either the original PC port or the Master Chief Collection (MCC). You’ll learn the exact steps to get two players sharing one keyboard and mouse, or one player on keyboard/mouse and the other on a controller, without needing a second computer.

What You’ll Need

A copy of Halo: Combat Evolved (either the original PC version or Halo: MCC on Steam/Windows Store)
For the original PC version: the game must be patched to version 1.10 (the latest official patch)
For MCC: the game must be updated to the latest version
Two input devices: a keyboard and mouse, plus a controller (Xbox, PlayStation, or generic) OR two controllers
If using two controllers, you may need a third-party tool like X360CE or DS4Windows to make non-Xbox controllers recognized
For the original version, you’ll also need a small utility called HaloSplitScreen (free, community-made)

Step-by-Step

For Halo: Master Chief Collection (MCC)

Install and update MCC – Make sure you have Halo: MCC installed from Steam or the Microsoft Store, and that it’s fully updated.
Connect both controllers – Plug in your controllers via USB or connect them wirelessly. For Xbox controllers, Windows should recognize them automatically. For PlayStation or other controllers, use DS4Windows or Steam’s controller configuration to make them appear as Xbox controllers.
Launch the game – Start Halo: MCC from your library.
Navigate to the campaign – From the main menu, go to Campaign.
Select the mission and set up co-op – Choose the mission you want to play, then set the Co-op option to 2 Players. The game will then prompt you to assign which controller belongs to which player.
Assign controllers – On the player assignment screen, press a button on each controller to assign them to Player 1 and Player 2. You can also mix a keyboard/mouse for Player 1 and a controller for Player 2.
Start the mission – Once both players are assigned, select Start Mission. Both players will load into the game together.
Play – Player 1 uses their controller or keyboard/mouse, Player 2 uses their controller. The game runs both on the same screen (split-screen).

For the Original Halo: Combat Evolved PC Version

Install the game and patch to 1.10 – Install Halo: Combat Evolved for PC. Download and apply the official 1.10 patch if you don’t have it already.
Download HaloSplitScreen – Search for HaloSplitScreen (a free, community-made tool). Download it and extract the files to a folder on your desktop.
Run HaloSplitScreen – Right-click on HaloSplitScreen.exe and select Run as administrator.
Set the game path – In the tool, click Browse and select the main executable of Halo: Combat Evolved (usually halo.exe in the game’s installation folder).
Configure the input – In HaloSplitScreen, you’ll see options for Player 1 and Player 2. For Player 1, you can keep the default keyboard/mouse. For Player 2, select your controller from the dropdown. If your controller isn’t listed, you may need to use a wrapper like X360CE to make it appear as an Xbox controller.
Launch the game – Click Launch. The tool will start the game with the necessary modifications to allow split-screen.
Start a co-op campaign – In the game’s main menu, go to Campaign, then select Cooperative Play. Choose a mission and difficulty.
Add Player 2 – Once in the mission, press the Start button on the second controller (or whatever button the tool assigns) to drop Player 2 into the game. They will appear as a second Spartan.
Play – Both players share the same screen. Player 1 uses keyboard/mouse, Player 2 uses the controller.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to patch the original game – HaloSplitScreen requires version 1.10. If you have an older version, the tool may not work.
Not running as administrator – Both HaloSplitScreen and the game itself often need admin rights to modify memory and read controller input correctly.
Using an unsupported controller – PlayStation or third-party controllers may not be recognized unless you use a wrapper like DS4Windows or X360CE.
In MCC, not assigning controllers properly – If you skip the assignment screen, the game might default to one player only.
Mixing input types incorrectly in MCC – If you want keyboard/mouse for Player 1 and controller for Player 2, make sure Player 1 doesn’t press anything on the controller during assignment, or it may override.

Tips

For the best experience, use two identical controllers – it avoids any input lag or mapping confusion.
If you’re using a wireless controller, make sure it’s fully charged; a dying battery can cause disconnects mid-game.
In MCC, you can adjust the split-screen orientation (horizontal or vertical) in the game’s settings if you prefer one over the other.
For the original version, save your game frequently – the split-screen mod can occasionally cause crashes on certain missions.
If you’re using a laptop with a small screen, consider connecting to a larger monitor or TV – split-screen on a 13-inch screen is cramped.

Troubleshooting

Player 2 can’t join in the original version – Make sure the controller is properly recognized by Windows (check in Device Manager). Also, try pressing the Start button multiple times or reassigning the controller in HaloSplitScreen.
Game crashes on launch – Run both HaloSplitScreen and the game as administrator. Also, disable any overlay software like Discord or GeForce Experience, as they can interfere.
MCC says “Controller not assigned” – Go to the main menu, then to Settings > Gamepad, and re-sync your controllers. If using a non-Xbox controller, make sure Steam’s controller configuration is set to Xbox Configuration Support.
Both players see the same screen but can’t move independently – This usually means Player 2 never joined. In the original version, press the Start button on the second controller again. In MCC, pause the game and select Player 2 Join from the pause menu.
Audio is choppy or lagging – This can happen with split-screen mods. Try lowering the game’s graphics settings or closing background programs.
Controller works in menu but not in game – In MCC, go to Settings > Gamepad and check that the controller is set to Player 2. In the original version, you may need to reconfigure the controller in HaloSplitScreen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play co-op on one PC with two keyboards?

No, Halo does not support two keyboards. You need at least one controller for the second player. The first player can use keyboard/mouse or a controller.

Does the Master Chief Collection support split-screen on PC?

Yes, MCC supports up to two players in split-screen on PC for the campaign. This was added in a later update and works with controllers.

Can I use a PlayStation controller for co-op?

Yes, but you’ll need to use a tool like DS4Windows or Steam’s built-in controller configuration to make it appear as an Xbox controller to the game.

Is HaloSplitScreen safe to use?

It’s a widely used community tool, but it modifies the game’s memory. Use it at your own risk, and always download from a reputable source. It’s not officially supported by 343 Industries.

Can I play online co-op with this method?

No, this setup is strictly local split-screen on one PC. For online co-op, you need two separate PCs and copies of the game.

Why does my second controller not work in the original Halo?

Make sure you have the correct drivers installed and that the controller is recognized by Windows. If it’s a generic controller, you may need to use X360CE to emulate an Xbox controller.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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