Playing Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee with the Poké Ball Plus was perhaps the most immersive Pokémon experience yet. Using the Poké Ball Plus to catch Pokémon instead of just pushing a button allowed players to really live out their fantasy of being a Pokémon trainer.

But once the game was over, it seemed like there was no further use for the Poké Ball Plus. This, however, isn’t exactly true. You can also use it to play Pokémon Go. So fish your Poké Ball Plus out from the depths of your junk drawer because there are plenty more Pokémon to catch!

What Is a Poké Ball Plus?

The Poké Ball Plus is a controller that launched with Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee. It’s shaped like a Poké Ball, giving the player a more authentic Pokémon trainer experience. Since it’s not heavily advertised, a lot of people aren’t aware that you can actually use the Poké Ball Plus with other games as well.

Person holding the poke ball plus controller

Pokémon is a massive franchise with plenty of games and many amazing Pokémon companion apps to accompany them. The most successful of these apps by far is the mobile game Pokémon Go. This is arguably the best use for the Poké Ball Plus. So to get the most out of your controller, keep reading to find out how to use it to play Pokémon Go.

How to Connect Your Poké Ball Plus to Pokémon Go

To play Pokémon Go with your Poké Ball Plus, you must first pair your controller to the app.

  1. Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your device.
  2. Open Pokémon Go and click the Poké Ball in the center of the screen to open up the menu.
  3. Open the settings by pressing the gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
  4. Press OK to allow Pokémon Go to use Bluetooth.
  5. Scroll down to the bottom of the settings menu and press Poké Ball Plus.
  6. Press the top button on your Poké Ball Plus, and it should appear under available devices.
  7. Select your Poké Ball Plus in available devices to connect it.

Once you have connected your Poké Ball Plus to your account, you will then be able to connect it directly from the main screen of Pokémon Go.

  1. Open Pokémon Go.
  2. Press the Poké Ball icon in the top-right corner of the Home Screen.
  3. Press the top button on your Poké Ball Plus to connect it to your game.

After you connect a Poké Ball Plus to your Pokémon Go account once, this icon will always be on the main page making it much easier to use your Poké Ball Plus in the future.

How to Use Your Poké Ball Plus to Play Pokémon Go

There are many Pokémon Go tips and tricks to make the most out of your Pokémon adventure, but using a Poké Ball Plus is a great place to start. The Poké Ball Plus allows you to play Pokémon Go without having the app up on your screen at all times.

Person playing Pokemon GO outdoors

The controller will vibrate and flash different colors to notify you of things like Poké Stops or nearby Pokémon, which you can then react to using the controller. Follow our guide below to see what these notifications mean:

  • Vibrate and flash green = a Pokémon you have caught before is nearby.
  • Vibrate and flash yellow = a new Pokémon is nearby.
  • Vibrate and flash blue = a Poké Stop is nearby.

To catch a Pokémon with your Poké Ball Plus, press the button on the top of the controller. The Poké Ball Plus will glow white three times to show you have thrown a ball. If you successfully catch the Pokémon, the ball will flash a multicolor rainbow light. If you have failed, it will flash red.

If you press the top button to catch a Pokémon, and it flashes red three times immediately, it means that you have either run out of Poké Balls or run out of space in your box.

To spin a Poké Stop, hit the top button. If successful, it will flash rainbow lights. If there is currently a Pokémon in your Poké Ball Plus, it will spin the Poké Stop for you automatically.

You can manage the notifications your Poké Ball Plus will receive in Pokémon Go.

  1. Open Pokémon Go and click the Poké Ball in the center of the screen to open up the menu.
  2. Open the settings by pressing the gear icon at the top-right corner of the screen.
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the settings menu and press Poké Ball Plus.
  4. Above where it shows your available devices, you will see a section labeled notifications.

Here, you can easily manage your Poké Ball Plus notifications at any time.

Be the Very Best Like No One Ever Was!

Using your Poké Ball Plus to play Pokémon Go is a far more efficient way to collect Pokémon. Not only is it faster, but it also saves your phone's battery life. There's also a whimsical charm that comes from holding this mechanical Poké Ball that makes you feel like you truly are a Pokémon trainer.

Hopefully, this guide has breathed more life into your forgotten Poké Ball Plus, and you can continue on your quest to catch ‘em all!