diff --git a/src/core/hle/service/hid/controllers/npad.cpp b/src/core/hle/service/hid/controllers/npad.cpp
index e311bc18c9..c4b26196a6 100644
--- a/src/core/hle/service/hid/controllers/npad.cpp
+++ b/src/core/hle/service/hid/controllers/npad.cpp
@@ -224,6 +224,19 @@ void Controller_NPad::OnInit() {
                                                player.connected};
                    });
 
+    // Connect the Player 1 or Handheld controller if none are connected.
+    if (std::none_of(connected_controllers.begin(), connected_controllers.end(),
+                     [](const ControllerHolder& controller) { return controller.is_connected; })) {
+        const auto controller = MapSettingsTypeToNPad(Settings::values.players[0].controller_type);
+        if (controller == NPadControllerType::Handheld) {
+            Settings::values.players[HANDHELD_INDEX].connected = true;
+            connected_controllers[HANDHELD_INDEX] = {controller, true};
+        } else {
+            Settings::values.players[0].connected = true;
+            connected_controllers[0] = {controller, true};
+        }
+    }
+
     // Account for handheld
     if (connected_controllers[HANDHELD_INDEX].is_connected) {
         connected_controllers[HANDHELD_INDEX].type = NPadControllerType::Handheld;
diff --git a/src/yuzu/configuration/config.cpp b/src/yuzu/configuration/config.cpp
index 5c8b02fbe2..545cafca99 100644
--- a/src/yuzu/configuration/config.cpp
+++ b/src/yuzu/configuration/config.cpp
@@ -280,7 +280,8 @@ void Config::ReadPlayerValue(std::size_t player_index) {
         }
     } else {
         player.connected =
-            ReadSetting(QStringLiteral("%1connected").arg(player_prefix), false).toBool();
+            ReadSetting(QStringLiteral("%1connected").arg(player_prefix), player_index == 0)
+                .toBool();
 
         player.controller_type = static_cast<Settings::ControllerType>(
             qt_config