diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.cpp
index d71a59f311..eabb55ff3e 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.cpp
@@ -248,6 +248,11 @@ std::tuple<u16, u16> PadHandlerBase::ConvertToSquirclePoint(u16 inX, u16 inY, in
 	return std::tuple<u16, u16>(newX, newY);
 }
 
+int PadHandlerBase::max_devices()
+{
+	return m_max_devices;
+}
+
 bool PadHandlerBase::has_config()
 {
 	return b_has_config;
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.h b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.h
index 9d850dcee2..db410b1810 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.h
@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ protected:
 
 	std::array<bool, MAX_GAMEPADS> last_connection_status{{ false, false, false, false, false, false, false }};
 
+	int m_max_devices = 0;
 	int m_trigger_threshold = 0;
 	int m_thumb_threshold = 0;
 
@@ -435,6 +436,7 @@ public:
 
 	pad_handler m_type = pad_handler::null;
 
+	int max_devices();
 	bool has_config();
 	bool has_rumble();
 	bool has_deadzones();
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/gamepads_settings_dialog.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/gamepads_settings_dialog.cpp
index 1f3fa53938..ce6096f255 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/gamepads_settings_dialog.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/gamepads_settings_dialog.cpp
@@ -324,16 +324,33 @@ void gamepads_settings_dialog::ChangeInputType(int player)
 
 	// Refill the device combobox with currently available devices
 	co_deviceID[player]->clear();
-	for (int i = 0; i < list_devices.size(); i++)
+
+	bool force_enable = true; // enable configs even with disconnected devices
+
+	switch (cur_pad_handler->m_type)
 	{
-		co_deviceID[player]->addItem(qstr(list_devices[i]), i);
+#ifdef _MSC_VER
+	case pad_handler::xinput:
+		for (int i = 0; i < cur_pad_handler->max_devices(); i++)
+		{
+			co_deviceID[player]->addItem(QString("XInput Pad #%1").arg(i), i);
+		}
+		break;
+#endif
+	default:
+		for (int i = 0; i < list_devices.size(); i++)
+		{
+			co_deviceID[player]->addItem(qstr(list_devices[i]), i);
+		}
+		force_enable = false;
+		break;
 	}
 
 	// Handle empty device list
 	bool device_found = list_devices.size() > 0;
-	co_deviceID[player]->setEnabled(device_found);
+	co_deviceID[player]->setEnabled(force_enable || device_found);
 
-	if (device_found)
+	if (force_enable || device_found)
 	{
 		co_deviceID[player]->setCurrentText(qstr(device));
 	}
@@ -342,7 +359,7 @@ void gamepads_settings_dialog::ChangeInputType(int player)
 		co_deviceID[player]->addItem(tr("No Device Detected"), -1);
 	}
 
-	bool config_enabled = device_found && cur_pad_handler->has_config();
+	bool config_enabled = force_enable || (device_found && cur_pad_handler->has_config());
 	co_profile[player]->clear();
 
 	// update profile list if possible
diff --git a/rpcs3/xinput_pad_handler.cpp b/rpcs3/xinput_pad_handler.cpp
index 08267c2cdb..acbe50b876 100644
--- a/rpcs3/xinput_pad_handler.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/xinput_pad_handler.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ xinput_pad_handler::xinput_pad_handler() : PadHandlerBase(pad_handler::xinput)
 	b_has_rumble = true;
 	b_has_deadzones = true;
 
+	m_max_devices = XUSER_MAX_COUNT;
+
 	m_trigger_threshold = trigger_max / 2;
 	m_thumb_threshold = thumb_max / 2;
 }
@@ -451,7 +453,7 @@ std::vector<std::string> xinput_pad_handler::ListDevices()
 		XINPUT_STATE state;
 		DWORD result = (*xinputGetState)(i, &state);
 		if (result == ERROR_SUCCESS)
-			xinput_pads_list.push_back(fmt::format("Xinput Pad #%d", i));
+			xinput_pads_list.push_back(fmt::format("XInput Pad #%d", i));
 	}
 	return xinput_pads_list;
 }