Mapping A Controller On Mac With A Third
Of course, you wont always be using Steam for your Mac gaming. Maybe you want to download an app from the App Store or a website. In these cases, you might not have any options to use a controller with the game using the built-in options. When this happens, a third-party mapping app can save the day.
A few popular apps are Joystick Mapper and Enjoyable. Both will not only allow you to map your controller to keys on your keyboard for games, but they can also map your controller to work across your Mac. That means youll be able to replace your mouse and some keys on your keyboard with a controller.
There are tons of other apps on Github if you end up not liking either of the suggestions. Just make sure to do your research before downloading a mapping app to your Mac.
Bluetooth Xbox One Controller On A Mac
With the arrival of support for third party game controllers in macOS Catalina , we can now connect most certain game controllers to our Mac. In this article we look at Bluetooth enabled XBox One controller.
Once such a controller is paired with your Mac, you can use it with games that support controllers, like certain games on Steam, nVidia Geforce Now, Apple Arcade and potentially many more.
Note: Some of you may have read my older article on how to connect a XBox 350 controller to you Mac . This method, and the XBox 360 controllers, are still working of course, but it is time for an update now that Catalina offers native support for certain controllers. Personally I like the newer XBox One controllers better anyway .
Please consider disabling your ad blocker for our website.We rely on these ads to be able to run our website.You can of course support us in other ways .
Configuring For All Games On Your Mac
Now, Im fully aware that there are more games for the Mac than just those awesome Half-Life games. For those you might want to consider, and even for Half-Life 2, the use of a so called JoyStick Mapper application that map a joystick action to mouse or keyboard inputs. These tools really improve the experience of your XBox 360 Controller on Mac.
Some example applications:
Do you have suggestion or alternatives? Please post them in the comment section!
Joystick Mapper
NOTE: Mapping Joystick Actions to Keystrokes
For a while Joystick Mapper was the go-to tool to map Joystick actions to keystrokes useful for games that do not natively support a controller. This application no longer seems to work with Catalina.
A better, and FREE alternative is Enjoyable which allows you to make your controller to keystrokes.
Of all the tools that can map joystick actions to key strokes or mouse moves, Ive picked Joystick Mapper as my test candidate honestly, $5 is a steal considering the amount of work that actually goes into developing a tool like this.
Don’t Miss: Why Does Warzone Keep Crashing Xbox One
Xbox Series X Controller Support Coming To Apple Devices
Apple and Microsoft are working on adding support for the Xbox Series X controller to Apple devices, according to an Apple Support page spotted by a Reddit user.
The support page states that Apple devices only support the Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation DualShock 4 Wireless Controller, and various other MFi Bluetooth controllers. However, small print on the page states:
Microsoft and Apple are working together to bring compatibility for the Xbox Series X controller to customers in a future update.
Support for gaming controllers on Apple devices allows for better control in supported games from Apple Arcade or the App Store, navigation on the Apple TV, and more.
There is no mention of the Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller or the Amazon Luna Controller on the Apple Support page, but MacRumors has spotted code mentioning the controllers in the iOS and iPadOS 14.3 betas.
How To Connect An Xbox Controller To A Mac
- User
Macs are not popular for gaming. Apple has released models of its desktop system that are supposed to be able to handle modern games but they have not been a hit. That said, some games can still run on a Mac. You wont be splurging on one if youre looking to enjoy modern games but if you happen to have a Mac that youd like to occasionally game on, some titles may be playable.
Read Also: How To Connect Airpods To Xbox One Controller
How To Use A Controller In Mobile Legends On Bluestacks
Playing Mobile Legends on BlueStacks is much the same as playing CoD Mobile. Mobile Legends is configured on BlueStacks mainly for a keyboard and mouse and offers both MOBA and WASD control schemes. While you can connect your controller and use that instead, you will need to edit your controls to play the game properly. Here is how you go about it:
You can now begin playing Mobile Legends.
How To Pair The Xbox 360 Controller To Mac
Before we start
Having spent some years coding applications for macOS weve created a tool that everybody can use. The all-round problem fixer for Mac.
So here’s a tip for you: to quickly solve some of the issues mentioned in this article. But to help you do it all by yourself, weve gathered our best ideas and solutions below.
Whether youre trying to no-scope that enemy on COD or score a last-minute slam-dunk on NBA, the touchpad just doesnt do it.
So, we thought wed share the best tips on how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your Mac, to make them tense gaming moments a little easier.
Don’t Miss: How To Connect Airpods To Xbox One
Connecting Your Xbox 360 Controller To Mac
Once you have the cable and the Xbox 360 controller in hand, youre ready to connect a controller to Mac. As with the PS3 controller, you may run into the issue of having a USB end on your cable and a USB C port on your Mac. For that, youll need an adapter or a USB hub with both ports on it.
Either way, once the Xbox 360 controller is plugged into your Mac, click the icon in the top-left of the Menu Bar and then click About This Mac. Then, click System Report In the window that appears, click USB in the left-hand pane.
This will show you everything plugged into your Mac via USB. If everything has gone according to plan, you should see your Xbox 360 in this list. If you do, youre ready to start playing games with your Xbox 360 controller on Mac.
And thats it! Thats how to connect a controller to Mac à la Xbox 360.
How To Use The Xbox 360 Controller On Mac
Not many of us know it, but there could be a handy use for all those old Xbox 360 or Xbox One controllers lying around. But, before you get set up, you need to have the correct hardware installed on your Mac to enable connectivity.
Heres how.
First of all, you will need either a wired or wireless Xbox controller. Both work fine, but for all those passionate gamers with a tendency to erupt, a wireless device would be best to save any damages to wires . These wireless receivers can be bought for around $20 on Amazon, and can handle up to 4 Xbox 360 controllers.
Also Check: How To See Coordinates In Minecraft Xbox One
How To Play Xbox Games On Mac
With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, not only you get access to games like F1 2019, Dirt 5, Batman: Arkham Knight, HALO 5, Madden NFL and many more. But you also get EA Access which standalone is £3.99 a month.
If you sign-up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for the first time, you can get your first month for £1, with the normal price of £10.99 to continue afterwards.
Connect Your Bluetooth Xbox One Controller To Your Mac
From this point forward, I assume you have a Bluetooth enabled XBox One Controller.As always with Bluetooth you will have to make sure that your controller is physically relatively close to your Mac say within a 6 feet range, just to be sure. Also make sure the batteries in the controller have enough juice left, and if you have rechargeables make sure they are properly charged.
macOS version: 10.15 or newer
Pairing a Bluetooth enabled XBox One controller only works with macOS version 10.15 and newer!
Mapping Joystick Actions to Keystrokes
For a while Joystick Mapper was the go-to tool to map Joystick actions to keystrokes useful for games that do not natively support a controller. This application no longer seems to work with Catalina.
A better, and FREE alternative is Enjoyable which allows you to make your controller to keystrokes.
Heres how to do the rest:
Step 1: Make sure that your controller is powered on by pressing and holding the Xbox button .
Step 2: Put the controller in pairing mode, if the XBox button is not yet blinking, by pressing the small round button on the top/rear of the controller for about 2 or 3 seconds.
XBox One Controller Start Bluetooth Pairing
Step 3: Open the System Preferences and click the Bluetooth settings .
macOS Open Bluetooth Settings
Step 4: Enable Bluetooth, if it wasnt already.
XBox One Controller Bluetooth Pairing
And youre good to go the connection will even show you the battery status.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Someones Ip Address On Xbox Live
How To Pair & Use Xbox One Controller With Mac
Youll need the Xbox One controller to be physically near your Mac to be able to pair it, and of course the controller will need charged batteries too. Heres how to do the rest:
Now you can launch whatever game you want to play and the controller should be automatically detected, assuming the game supports controllers anyway. Most games have customizable controller options as well in their settings, so you can change what buttons do what.
Remember, you can only pair controllers with one device at a time.
Any controller paired with your Mac will no longer be paired to any Xbox, Apple TV, iPhone, or iPad that it had already been paired with. Dont worry though, re-pairing with those devices is easy whether youre pairing with an iPhone or iPad, or even an Apple TV
Setting Up Features For Your Xbox Controller
Once your Xbox One Controller pairs successfully, tweak amenable options to stay in the driverâs seat and use the device easily.
Go to the front page to modify the joystick operation discriminately. The primary option is to flip the X/Y axis on either stick for certain games. Simply put, inverting the controls entails pressing the stick mounting to face down like a flight simulator.
Each stick contains separate settings you need to configure them separately. In the adjacent tab, âBindingâ, it connects each control to its core function. This page gives you leverage to predetermine actions for each button.
The âAdvancedâ tab allows you to calibrate the deviceâs sticks to repair dead zones. If you experience difficulty with sensitivity, check âNormalizeâ to even out the output curve. You can also switch the driver on or off.
Read Also: Will Xbox 360 Play Blu Ray
Connect A Wireless Ps4 Controller With A Mac
1. Press and hold the PlayStation button and button to put the controller into pairing mode. 2. On your Mac, go to Bluetooth settings either from the Bluetooth drop-down in the Menu Bar or from System Preferences. 3. In the device list for Bluetooth settings, look for “wireless controller” to pop up. 4. Click the Connect button.
How To Add A Ps4 Or Xbox One Controller To Your Mac
To connect your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One Controller to your Mac follow these instructions.
- Download Controlly
- Put the controller into bluetooth pairing mode
- On your Mac make sure bluetooth is turned on and go to System Preferences > Bluetooth to connect to the controller
You then simply use the Controlly interface to map out the different actions you want your gamepad to control on your Mac.
Controlly is free for 7 days but after that it costs $3.99 to continue using it.
Recommended Reading: Xbox One Disc Wont Eject
Connecting Wireless Bluetooth Xbox Controllers
The controllers in this section all have one feature in common: Bluetooth connectivity. This makes wireless pairing possible not just with the Xbox One and Xbox One S/X consoles, but with Windows PCs and Macs as well.
To be clear, this section covers the following controllers:
- Xbox One S Wireless Controller
- Xbox One X Wireless Controller
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
- Xbox Adaptive Controller
Other console controllers can connect to a Mac via Bluetooth as wellwe talk about it in our article on ways to improve your Mac gaming experience.
To pair one of these controllers with your Mac, turn the controller on, and press and hold the Pairing button on the device. This button is at the top of your controller, toward the left side.
The Xbox logo button should start blinking. This means the controller is in pairing mode.
On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth. Youll find a list of nearby devices to connect to, including one called Xbox wireless controller. Click on the Connect button to the right of that device name.
Your controller should now be paired with your Mac!
If youre having issues, check out the Settings or Preferences on whatever gaming system youre playing on, and look for a controller section.
To disconnect your controller when youre done playing, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth, and hit the Disconnect button next to Xbox wireless controller.
Connecting The Xbox 360 Controller To Your Mac
The next step is to connect your controller, which is easy
First of all, connect the USB receiver to a free USB port, either on you Mac or on a USB hub . Once plugged in a USB port, the USB receivers green light should go on or start blinking.
Now follow these steps to get connect your XBox 360 controller:
Once linked, if you want to use the controller in the future, simply just press the big Xbox button on the controller to get going.
XBox 350 Controller Get Connected
Also Check: Xbox One Hotel
Make Sure Youre Running The Latest Operating System
To use an Xbox Wireless Controller, your Apple device needs to be running one of the operating systems released fall 2019 iOS 13, iPadOS 13, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina .
You can check the software version that you have installed on your iPad and iPhone by tapping Settings > About and looking for the Software Version row. On Apple TV, that information lives in Settings > System > Software Updates. On macOS, thats in System Preferences > Software Update.
How To Connect A Controller To Mac
Justin Meredith June 16, 2021
Its common knowledge in the gaming world that Macs arent the best machines for gaming. I even wrote a whole post about optimizing your Mac for gaming recently. But that hasnt stopped people from trying . After all, buying a Mac doesnt leave you with a whole lot of cash to go and grab another PC for gaming. This is why Im going to show you how to connect a controller to Mac in this post.
Officially, an updated Mac supports the following controllers:
- Xbox wireless controller
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
- Xbox Adaptive Controller
- PlayStation DualShock 4 Wireless Controller
- Various MFi controllers
However, you can connect a few more than this using some less obvious methods. In this post, Ill cover all of the major gaming controllers, as well as the Steam Controller, and then Ill go into controller mapping at the end.
Lets get into it!
Contents
Also Check: How To Connect Airpods To Xbox One Controller