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Using 8BitDo controllers
8BitDo controllers run in several modes and the mode decides how a Mac sees them. Apple mode gives the fullest native support and is the one to use if buttons are not registering. InputConfig also reads the XInput and DirectInput modes directly over raw HID, so most 8BitDo pads still map in any mode and appear under Connected Controllers in Settings.
Switching to Apple mode
- Turn the controller off.
- Flip it over and find the mode switch. Most models have a small slider with S, X, D, and A positions.
- Slide it to A.
- Turn the controller on. The LEDs on most models show a pattern that confirms the mode.
- Reconnect to the Mac. It now appears in InputConfig with full button support.
What each mode means
| Switch | Mode | On a Mac |
|---|---|---|
| A | Apple / MFi | Native support. Use this. |
| S | Nintendo Switch | Recognised as a Pro Controller on macOS 13 and later. Works, with Nintendo's swapped A and B labels. |
| X | XInput / Xbox | Not native, but InputConfig reads it directly over raw HID. |
| D | DirectInput | Not native, but InputConfig reads it directly over raw HID. |
Controllers without a switch
Some older and budget models set their mode at power-on instead. Hold B while pressing Start for Apple mode, Y plus Start for DirectInput, X plus Start for XInput, or A plus Start for Android. Check the model's manual; the combinations differ on a few units.
Ultimate 2C wired
The wired Ultimate 2C has no Apple mode and no switch. InputConfig 1.3 and later read it directly in its default XInput mode, so it just works when plugged in. On an older version, hold Y while plugging in the cable to put it in Switch mode, which macOS recognises natively.
Firmware
Apple mode support arrived or improved in firmware released after early 2023. If a controller in A mode still will not connect, update it with 8BitDo's firmware tool on their site. Models confirmed to work in Apple mode include the Pro 2, Ultimate (Bluetooth and 2.4G), SN30 Pro+, Pro, SN30 Pro, and Lite SE.
A ready-made layout
FPS (8BitDo) in the Gaming, First-Person folder is built for the Pro 2, Ultimate, and SN30 Pro+ in Apple mode. Every other preset works too.
Questions
The 2.4G dongle or Bluetooth?
Both work. The Ultimate's 2.4G dongle presents the controller over USB, which macOS and InputConfig read fine. Bluetooth in A mode is the simplest.
Do the Pro 2's back paddles work?
The Pro 2's back buttons are configured on the controller itself through 8BitDo's Ultimate Software to mirror other buttons; they send whatever they are set to mirror. They are not separate inputs the way the DualSense Edge paddles are.
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