A media remote from a game controller
The Media Playback layout is built into InputConfig, free on the Mac App Store. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon.
On a Mac: Works in YouTube, Netflix and most web players, which take Space, F, M and the arrows once the video has focus. For Music and other apps, switch the play rows to the System Function media outputs.
Yes, a game controller can play, pause, seek, mute and go full screen in YouTube, Netflix and most web video on a Mac. Those players share Space, F, M and the arrow keys, which is why one layout is a remote for all of them. For Music, QuickTime and buttons that work from any app, switch the play rows to the System Function media outputs.
On this page: 8 sections
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Play. Play and pause (Space) on the bottom face button, full screen (F) on the right, mute (M) on the left.
- Seek. D-pad left and right seek, and the bumpers send Left and Right too, a second seek under your fingers.
- Volume. D-pad up and down change the player's volume.
- Point and click. The left stick is a pointer and the right trigger clicks, for the on-screen buttons the keys do not cover.
Make the buttons work from any app
These keys reach the player only while its tab or window is in front.
- You: Change the play row's output to System Function, Play / Pause, and the bumpers to Previous Track and Next Track.
- InputConfig: Sends the Mac's media keys, which macOS routes to whatever is playing.
- Check: Put another app in front and press the big button. The music or video still pauses.
Media keys work from anywhere, but player keys only work while the player is in front.
Use it with Netflix
Netflix in Safari or Chrome answers the same keys this layout sends.
| Button | Key | What Netflix does |
|---|---|---|
| A / Cross | Space | Play and pause |
| B / Circle | F | Full screen on and off |
| X / Square | M | Mute |
| D-pad left, right, and the bumpers | Left, Right Arrow | Ten seconds back, ten seconds forward |
| D-pad up, down | Up, Down Arrow | Volume |
| Left stick, right trigger | Pointer, click | Next episode and the menus |
Two additions are worth a minute in the editor: S on Y, which is free, for Netflix's Skip Intro, and Escape on Back, Share or View to leave full screen.
Tune it
- Speed. YouTube uses Shift Period and Shift Comma. Put them on the stick clicks.
- Captions. It is C on most web players. Put it on the touchpad press.
- System volume. The System Function volume outputs on the D-pad instead of the player's, so the volume is the Mac's.
- From the couch. The couch browsing and media guide sets up the rest of a Mac under a TV.
Add Skip Intro and captions, and you will rarely need to get up.
Get it in two clicks
- Get InputConfig free on the Mac App Store, open it, and click Smart Preset Maker on the welcome screen.
- Search for Media Playback and pick it. The layout is created as a preset in your sidebar, named and ready.
- Press Activate. Every row can be changed afterwards: the editor's Scan button rebinds any control the moment you touch it.
Every binding, as a table
| Controller | Sends | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 16) | Cursor left |
| Left stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 16) | Cursor right |
| Left stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 16) | Cursor up |
| Left stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 16) | Cursor down |
| Right trigger | Left click | Click |
| A / Cross | Space | Play / pause (Space) |
| D-pad left | Left | Seek back |
| D-pad right | Right | Seek forward |
| D-pad up | Up | Volume up |
| D-pad down | Down | Volume down |
| B / Circle | F | Fullscreen (F) |
| X / Square | M | Mute (M) |
| LB / L1 | Left | Previous / rewind |
| RB / R1 | Right | Next / forward |
Button names follow the Xbox / PlayStation pair shown in the editor, so A / Cross is the bottom face button on either pad. On a Switch Pro Controller the bottom button is labeled B; the mapping still fires on position.
Questions
Why do the buttons only work when the player is in front?
Because they are keys inside the player. Use the System Function media outputs for buttons that work from anywhere.
Does this work with a PS5 or Xbox controller?
Yes, and with any controller the Mac recognizes. The layout is set by button position, so A on an Xbox pad and Cross on a DualSense do the same thing.
Can the controller skip the Netflix intro?
Yes, with one row: bind S to a spare button. Netflix's shortcut for Skip Intro is S.
Related
Completely free. You don't have to make an account, there are no subscriptions, and nothing is locked. Optimized for Apple silicon. Open source on GitHub.
Updated