Stage Manager and Spaces from a game controller
The Stage Manager & Spaces 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: Sends the macOS Mission Control, Spaces and app switcher shortcuts, so it works in every app. Custom keys from System Settings need a Scan.
Yes, you can drive Mission Control, Stage Manager and Spaces from a game controller on a Mac. Mission Control is on a face button, the front app's windows on another, Spaces on both the D-pad and the bumpers, and a slow pointer picks a window or a set. It sends the macOS shortcuts, so it works in every app.
The layout, control by control
How the layout thinks
- Overview. Mission Control (Control Up Arrow) on the top face button, the front app's windows (Control Down Arrow) on the left, cancel (Escape) on the right, and a click on the bottom.
- Spaces. D-pad left and right, and the bumpers, move between Spaces.
- Apps. D-pad up and Share or View step forward through the app switcher, D-pad down goes back.
- Desktop. Options shows the desktop (F11).
- Pick a window. The left stick moves the pointer, deliberately slow so it lands on a small thumbnail. The right stick scrolls, and the triggers and stick clicks click and right-click.
Custom keys from System Settings need a Scan on the matching row. A slow pointer is what makes small window thumbnails easy to hit.
Stage Manager itself
- Turn it on or off. Stage Manager lives in Control Center and has no default key. If you set one in System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, put it on a spare button.
- Switch sets. Stage Manager's sets sit at the left edge of the screen. The pointer and a click pick one.
- A faster pointer. If the slow pointer feels sluggish, raise the Pointer speed slider on the preset's page.
Compared with the Mission Control layout, this one has Spaces on both the D-pad and the bumpers, the app switcher on the D-pad, and a slower pointer. Pick whichever of the two suits your hands, because both send the same macOS keys.
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 Stage Manager & Spaces 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Y / Triangle | Ctrl (Left), Up | Y: open Mission Control (Ctrl+Up) |
| A / Cross | Left click | A: left click / select window |
| B / Circle | Escape | B: close Mission Control / cancel (Esc) |
| X / Square | Ctrl (Left), Down | X: show all windows of front app (Ctrl+Down) |
| D-pad left | Ctrl (Left), Left | Move one Space left (Ctrl+Left) |
| D-pad right | Ctrl (Left), Right | Move one Space right (Ctrl+Right) |
| LB / L1 | Ctrl (Left), Left | LB: previous Space (Ctrl+Left) |
| RB / R1 | Ctrl (Left), Right | RB: next Space (Ctrl+Right) |
| Start / Options | F11 | Start: show desktop (F11) |
| Back / Share / Select | Command (Left), Tab | Back: app switcher forward (Cmd+Tab) |
| D-pad up | Command (Left), Tab | App switcher forward (Cmd+Tab) |
| D-pad down | Command (Left), Shift (Left), Tab | App switcher reverse (Cmd+Shift+Tab) |
| Left stick right | Mouse motion right (speed 6) | Left stick right: move cursor right |
| Left stick left | Mouse motion left (speed 6) | Left stick left: move cursor left |
| Left stick down | Mouse motion down (speed 6) | Left stick down: move cursor down |
| Left stick up | Mouse motion up (speed 6) | Left stick up: move cursor up |
| Right stick down | Scroll down | Right stick down: scroll content down |
| Right stick up | Scroll up | Right stick up: scroll content up |
| L3 (left stick click) | Left click | L3: left click |
| R3 (right stick click) | Right click | R3: right click / context menu |
| Right trigger | Left click | Right trigger: left click (mirror of A) |
| Left trigger | Right click | Left trigger: right click |
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
How is this different from the Mission Control layout?
Spaces on both the D-pad and the bumpers, the app switcher on the D-pad, and a slower pointer. Pick whichever suits your hands.
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