Questions
How to connect an 8BitDo M30 to a Mac
Hold A and Start to turn the M30 on in its macOS mode, hold Pair for two seconds, then pick Wireless Controller in System Settings, Bluetooth. Those are the steps in 8BitDo's manual. The M30 has no mode switch: the button you hold with Start as you turn it on chooses the mode. For a cable, 8BitDo's manual says to turn it on the same way first and then plug it in.
I make InputConfig, a free Mac app that carries the community mappings for the M30 and turns its buttons into keys, clicks and shortcuts. I have not tested an M30 myself, so this page stays with 8BitDo's manual.
On this page: 8 sections
Steps
- With the pad off, hold A and Start until it turns on. Lights 1, 2 and 3 blink.
- Hold the Pair button for two seconds. The lights pause, then start to move again.
- Open System Settings, Bluetooth, and click Connect next to Wireless Controller.
- Wait for the lights to turn solid.
- Next time, press Start and it reconnects by itself.
Pick the mode as you turn it on
These are the combinations in 8BitDo's manual for the M30:
| Hold with Start | Mode | Lights |
|---|---|---|
| A | macOS | 1, 2 and 3 blink |
| X | Windows | 1 and 2 blink |
| B | Android | 1 blinks |
| Y | Switch | Move from left to right |
Three blinking lights mean the M30 is in the mode for a Mac.
InputConfig is free on the Mac App Store. macOS 14 or later, no account, no tracking, open source.
Pair it, or plug it in
- You: Hold A and Start to turn the pad on, then hold Pair for two seconds.
- macOS: Lists Wireless Controller in System Settings, Bluetooth. Click Connect.
- Check: The lights on the pad stop moving and stay on.
Once paired, 8BitDo says the M30 reconnects to the Mac with one press of Start. For a cable, its manual says to connect the pad by USB after turning it on with A and Start. The mode is chosen at power-on, for Bluetooth and for the cable alike.
Know what the M30 has and lacks
- Six face buttons. Two rows of three, in the style of a Sega pad. 8BitDo calls it a 6-button gamepad for Sega's classic titles.
- Turbo. Hold the button you want to repeat and press Star to switch turbo on for it. The same press switches it off. 8BitDo says the D-pad is not included.
- No rumble or motion. 8BitDo's product page says the M30 does not support vibration or motion sensing.
8BitDo's product page lists Switch, Windows, Android and Raspberry Pi for the M30, and its manual has the macOS mode above. Turbo lives in the pad itself, so it works with no app on the Mac.
Map it in InputConfig
- You: With the M30 connected, add a row to a preset, press Scan, and press a button on the pad. Choose the output: a key, a shortcut, a click or scrolling.
- InputConfig: Binds the row to whatever the button sends. If the pad is not in the sidebar, tick it under InputConfig, Devices in the menu bar.
- Check: Activate the preset and press the button in any app.
For old games in an emulator, assign the buttons in the emulator's own controls screen instead, and keep InputConfig for games and apps that only take the keyboard. Scan binds what each of the six buttons sends, whatever letter is printed on it.
If it does not work
Climb this ladder, smallest step first:
- Turn it on in the right mode. A and Start, held together from off, until three lights blink.
- Forget it and pair again. Remove it in System Settings, Bluetooth, then hold Pair for two seconds.
- Try the cable. Turn it on with A and Start, then plug it in.
- Update the firmware. An older pad may need 8BitDo's Upgrade Tool.
8BitDo controller not working on a Mac goes further. An M30 that pairs and does nothing is usually in a mode meant for another system.
The short version
- Mode. A and Start, until three lights blink.
- Pair. Pair for two seconds, then Wireless Controller in Bluetooth settings.
- Turbo. Hold a button and press Star.
The button you hold with Start is the mode switch on an M30.
Questions
Does the 8BitDo M30 work on a Mac?
8BitDo's manual has a macOS mode for it: hold A and Start to turn it on, hold Pair for two seconds, and pair with Wireless Controller. Its product page lists Switch, Windows, Android and Raspberry Pi, and I have not tested one myself.
How do I put the 8BitDo M30 in Mac mode?
With the pad off, hold A and Start together until it turns on. Lights 1, 2 and 3 blink in macOS mode.
Can I use the 8BitDo M30 on a Mac with a cable?
8BitDo's manual says to turn it on with A and Start first, then connect it to the Mac with a USB cable.
How do I turn on turbo on the 8BitDo M30?
Hold the button you want to repeat and press the Star button. Do the same again to turn it off. 8BitDo says the D-pad is not included, and turbo does not apply on a Switch.
Related
Free. macOS 14 or later. No account, nothing leaves your Mac. Open source on GitHub.