Questions
The best app for connecting a controller to a Mac
Short answer: you do not need an app to connect a controller to a Mac. macOS pairs PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch Pro, 8BitDo and other MFi controllers by itself, in System Settings, Bluetooth, or with a USB cable. What you need an app for is the next step: using the controller in a game or app that ignores it, or running the whole Mac from the couch. For that, the free app I make, InputConfig, is my answer, and this page also says when a different app, or no app, is the better pick.
Which app, by what you want to do
| You want to | Use |
|---|---|
| Play a Mac game that supports controllers | No app. Pair the controller in System Settings, Bluetooth |
| Play one Steam game | Steam Input, already inside Steam |
| Play a game that ignores the controller, or use it in any app | A controller mapper: InputConfig, free |
| Run the Mac from the couch: pointer, clicks, scrolling | InputConfig with its Desktop Navigation preset, or Controlly |
| Use a controller macOS does not list, such as the original Steam Controller or an 8BitDo pad in a mode macOS ignores | InputConfig, which reads them directly |
| Map a controller on macOS 10.14 to 13 | JoyMapper or Gamepad Mapper; InputConfig needs macOS 14 |
| Use your iPhone as the controller | A phone app that forwards input to the Mac; InputConfig does not do this |
Step one needs no app
Put the controller in pairing mode, open System Settings, Bluetooth, and click Connect next to it, or plug in a USB cable. Then open System Settings, Game Controllers and press a button to check it is live. The pairing buttons for each controller, and what to do when it will not pair, are in how to connect a controller to a Mac. Games that use Apple's controller support work from here with nothing else installed.
InputConfig is free on the Mac App Store. macOS 14 or later, no account, no tracking, open source.
Why a connected controller can still do nothing
A Mac seeing the controller does not mean a game will. Plenty of games and almost every app were never written for a controller: older games, keyboard-only indie games, browser games, Windows games in CrossOver, and apps like Safari or Anki. An app for this is a controller mapper. It reads the controller and sends the keys, clicks and mouse movement the game already understands, so the game thinks you are on a keyboard and mouse.
Why InputConfig is my pick
- Free and open source (MIT), with nothing locked behind a purchase and no account.
- Every button, trigger and stick can be a key, a shortcut, a click, mouse movement, scrolling or a macro.
- Ready layouts for more than 450 games and apps, so most people never map a button by hand.
- Works with PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch Pro, Joy-Cons, 8BitDo, the Steam Controller, the PlayStation Access Controller and more, and with MIDI gear, keyboards and mice as inputs too.
- Built for accessibility first: one-handed and one-stick layouts, switches, spoken feedback.
It needs macOS 14 or later and runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. Get it free on the Mac App Store.
Other good apps
- Steam Input: the right tool for a single Steam game, and already installed with Steam.
- Controlly: a controller as a remote control for the Mac; 7-day trial, then $3.99.
- JoyMapper: the widest macOS range, back to 10.14.4; 5-day trial, then $7.99.
- Gamepad Mapper: a long-running App Store mapper that installs on macOS 12; free download with in-app purchases.
- JoyKeyMapper: tiny, free and open source, for Joy-Cons and the Switch Pro Controller.
Prices and versions for sixteen of them, checked at the source, are in the full comparison of Mac controller mappers.
Questions
Is there a way to connect a controller to a Mac?
Yes, and it needs no app. Put the controller in pairing mode and pick it in System Settings, Bluetooth, or plug it in with a USB cable. PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch Pro, Joy-Con, 8BitDo and other MFi controllers all work this way.
What are some good controller apps for Mac?
InputConfig (free, open source) for games and apps that ignore a controller, Steam Input for Steam games, Controlly for using a controller as a remote for the Mac, JoyMapper or Gamepad Mapper on older versions of macOS, and JoyKeyMapper for Nintendo controllers.
What is the best free app to use a controller on a Mac?
InputConfig. It is free and open source on the Mac App Store, with no purchases inside, and it turns any controller into keys, clicks, mouse movement and scrolling, with ready layouts for more than 450 games and apps.
Do I need an app to connect a PS5 or Xbox controller to a Mac?
No. macOS supports both. Pair them in System Settings, Bluetooth. An app only matters when a game or app does not respond to the controller.
What is the best app for an Xbox controller on a Mac?
For games that support controllers, none: macOS handles an Xbox Wireless Controller itself. For games and apps that do not, InputConfig maps the Xbox controller to the keyboard and mouse for free.
Can I use my phone as a controller for my Mac?
Yes, with a pair of apps made for it, one on the phone and one on the Mac. InputConfig does not do this; it reads controllers, MIDI devices, keyboards and mice connected to the Mac itself.
Related
Free. macOS 14 or later. No account, nothing leaves your Mac. Open source on GitHub.