Questions
How to connect an Xbox controller to a Mac
Turn the controller on with the Xbox button, then hold the small pairing button on the top edge next to the USB port until the Xbox button blinks fast. Pick Xbox Wireless Controller in System Settings, Bluetooth. Or plug in a cable: USB-C on Series controllers, micro-USB on Xbox One. macOS has supported Xbox controllers since Catalina.
Steps
- Turn the controller on with the Xbox button.
- Hold the pairing button on the top edge until the Xbox button blinks fast.
- Open System Settings, Bluetooth, and click Connect next to Xbox Wireless Controller.
Which Xbox controllers work
Every Xbox Series X|S controller, the Elite Series 2, and the Xbox One controllers made from 2016 on (the ones with the 3.5 mm headphone jack) have Bluetooth and work wirelessly. The first Xbox One controllers, without the jack, have no Bluetooth; they work over a cable. The wired Xbox 360 controller does not work on a modern Mac at all: its USB protocol is Microsoft's own and macOS has no driver for it.
If it will not pair
Old firmware is the usual reason an Xbox controller pairs and drops, or never appears. The update runs on an Xbox or on Windows through the Xbox Accessories app, not on a Mac. After updating, forget the controller in the Mac's Bluetooth settings and pair fresh. Also check the controller is not still paired with an Xbox; it will keep returning to it.
In games that do not support it
Native Mac games that support controllers pick up an Xbox pad without any setup. For everything else, InputConfig maps its buttons and sticks to keys and the mouse, with an FPS layout for Xbox controllers built in. Xbox controllers have no gyroscope or touchpad, so those features do not apply.
Questions
Does the Xbox Series X controller work with a Mac?
Yes, over Bluetooth or USB-C, on macOS 11 and later.
Why does my Xbox controller keep disconnecting from my Mac?
Usually old controller firmware or a controller still paired to an Xbox. Update it on an Xbox or Windows PC, unpair it from the console, then pair the Mac again.
Can I use an Xbox 360 controller on a Mac?
The wired one, no; macOS cannot read its protocol. A wireless 360 pad with a third-party Bluetooth adapter sometimes works, but it is not worth the trouble.
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