Questions

How to type on a Mac with a game controller

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You type on a Mac with a game controller in one of three ways: click the Mac's own on-screen keyboard with the stick, speak through dictation on a button, or put the words you type most on buttons. InputConfig does not draw an on-screen keyboard of its own. It drives the Accessibility Keyboard built into macOS, and it puts dictation and saved text on buttons.

Steps

  1. Turn on Accessibility Keyboard in System Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard.
  2. Activate InputConfig's Desktop Navigation preset, so the left stick moves the pointer and a trigger clicks.
  3. Point at a key on the Accessibility Keyboard and click.
  4. For anything longer, put Start Dictation on a button and speak.

Click the Accessibility Keyboard

  • You: Open System Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard, and turn on Accessibility Keyboard. Then activate InputConfig's Desktop Navigation preset.
  • macOS: Floats a full keyboard on screen, with word suggestions.
  • Check: Move the pointer with the left stick onto a key and click with the right trigger or A. The letter appears where the text cursor is.

The word suggestions cut the clicks a lot, so use them.

A row in the InputConfig editor bound to the Cross button, with the Keyboard Key output chosen and the Space key picked.
Figure 1. An InputConfig row sending the Space key from the Cross button. Any button can send any key.

Put dictation on a button

For anything longer than a few words, dictation is much faster than clicking letters.

  • You: Switch Dictation on once in System Settings, Keyboard, then give a button the Start Dictation output.
  • InputConfig: Presses the Mac's own dictation key each time that button fires.
  • Check: Press the button and dictation starts listening. Press it again and it stops.

Two built-in presets already have it: Easy Browse on the left bumper, and Easy Edit on a firm push up on the left stick. More in dictation, zoom, and speak and starting dictation from any button.

Put saved text on buttons

A Type Text output types a whole string: your email address, a sign-off, a reply you send often. With chords, a held bumper gives every button a second string.

Edit without a keyboard

  • Desktop Navigation. A clicks, B undoes, X cuts and Y pastes. Pressing the right stick selects all, and the D-pad sends the arrow keys. That covers most editing.
  • Easy Edit. For a controller in one hand and a mouse in the other: the D-pad is Undo, Copy, Cut and Paste, and the buttons delete, save, type a space and press Return.

The Mac without a keyboard guide builds the full setup.

The short version

  • Short words. Use the Accessibility Keyboard, clicked with the stick.
  • Long text. Put Dictation on a button.
  • Repeated text. Type Text on a button.

Dictation on a button does most of the typing, and the on-screen keyboard covers the rest.

Questions

Does InputConfig have an on-screen keyboard?

No. It works with the Accessibility Keyboard built into macOS, clicked with the controller.

Can I type with a PS5 or Xbox controller on a Mac?

Yes: click the Accessibility Keyboard with the stick, dictate from a button, or type saved text from a button.

Can a controller button start dictation on a Mac?

Yes. Switch Dictation on in System Settings, Keyboard, then give a button the Start Dictation output in InputConfig. One press starts dictation and the next stops it.

Download on the Mac App StoreOpen source on GitHub.

Updated