Questions

How to use a PS4 controller as a mouse on a Mac

A DualShock 4 makes a good Mac mouse, and it has three ways to move the pointer: the left stick, the touchpad, and the gyroscope. macOS will not use any of them for the pointer by itself; System Settings can only swap controller buttons for other controller buttons. InputConfig is free and does it in about a minute. I built it because my hands do not work well.

Steps

  1. Connect the DualShock 4 by Bluetooth (hold PS and Share) or a micro-USB data cable.
  2. Open InputConfig and allow Accessibility access.
  3. Activate the Desktop Navigation preset, or Touchpad Mouse for the touchpad.
  4. Adjust deadzone and speed in the stick rows' Options if needed.

Set it up

  1. Connect the DualShock 4: hold PS and Share until the light bar flashes, then pick it in System Settings, Bluetooth, or plug in a micro-USB data cable. The connect page has the details.
  2. Open InputConfig and allow Accessibility access when it asks. That permission is what lets it move the pointer and click.
  3. Activate the built-in Desktop Navigation preset. The left stick moves the pointer, the right stick scrolls, R2 left-clicks and L2 right-clicks, the D-pad sends the arrow keys, L1 and R1 switch apps, Share opens Spotlight, and Options is Return.
  4. Press a few buttons and watch the Live Visualizer light up. If the pointer creeps with the stick at rest, raise the deadzone on the four left-stick rows.

Download InputConfig on the Mac App StoreInputConfig is free on the Mac App Store. macOS 14 or later, no account, no tracking, open source.

The touchpad as a trackpad

The DualShock 4's touchpad reads two fingers separately, and Mac apps ignore it. The Touchpad Mouse preset makes it a trackpad: one finger moves the pointer, a second finger scrolls, a tap or pressing the pad clicks, and a two-finger tap right-clicks. Run the touchpad calibration once so a swipe moves the same distance anywhere on the pad. It works over Bluetooth and over the cable. More on the touchpad page.

Point by tilting it

The DualShock 4 has a gyroscope, and Motion Cursor turns it into a laser pointer: tilt the pad and the pointer follows, level it and the pointer comes back. R1 re-centres it, and holding L1 lets you move the controller without moving the pointer. For someone who can hold a controller but cannot work a stick, this is a real alternative to a mouse. The gyro page covers speed and smoothing.

Keys, typing, and games

Every row in a preset can send a key or a shortcut instead of a click, so the same pad can also be a keyboard: see mapping a controller to the keyboard. For typing, pair it with the macOS Accessibility Keyboard; typing with a controller shows how. For a game that ignores controllers, the Smart Preset Maker has a ready layout for 450+ games and apps. If a preset ever takes over, the emergency stop turns everything off at once.

Make it comfortable

Open the preset in the editor and use Options on the stick rows: lower the speed for fine work, pick a curve so small pushes are slow and full pushes are fast, and set the light bar to a colour so you can tell at a glance which preset is running. The Accessibility Pointer preset is tuned for precision: a slow left stick for small targets and a fast right stick for crossing the screen. A worn DualShock 4 often drifts; the stick drift page sets the deadzone properly.

Questions

Can you use a PS4 controller as a mouse on a Mac?

Yes. Connect the DualShock 4, open InputConfig, and activate the Desktop Navigation preset. The left stick moves the pointer, the right stick scrolls, and R2 and L2 click.

Does the PS4 controller touchpad work as a mouse on a Mac?

Not on its own. With the Touchpad Mouse preset in InputConfig, one finger moves the pointer, a second finger scrolls, and a tap or press clicks.

Do I need a driver or DS4Windows?

No. macOS supports the DualShock 4 natively, and DS4Windows is Windows only. InputConfig needs only the Accessibility permission.

Can I map the PS4 controller to keyboard keys on a Mac?

Yes. Any button, stick direction, trigger or touchpad gesture can send a key or a shortcut, and a preset can mix keys and mouse.

Is it free?

Yes. InputConfig is free on the Mac App Store and open source. The optional tip jar unlocks nothing.

Related

Download InputConfig on the Mac App StoreFree. macOS 14 or later. No account, nothing leaves your Mac. Open source on GitHub.