Questions

How to use a PS5 controller as a mouse on a Mac

A DualSense makes a good Mac mouse: two sticks, two analog triggers, a real touchpad, and a gyroscope, all readable over Bluetooth or USB-C without a driver. macOS will not do it on its own, though. System Settings can only remap controller buttons to other controller buttons. InputConfig is free and does the rest in about a minute.

Steps

  1. Pair the DualSense over Bluetooth (hold PS and Create) or plug in USB-C.
  2. Open InputConfig and allow Accessibility access.
  3. Activate the Desktop Navigation preset.
  4. Adjust deadzone and speed in the stick rows' Options if needed.

Set it up

  1. Pair the DualSense: hold PS and Create until the light bar flashes, then pick it in System Settings, Bluetooth. Or plug in a USB-C cable.
  2. Open InputConfig and allow Accessibility access when asked.
  3. Activate the built-in Desktop Navigation preset. The left stick moves the pointer, the right stick scrolls, R2 left-clicks, L2 right-clicks, the D-pad sends arrow keys, and the face buttons send Return, Escape, and the common shortcuts.
  4. To use the touchpad as a trackpad instead, activate Touchpad Mouse: one finger moves the pointer, two fingers scroll, pressing the pad clicks.
  5. Tilt to point: Motion Cursor moves the pointer with the gyroscope; R1 re-centres it.

Make it comfortable

Open the preset in the editor and use Options on the stick rows: raise the deadzone if the pointer creeps when the stick is at rest, lower Speed for finer control, or pick a curve so small pushes are slow and full pushes are fast. The Accessibility Pointer preset is the same idea tuned for precision: a slow left stick for fine work and a fast right stick for crossing the screen.

What else the DualSense can do on a Mac

Beyond the pointer: the light bar colour follows the preset, the speaker can speak a phrase when a button fires, haptics confirm a press, and the adaptive triggers are read as analog axes. Everything the controller reports is on the connecting controllers page.

Questions

Can you use a PS5 controller as a mouse on a Mac?

Yes. Pair it over Bluetooth or USB-C, open InputConfig, and activate the Desktop Navigation preset. The sticks move the pointer and scroll, the triggers click, and the touchpad can work as a trackpad.

Does it need a driver?

No. macOS supports the DualSense natively. InputConfig only needs the Accessibility permission, which is what lets it move the pointer and send clicks.

Does the DualSense touchpad work as a trackpad on a Mac?

Yes, with the Touchpad Mouse preset: one finger moves the pointer, two fingers scroll, pressing the pad clicks, and regions of the pad can be bound to their own keys.

Is it free?

Yes. InputConfig is free on the Mac App Store and open source.

Related

Download on the Mac App Store