Questions
Switch Pro Controller not working on a Mac
Three things cause nearly every case. The Mac needs macOS 13 Ventura or later. The controller sends input only over Bluetooth, not over its USB-C cable. And it stays paired to the last Switch it was used with, so a Switch nearby can take it back. Check those three, then the fixes below.
Pair it again, properly
On the Switch, open System Settings, Controllers and Sensors, Disconnect Controllers, or simply turn the Switch off. On the Mac, forget the Pro Controller in System Settings, Bluetooth if it is listed. Then hold the small Sync button on the top edge, next to the USB-C port, until the player lights run back and forth, and pick Pro Controller in the Bluetooth list. Open Game Controllers in the System Settings sidebar and press a button to confirm the Mac has it. More detail: how to connect a Switch Pro Controller to a Mac.
InputConfig is free on the Mac App Store. macOS 14 or later, no account, no tracking, open source.
Plugged in by cable and nothing happens
That is expected. Over USB-C the Pro Controller charges, but macOS reads it only over Bluetooth. Pair it wirelessly; you can leave the cable in to charge while you play.
It works in System Settings but not in the game
The Mac side is done. If the game is on Steam, check that Steam's controller settings have Switch support on, and look at the controller setting for that game; see works in Steam but not in the game. If the game has no controller support, InputConfig maps the Pro Controller to the keys and mouse the game reads, with an FPS layout built for this pad.
A and B are the wrong way round
Nintendo puts B at the bottom and A on the right, the opposite of Xbox and PlayStation. Games and apps usually go by position, so the button a game calls A is the one printed B. In InputConfig, a preset row that says A / Cross fires on the bottom button; to make the letters match, use Scan on those rows and press the buttons you want.
No gyro and no rumble
macOS does not pass the Pro Controller's motion sensors or HD rumble through to apps, so gyro aim and rumble are not available with it on a Mac. Every button, both sticks and the D-pad work. If you want gyro aim on a Mac, a DualSense, DualSense Edge or DualShock 4 does it with InputConfig.
Joy-Cons and the Switch 2 Pro Controller
Joy-Cons pair one at a time with the Sync button on the rail, also on macOS 13 and later; the Joy-Con page covers using one or both. I have not tested the Switch 2 Pro Controller with a Mac, so I will not tell you it works. It is a newer controller than the one Apple added in macOS 13; check Apple's list of supported controllers before counting on it.
Questions
Why won't my Switch Pro Controller connect to my Mac?
Usually the Switch takes it back, or the Mac is older than macOS 13. Turn the Switch off, forget the controller on the Mac, hold Sync until the lights run, and pair again.
Does the Switch Pro Controller work wired on a Mac?
No. The cable charges it, but macOS reads it only over Bluetooth.
Why are A and B swapped on a Mac?
Nintendo's labels are the reverse of Xbox's. Games go by position, so the bottom button acts as A. Remap the rows in InputConfig with Scan if you want the letters to match.
Does gyro work with a Switch Pro Controller on a Mac?
No. macOS does not pass its motion sensors to apps. Use a DualSense or DualShock 4 for gyro aim.
Related
Free. macOS 14 or later. No account, nothing leaves your Mac. Open source on GitHub.