Questions
What controllers work with a Mac
Most current controllers work with a Mac with no driver: PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch pads pair in System Settings, Bluetooth, and games that support controllers see them. A second group works with a mapper such as InputConfig, which reads devices macOS does not treat as game controllers. A few old ones do not work at all. Here is the list.
Works natively
| Controller | How it connects | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 DualSense and DualSense Edge | Bluetooth or USB-C | Pairing steps |
| PS4 DualShock 4 | Bluetooth or micro-USB | Pairing steps |
| PlayStation Access Controller | USB-C or Bluetooth | Guide |
| Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One model 1708 (2016 on; the Xbox button sits in the same plastic as the face), Elite Series 2 | Bluetooth, or USB on macOS 15 Sequoia or later | Which Xbox pads have Bluetooth |
| Xbox Adaptive Controller | Bluetooth | Guide |
| Switch Pro Controller | Bluetooth | macOS 13 or later. Pairing steps |
| Joy-Cons | Bluetooth, one at a time or as a pair | macOS 13 or later. Details |
| 8BitDo Pro 2, SN30 Pro, Lite 2 and other models on 8BitDo's Apple list, in D mode or started with B and Start | Bluetooth or USB | Which mode |
| MFi controllers made for Apple devices | Bluetooth | Pair like any Bluetooth device |
InputConfig itself needs macOS 14 or later, which covers every row above.
InputConfig is free on the Mac App Store. macOS 14 or later, no account, no tracking, open source.
Works with a mapper
These are not game controllers as far as macOS is concerned, so games do not see them, but InputConfig reads them and turns them into keys, mouse, and more:
- 8BitDo pads in X mode over a USB cable, including the Ultimate 2C Wired, which has no Apple mode.
- USB joysticks, flight sticks, arcade sticks, wheels and pedals that present as ordinary HID devices. See joysticks on a Mac. Arcade and fight sticks work in PC or DirectInput mode, not Xbox mode: arcade sticks on a Mac.
- The Steam Controller and the Stadia Controller once unlocked. See other controllers.
- MIDI keyboards and pads, and your Mac's own keyboard, mouse, and trackpad.
Does not work
- The wired Xbox 360 controller: it speaks Microsoft's own USB protocol, which macOS does not support. See controller drivers on a Mac.
- The PS3 DualShock 3 is not officially supported.
- First Xbox One pads without Bluetooth and the Elite Series 1 need a cable. macOS added wired Xbox support in macOS 15 Sequoia; on earlier versions they do not work at all.
Connected, but a game ignores it
Many Mac games have no controller support at all. That is not the controller's fault. A mapper sends the keyboard and mouse the game expects; InputConfig has ready layouts for 450+ games. See play any Mac game with a controller.
PowerA, GameSir and no-name controllers
PowerA, GameSir, Logitech, and the unbranded pads sold for PCs work on a Mac when they present themselves as one of the controllers above. Many have a mode switch, or a button you hold while turning them on, that picks what they pretend to be. Look in the manual for a mode called iOS, Apple, MFi or Switch, and pair it over Bluetooth: the pad then appears in System Settings, Game Controllers, and games see it. An Xbox or X-input mode over a cable usually speaks the Xbox 360 protocol, which macOS does not support.
A pad that shows up in System Information, USB but not under Game Controllers is a plain HID device. No driver changes that, and games that use Apple's controller support will not see it. InputConfig reads it anyway: if the app does not pick it up on its own, tick it under InputConfig, Devices in the menu bar, and every button and axis can be bound to keys, mouse and more. The Logitech F310 is the usual case: set the switch on its back to D. Before you buy, see the best controller for a Mac.
Questions
Does a Mac support PS5 controllers?
Yes. The DualSense and DualSense Edge pair over Bluetooth or work by USB-C, with no driver.
Do Xbox controllers work with a Mac?
Yes. Xbox Series, Xbox One pads with Bluetooth, the Elite Series 2, and the Adaptive Controller pair over Bluetooth.
Does a Mac support the Switch Pro Controller?
Yes, over Bluetooth, on macOS 13 and later. Joy-Cons too.
Do I need a driver?
Not for current PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, 8BitDo, and MFi controllers. The wired Xbox 360 pad is the usual exception.
Does a Mac support a wired Xbox controller?
From macOS 15 Sequoia, yes: plug it in and allow the connection when the Mac asks. On macOS 14 Sonoma and earlier, pair Xbox controllers over Bluetooth instead. The wired Xbox 360 controller is not supported by macOS.
Do PowerA or GameSir controllers work on a Mac?
Usually, in the right mode. Pick the mode the manual calls iOS, Apple, MFi or Switch and pair it over Bluetooth, and the Mac treats it as a game controller. In other modes it may be a plain HID device, which games ignore and InputConfig can still read and map.
What controller works best with a MacBook?
A PS5 DualSense or an Xbox Series controller: both pair over Bluetooth with no driver, and every Mac game with controller support sees them. The DualSense also has a touchpad and motion sensors, which InputConfig can use as a trackpad and for aiming.
Does the Switch 2 Pro Controller work with a Mac?
Not natively, as of September 2026. macOS supports the original Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Cons from macOS 13, but not the Switch 2 Pro Controller or Joy-Con 2. See Switch 2 Pro Controller on a Mac for the workarounds.
Do racing wheels work with a Mac?
The Mac sees most USB wheels with no driver. Since macOS 13, Mac games written for Apple's racing wheel support use wheels such as the Logitech G29 and G920; most other games ignore a wheel, and a mapper such as InputConfig turns it into keys. Force feedback only works in games that support the wheel themselves.
Which controllers work with Apple Arcade on a Mac?
The same ones in the Works natively table: PlayStation, Xbox with Bluetooth, Switch Pro and Joy-Cons on macOS 13 or later, MFi pads, and 8BitDo pads in Apple mode, in any Arcade game with controller support. See Apple Arcade on a Mac with a controller.
Do adaptive controllers work with a Mac?
The PlayStation Access Controller and the Xbox Adaptive Controller both do, with no driver, and switches plugged into them arrive as buttons. A QuadStick and most USB switch interfaces also connect; the adaptive controllers guide says how each one shows up.
Related
Free. macOS 14 or later. No account, nothing leaves your Mac. Open source on GitHub.