Whether you’re trying to no-scope that enemy on COD or score a last-minute slam-dunk on NBA, the touchpad just doesn’t do it.
Sometimes it works natively and wirelessly, but sometimes it requires wired connection and third-party app (driver). This article has all you need to know about connecting Xbox One Controller to Mac. Xbox One Controller works better with Windows 10, so our advice is to use Windows 10 (Bootcamp is fine). The all new Xbox app keeps you connected to your gaming community on your phone or tablet. Easily share game clips & screenshots, chat, and get notifications. Plus, play games from your console. With the Xbox app setup or join an Xbox party. Get together and chat with friends as you move from game. Currently Xbox Live Anywhere isn't available yet, but it will soon be released to Windows 10 machines. If you've setup your Mac with Windows 10 on Boot Camp and installed the Xbox app, you'll have.
So, we thought we’d share the best tips on how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your Mac, to make them tense gaming moments a little easier.
Before you do: Clean up your Mac
BUT, before we get into all the juicy techy stuff, let’s remind you of how beneficial cleaning up your Mac can be.
Before installing any new hardware, it’s important to have an un-cluttered file space so the new software can run efficiently, and you can keep an eye on what’s where.
With CleanMyMac X, it’s easy. It’s one-click cleaning approach and powerful scanning means you can swiftly dispose of useless documents and apps which may be slowing your Mac down.
So, to get optimal controller connectivity, you should download CleanMyMac and tidy up your digital space – prior to any installations. Now, onto how to use an Xbox 360 controller on a Mac.
How to use the Xbox 360 controller on Mac
Not many of us know it, but there could be a handy use for all those old Xbox 360 or Xbox One controllers lying around. But, before you get set up, you need to have the correct hardware installed on your Mac to enable connectivity.
Here’s how.
First of all, you will need either a wired or wireless Xbox controller. Both work fine, but for all those passionate gamers with a tendency to erupt, a wireless device would be best to save any damages to wires (or opponents). These wireless receivers can be bought for around $20 on Amazon, and can handle up to 4 Xbox 360 controllers.
Free Drivers
Obviously, Macs don’t have an in-built driver for Xbox controllers as Apple are in no way affiliated with Microsoft. Similarly, Microsoft doesn’t supply drivers for Mac users for their hardware, which leaves us wanting users having to find our own way.
So back in 2006, it was music to gamer’s ears to hear that Tattie Bogle had developed their own driver free of charge to users across the gaming globe. However, this driver hasn’t been updated since 2012, and is therefore sticky when it comes to compatibility with MacOS X.
For a more streamlined approach to this conundrum, download GitHub’s free driver – it’s maintained and updated frequently and is free to all Mac users.
1. Install the driver
After opening the GitHub link, double click on the DMG file visible under ‘Assets’. This will start the installing process, where you will have to follow the appropriate instructions.
Remember though, as with any new program installation, it will reboot your Mac, so don’t panic. After the restart, you should be able to find ‘Xbox 360 Controllers’ in the system preferences.
2. Connect the Xbox 360 Controller to your Mac
Now you’ve installed the driver, the next step is to connect the controller, which is simple and only needs to be done once.
- Firstly, you need to plug the USB receiver into a free USB port on your Mac. Once plugged in, the USB receiver’s light should start blinking
- Press the big Xbox logo button on the controller so it lights up green
- Press the button on the USB receiver
- Press the connect button on the controller, which can be found at the top - in-between the left and right toggles
- The top left quarter of the circle around the Xbox button should now light up, indicating you are the first controller connected
Now the controller and Mac are linked - so in the future if you want to connect again, all you need do is press the big Xbox logo button to get going. Told you it was simple!
3. Test the Controller
As with all things techy, there’s always loopholes. So, it’s important to test the connections to ensure the controller works before we embark upon a mobile-gaming-gallivant.
Go to ‘System Preferences’, ‘Xbox 360 Controllers’ and you’ll see a screen like below.
This is a control pad, which indicates whether all the buttons on the controller are working properly. That’s about all you can do on this, as well as shutting the controller down by clicking ‘power off’.
4. Configuring for multiple games on your Mac
We all have different tastes in games - some of us like sports and some of us like military, there’s no right or wrong (asides from Half-Life, that’s just awesome and it’s not up for debate).
With these different games come different control configurations, which can get tedious when you only have one type of controller.
For full flexibility of use, there are many tools and apps available which allow you to play any game with any Mac compatible joystick or controller – even the ones that are not compatible with joysticks.
5. Use Joystick Mapper
Out of the many apps to choose from, Joystick Mapper is our pick. And at only $4.99 from the App Store, it’s real value for money – especially when considering the amount of effort it takes to develop such a complex tool.
Xbox One Controller On Apple Mac
Here’s how it works –
Once you download the Joystick Mapper app, you need to create a pre-set for your game preferences. To do this, open the app and click ‘Add new pre-set’.
Enter a name for future reference such as ‘My Game’, and for each joystick, click ‘Add a new joystick’.
Now that you’ve identified the joystick, you need to ‘bind’ joystick inputs to keyboard or mouse movements - which is easier than it sounds.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/0/134041643/449850380.jpg)
Click on ‘Add new bind’, and then ‘Scan’, and press the button of your game controller that you’d like to use. Next select a mouse or keyboard action, and that will ‘bind’ the chosen inputs.
Simply repeat this process until you’ve bound all the buttons you’d like to use.
If by chance you’re using a controller other than an Xbox 360 or Xbox One, you can replicate these actions and apply them to different controllers. To do this, simply click the ‘Clone’ icon in the top right corner. To put the pre-set into action, set a checkmark before the preferred pre-set/profile you’ve created for the game you’re about to play. Now, you’re good to go!
BUT – don’t close the Joystick Mapper app before starting the game, it needs to keep running to work. Simply select ‘cmd + H’ to hide the window.
Declutter your Mac to make more room for games
Remember, all of these processes won’t work as effectively if you have a messy Mac.
On average, there is a whopping 62GB of junk found on Macs, with jam-packed caches and folders full of useless documents cluttering the hard drive.
This considerably slows down the performance of your Mac, preventing quick and easy installations, and can even hinder the controller connectivity.
CleanMyMac X is an app dedicated to cleaning your Mac head-to-toe. It scans everything on the computer - even old folders that have been evading your wrath for years - identifying what needs to be removed.
The Mac is inspected rigorously, and with its smart one-click clean-up, CleanMyMac sweeps away the unwanted rubbish to organize folders and speed up performance.
Furthermore, CleanMyMac X is free to download. So, what are you waiting for? Download it for free here.
These might also interest you:
Here's a list of the most popular free games on that iOS store that have MFi controller support.
#11: Bike Baron Free (4.3 stars)
Genre: Sports simulator
Similar to games like: Mini motor racing
Similar to games like: Mini motor racing
'What happens when you put the developers of Minigore, Death Rally and Aqua Globs together with the composer of Angry Birds and Trine? PURE MAGIC. Bike Baron is a ride you will never forget!'
#10: Afterpulse - Elite Army (4.6 stars)
Genre: 3rd person shooter
Similar to games like: PUBG, Fortnite
Similar to games like: PUBG, Fortnite
'Enjoyed by over 14 million players, Afterpulse has received tremendous acclaim as one of the best and most realistic TPS (third person shooters) for mobile devices on the market.'
#9: Lineage 2: Revolution (4.5 stars)
Genre: MMORPG
Similar to games like: Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIV
Similar to games like: Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIV
'Lineage 2: Revolution is a groundbreaking, new online role-playing game that brings top-quality visuals, a massive open-world, and large-scale PvP battles to life on mobile devices. Players can finally experience what it truly means to have a gorgeous, fully-featured, persistent world MMORPG that can be enjoyed alongside millions around the world, all within the palm of your hands!'
#8: Gangstar Vegas (4.6 stars)
Genre: Third person action-adventure
Similar to games like: Grand Theft Auto
Similar to games like: Grand Theft Auto
'Roll up on a dangerous trip through the City of Sin in the latest grand episode of the acclaimed open-world shooting action series!'
#7: Life is Strange (4.0 stars)
Genre: Choice-based story
Similar to games like: The Wolf Among Us, The Walking Dead
Similar to games like: The Wolf Among Us, The Walking Dead
'Life Is Strange is a five part episodic game that sets out to revolutionize story-based choice and consequence games by allowing the player to rewind time and affect the past, present, and future.'
#6: Flipping Legend (4.8 stars)
Genre: Third-person actionSimilar to games like: Flappy Bird
'Unleash the power of your fists, spells and weapons in this pattern-based adventure.'
#5: Xenowerk (4.4 stars)
Genre: Top-down shooter
Similar to games like: Hotline Miami
Similar to games like: Hotline Miami
'Play the first part for free. Get access to the full game with an in-app purchase. Be the last hope against the mutant infestation. Enter the aftermath of a scientific experiment gone horribly wrong.'
#4: Jetpack Joyride (4.5 stars)
Genre: Side-scrolling runner
Similar to games like: Sonic the Hedgehog
Similar to games like: Sonic the Hedgehog
'It's time to join Barry Steakfries and equip the coolest jetpacks, suit up in stylish costumes and ride crazy vehicles in his endless running quest to beat the scientists to the end of the lab.'
#3: It's Full of Sparks (4.6 stars)
Genre: Platformer
Similar to games like: Mario
Similar to games like: Mario
'It's Full of Sparks is a beautiful platforming experience about the life of a firecracker. Embark on a journey to find The Old One, a mythical firecracker whose fuse has never been lit. But what is life without sparks?'
#2: Asphalt 8: Airborne (4.7 stars)
Controller App Xbox One
Genre: Racing
Similar to games like: Forza, Gran Turismo
Similar to games like: Forza, Gran Turismo
'INTENSE ARCADE GAMEPLAY: Feel the thrill of gravity-defying racing across 50+ high-speed tracks!'
#1: Fortnite (4.6 stars)
Update: Unfortunately due to recent disputes between Apple, Android, and Epic Games, Fortnite is no longer available on either the App Store (Apple/iOS) or Google Play (Android) store. Read our article on how to possibly continue playing Fortnite on mobile.
Genre: 3rd person shooter
Similar to games like: PUBG, Apex Legends, Realm Royale
Similar to games like: PUBG, Apex Legends, Realm Royale
'On mobile, Fortnite is the same game you know from PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Switch. Same map, same gameplay, same weekly updates. Build your fort as you battle to be the last one standing. Jump in and squad up with friends around the world or in the same room!'
Are you suprised to see Fortnite as the #1 free game for controllers on iOS?
Not sure which controller to use? The Nimbus+ wireless controller has official Apple-licensed connectivity, and comes with a handy iPhone mount, which would be ideal for any of these games.
Hopefully you found a new game to check out from this list. Good luck!
Read more
How do you like Fortnite mobile? Join the official SteelSeries Discord server!
Xbox Controller App Pc
We use cookies for analytics, advertising and to personalise your experience per our privacy policy. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies.