How To Connect Bluetooth Controller To Pc

collection of PS4 and Xbox controllers on table

Console controllers don't always work as before long equally you plug them into a Windows PC or Mac. Nosotros've compiled a listing of guides so you tin learn how to make your favorite controller piece of work with your reckoner.

Most controllers intended to be used on PCs, like USB Logitech controllers, volition be HID-compliant devices and support the XInput or DirectInput protocol, which y'all can use in nearly games. Some may work out of the box and others may demand a custom driver. For panel controllers, especially older ones, y'all may need a hardware adapter if it doesn't plug into USB, as Bluetooth support is hit or miss.

This guide covers Windows and macOS, merely almost HID controllers will work on Linux, too. It'll simply take a little configuration, with which Linux users are probably familiar.

PlayStation 4 (DualShock 4)

PS4 dual-shock controller

Windows supports Sony PS4 controllers without additional software as long equally you lot plug them in via USB. Y'all'll need a hardware adapter to use the controller wirelessly.

Macs also back up Sony's latest controllers by default, fifty-fifty with a wireless connexion. Unfortunately, these controllers show upwardly equally a generic input device, which may not work in all games.

PlayStation three (DualShock three)

Windows needs a custom driver for PS3 controllers. It'southward a bit complicated to prepare, merely we've got the instructions.

Macs support these controllers without any actress software. Just wirelessly connect via Bluetooth or plug it in with a USB cable.

PlayStation i and ii (DualShock one and 2)

Sony'due south PS1 and PS2 controllers are older and don't apply USB. You lot tin get an adapter, but it's probably best to pick upward a DualShock 3, as it'south almost entirely the same but with wireless and USB support.

Xbox Ane

Xbox one controller

Windows is supported fully out of the box, seeing as this is Microsoft's flagship controller. Just plug and play, or connect over Bluetooth. You can even update the controller'south firmware from your PC if you're using Windows x.

Macs back up Xbox One controllers wirelessly without anything extra, but you'll demand extra software if you want to plug your controller in via USB. Specifically, yous demand the 360Controller driver, which extends back up for wired USB Xbox One controllers.

Xbox 360

Windows supports wired 360 controllers by default, merely wireless controllers volition need a special USB adapter.

Mac needs a custom driver. Due to issues with kernel extensions (kexts,) wireless support causes kernel panics, and is disabled in this driver.

Original Xbox (Xbox "1")

You lot'll need an adapter and some custom drivers, but it doesn't seem entirely easy. MacOS has an older driver, but information technology may not piece of work on newer versions of macOS. Too, if y'all're crazy, you lot tin forego the adapter altogether and splice together a couple of cables, although we don't recommend this.

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Nintendo Switch controller

Nintendo'due south Switch Pro controller works automatically after you lot connect it via Bluetooth on Windows and macOS, but you'll take to fix information technology up in Steam to use in games.

RELATED: How to Connect the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con or Pro Controllers to Your PC

Wii Remotes and Wii U Pro Controllers

Windows will connect the controller past default, merely information technology may non exist usable equally a controller in all apps. Dolphin, the Wii emulator, supports using them as inputs, but we didn't have any on hand to test organization-broad utilize.

Mac is supported in the aforementioned mode—only in Dolphin. System-wide utilise is technically supported, but we heavily recommend finding a new controller. MacOS Sierra bankrupt support for the only driver, Wjoy, but information technology was updated on a new fork. However, the current release doesn't work either, and so you'll have to build the latest commit from source in Xcode, update a bunch of build targets, fix a few errors, sign it with an Apple developer account, and then after all that you have to kicking into Recovery Mode and disable system integrity protectionto install it. Only and then can yous properly connect the controller.

GameCube Controllers

You'll need an adapter of course, only Windows and Mac should be supported by default through HID. Support may vary though depending on the adapter yous go. You can get an official ane, simply the Mayflash adapter seems to work fine for half the price. This adapter has a switch so y'all tin utilise information technology on PC every bit well equally console, which will turn it into an HID device rather than a proprietary console just one. Dolphin can communicate with it directly, though, and will support the Wii U mode, which can fix some bugs with the additional ports.

Note that macOS'due south HID implementation overrides Dolphin'due south direct communication with the device, so it doesn't support having multiple controllers plugged in. At that place is a workaround, but information technology may not work with every adapter. It does involve disabling SIP, though absolutely just for kext extensions, which is a picayune safer.

Guitar Hero Controllers

guitar hero controller

This one'due south a little weird, as Guitar Hero has many different console versions, but there'due south still a thriving community on PC with CloneHero. Nearly should piece of work with an adapter, so information technology's best to bank check their wiki for instructions.

Other Controllers

Other Retro Controllers usually demand adapters, unless you lot get updated USB versions of them. Almost adapters should use standard XInput and DirectInput connections and should be configurable in Steam and any of the apps beneath.

Third Political party Controllers will vary depending on what y'all get, merely most should use the same standard XInput connections. Ordinarily, information technology will list its compatibility on Amazon, so make sure to buy 1 that'southward compatible, or pick up something more than mainstream.

If your controller isn't listed hither, or you can't get information technology to work with these guides, a quick Google search for the controller proper name plus your Os version and "driver" should lead you to decent results.

If you demand to remap your controller, y'all can use Steam'south congenital-in Big Picture Way to practice so. If you lot demand to use it in a non-Steam game, you can endeavor AntiMicro for Windows and Enjoyable for macOS, both gratis.