Video game consoles are just computers that have been custom-built for a very specific purpose. So it's not a huge leap to make a console controller play nice with your desktop or laptop.
It's especially easy if you're talking about plugging an Xbox controller into a Windows machine. Obviously. But even Mac users can take advantage of Xbox controllers for their gaming, albeit with a pretty notable limitation. Setup is very easy though.
You’ll then have to restart your Mac, but after it boots up you should see Xbox 360 Controllers on the bottom row of your System Preferences. Even better, FranticRain keeps it up to date.
- Sep 19, 2011 But console gamers may prefer standard gamepads for Mac gaming, particularly given how widely available and popular they are. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to play Mac games with Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controllers. Start with the PS3’s DualShock 3, which uses the same Bluetooth standards embraced by every recent Mac.
- But console gamers may prefer standard gamepads for Mac gaming, particularly given how widely available and popular they are. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to play Mac games with Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controllers. Start with the PS3’s DualShock 3, which uses the same Bluetooth standards embraced by every recent Mac.
First, know that it doesn't matter too much which generation of console controller you want to use, unless we're talking about an original Xbox controller. Those plugged in using a proprietary connector, so you'd need to buy an adapter like this to make the connection. (That adapter doesn't officially support MacOS or Windows 10, either.)
Beyond that, every Xbox controller since the Xbox 360 days relies on a USB connector. So using them with your computer of choice is as simple as plugging into a USB port. If you're using a Mac, know that may need to take the extra step of installing a freely available custom driver. (Try it without the driver first. I unfortunately don't have an older controller to test this with myself.)
That's really it. All you need for wired gaming with an Xbox controller on PC is the USB cord you use to charge your controller. Plug it into a free USB port on your computer and you'll be off to the races. Yes, it's that simple.
Wireless gaming is a little bit trickier. For one, you'll need an Xbox controller that features Bluetooth support. This is a feature that wasn't introduced until 2016, so it's very possible you don't have the right model of controller. Fortunately, it's easy enough to tell the two apart.
Pick up your controller and look at the round Xbox logo-bearing 'Guide' button situated in the center. Is the plastic around that button part of the controller's body, or does it look more like a separate piece that connects to the two shoulder buttons (LB/RB)? The latter is only the case for older controllers, the ones that don't have Bluetooth.
For the newer controllers that offer built-in support for Bluetooth — which includes all Xbox Series X|S controller — all you really need on the computer side is a Bluetooth receiver, whether it's built in or delivered via USB dongle. This goes for both Windows machines as well as MacOS machines.
To pair your Bluetooth controller, simply turn it on and press and hold the pairing button on top for a few seconds. It's situated right next the controller's USB port and you'll know it worked if the Xbox Guide button starts to rapidly flash on and off. (If it's not paired with anything when you first turn it on, the Guide button will still flash but more slowly than when it's in pairing mode.)
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From there, go into your computer's Bluetooth settings menu, which you should be able to locate easily using the Windows Start Menu search or the MacOS Finder. Go through the process of pairing a new device and, regardless of which operating system you're using, you should see 'Xbox Wireless Controller' pop up as one of the available options. Click on that and the flashing Guide button should go from flashing to steadily on; that's how you know it worked.
The older, first generation Xbox One controllers require a bit of extra hardware for wireless play, and it only works with Windows machines. You'll need an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10, which connects via USB. Pairing is simple, though. Once you've got the adapter plugged in, first hit the pairing button on your controller and then hit the sync button located on the adapter. The controller should pair a few seconds later.
Congrats, you're now ready to game.
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.
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.
Mac Gaming Controller Xbox 360 Altex
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. Multitrack audio player software. 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.
![Controller Controller](https://wallpapershome.com/images/pages/pic_v/8461.jpg)
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.
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.
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.