MAC GUIDE / CONTROLLERS
Connect and set up a game controller on Mac
Check that macOS sees the controller before changing a game’s layout. Connection, recognition and button mapping are separate steps.
Pair in Bluetooth, confirm the controller in System Settings, then open the game. If the Mac sees it but only one game fails, continue with that game’s input instructions.
Follow the input from controller to game
- 01PairThe controller becomes discoverable
- 02ConnectmacOS lists it as connected
- 03Open the gameThe game accepts its input
- 04MapChoose the actions you want
Put your controller in pairing mode
| Controller | Hold these buttons | Ready when |
|---|---|---|
| DualSense / DualSense Edge | PS + Create | The light bar flashes. |
| DualShock 4 | PS + Share | The light bar flashes. |
| Supported Xbox wireless controller | Turn on with Xbox, then hold Connect for a few seconds. | The controller becomes discoverable. |
Disconnect a PlayStation USB cable before Bluetooth pairing. For another model, use its manufacturer’s computer-pairing instructions; the button combination and mode can differ.
Confirm the Mac connection
Choose the controller in Bluetooth
Open System Settings → Bluetooth and select the controller while it is discoverable.
The controller is listed as connected rather than only discoverable.
Check Game Controllers
On macOS Ventura 13 or later, System Settings → Game Controllers contains customization options for supported devices. Select the connected controller when it appears.
You can identify the connected controller before changing game settings.
Open the game with it connected
Start the game, then try a menu direction and Confirm. If the game has its own input selection, choose the controller there.
The game responds to input; remaining button-position issues can be mapped separately.
Try a data-capable USB connection
A cable that only charges cannot establish a data connection. Apple lists automatic USB pairing for supported DualShock 4, DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers when a cable carries data and charging.
Compare cable and Bluetooth starts without changing the game’s layout at the same time. That isolates the connection from the mapping.
Which layer is failing?
| What you see | Next check |
|---|---|
| Not listed by macOS | Charge the controller, enter pairing mode, and confirm the model supports the chosen connection. |
| Previously paired but will not reconnect | In Bluetooth, forget that device and pair it again; check whether it is connected to another host. |
| Connected, but one game ignores it | Open that game’s input settings; compare a fresh start with the controller already connected. |
| The wrong action happens | Check macOS custom profiles and the game’s mapping; avoid changing both layers together. |
| Intermittent disconnects | Check firmware/system updates and reduce nearby Bluetooth connections during the comparison. |
Continue in the game you are playing
- TOTK: create controls.txt →Change physical button positions and press behavior.
- D2R: project controls →Review keyboard/controller prompts and the Mac adaptation.
- Ship of Harkinian: connection crash →A versioned Mac hot-plug report and isolation steps.
To undo a mapping experiment, restore the profile or game configuration you changed first. Disconnecting and reconnecting hardware does not remove a custom mapping file.