Games

How to use an Xbox One controller on a Mac

View 7 Images
The Xbox One controller
The 360Controller preferences
The Xbox One controller
The pair button on an Xbox One S controller
Microsoft
View gallery - 7 images

Your Mac might not have the massive library of games available to Windows gamers, but you can still play them in style by connecting an Xbox One controller – and you don't need any extra hardware to do it.

Xbox One S controller

If you've got a newer Xbox One S controller with Bluetooth, you can use the controller with your Mac without any additional hardware or software:

1. Hold down the pair button on the top of the controller:

The pair button on an Xbox One S controller
Microsoft

2. Go to the Apple menu and click System Preferences, then click Bluetooth:

3. Click "Pair" on the list item labelled Wireless Controller:

You're done.

If the game doesn't allow you to remap controls, you're going to have to plug your controller in with a micro USB cable and follow the instructions below.

Xbox 360 & Xbox One controllers

If you've got an older Xbox One controller, an Xbox Elite controller, or a wired Xbox 360 controller, you can use a piece of software called 360Controller to get up and running – though you'll need to be running OS X 10.9 or later, and have the controller plugged in via USB.

1. Download the latest 360Controller release from GitHub

2. Open the disk image, launch Install360Controller.pkg, and follow the prompts

3. After your computer has rebooted, open System Preferences from the Apple menu, and you should now see "Xbox 360 Controllers"

The 360Controller preferences

From here, you can test that the controller is working, remap the controls, and invert the X/Y axis on either stick should any of your games require it.

View gallery - 7 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
3 comments
raffaele10
Hello, just found this page, and I used so far a Xbox 360 controller, wired, so I already knew the driver from GitHub. If I may ask your help, I bought a new Xbox One S controller after I've read this, and I've connected it via BT. I noticed the control are not mapped the right way with "The Elder Scrolls Online". I've tried to insert a micro-usb cable and I only get a "rumble" on it. Doesn't appear in the system preference panes. I've tried many times, but there is nothing to do. I'm on Sierra/High-Sierra either. I'd like to play wireless with the right controls. Any ideas? Maybe the type of cable (I don't have Android phones)? Thanks!
raffaele10
Hello! I followed your instructions after I bought on purpose this wireless controller for my Mac. The buttons aren't mapped correctly, so I connected with cable. Makes any sense? Playing wired with a wireless controller? There's no way to use it wireless with the correct buttons mapping?
Jim
Please see https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251392459?login=true

The implementation under macOS is not "perfect" yet, although does sometimes work.

There are no issues under Windows / Android / Linux.