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I connected a Sony DualShock 4 wireless controller and the controller that came with the Xbox One S and Xbox One X to a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini and iMac. In the video I walk you through the pairing process as well share tips for troubleshooting when you can’t connect. With any OS X version, getting the Xbox One controller to work on the Mac is slightly more complex than using a Playstation 3 controller, and as the support is unofficial, there may be a few quirks encountered along the way. Nonetheless, it’s certainly worth a try if you have an Xbox One and a Mac and you’d like to use the controller with. Microsoft’s Xbox One controller isn’t just designed to work for Xbox One. If you have a Mac, it can also be connected via USB as a proper game controller for most of the steam games. Here are two ways to help you get it setup and enable Xbox One controller on your Mac.

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Making the jump from console gaming to playing on a Mac can be a difficult transition, especially if you buy into the idea that the average Mac gamer is more skilled than their console equivalent.

Besides, you’ll also need to consider the fact that by moving to Mac you’ll no longer be able to use your library of console games, or play with friends you’ve made on there. Plus, you’ll have to learn to use a mouse and keyboard. Or will you?

If you’re wondering how to use Xbox One controller on Mac, or the one from PS4, you’re in the right place. This article is about using Xbox One controller on Mac, as well as PS4, to play games like Overwatch, Minecraft, Eve: Valkyrie, House of the Dying Sun, Thumper, Elite Dangerous, and Star Trek: Bridge Crew (be warned: you might need virtual PC software for some of these titles).

The great thing about having a choice in which controller to use is that, even though both of them are around the same price point, they have a few distinct differences, meaning every Mac user can pick the one more suitable for them. An Xbox One controller is, for example, a little heavier and boasts haptic feedback triggers, whereas the lighter Sony DualShock 4 has an additional (touchpad) button, integrated lithium ion battery, and motion sensitivity.

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How To Connect PS4 Controller To Mac

In addition to the advantages mentioned above, many Mac gamers prefer the DualShock 4 to an Xbox One controller because there are a few different ways of connecting PS4 controller to Mac. The first, and perhaps most obvious, is to use an official wireless adapter.

Connecting PS4 controller to Mac wirelessly

It’s likely that many of you reading this, namely those who have struggled with unofficial products and sketchy workarounds in the past, will be breathing a sigh of relief to learn that an official DualShock USB Wireless Adaptor exists.

The official wireless connector is a decent solution for Remote Play or playing Mac games that support the use of external controllers. But the critics may be sceptical about the high price of the accessory — the top video on YouTube that mentions this product is titled “WHY DID THEY MAKE THIS???” — as much cheaper options are readily available: such as micro USB and Bluetooth.

How to use PS4 controller on Mac with micro USB

If you’re not, for whatever reason, picky about whether you play wirelessly or not, then you can just connect PS4 controller to Mac using the micro USB cable that you’d usually use to plug it into your PlayStation.

The extra benefit of using micro USB is that the cable also charges your controller while you play. When you plug it in, you’ll see an orange light appear on the touchpad indicating that it’s charging.

Pair PS4 controller with Mac via Bluetooth

The easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to start playing is to connect PS4 controller to Mac with Bluetooth via PS4 Bluetooth pairing. To do that:

  1. Open System Preferences > Bluetooth
  2. Press the PS and Share buttons simultaneously on your controller until you see a light on your DualShock 4 start blinking to indicate that it’s ready to pair
  3. Look for the wireless controller in the list of Bluetooth devices on your Mac
  4. Click Pair, and the light on your controller will go from blinking to lit

An even quicker and easier PS4 Bluetooth pairing option is to use ToothFairy, a utility that lets you add and manage all your Bluetooth devices:

  1. Simply launch ToothFairy
  2. Highlight the controller from the list of devices
  3. Click Select

In Settings, you can also choose to add an icon to your menu bar that will connect to your chosen device (in this case, your PS4 Bluetooth controller) with a single click. At this time, there’s no controller icon, but you could use something like a keyboard symbol or the magic wand in its place.

Get ToothFairy for quick connection

Install ToothFairy for free and forget about any Bluetooth trouble. Any device will be paired with your Mac in a click.

If you love shortcuts, ToothFairy gives you an option to record a hotkey to connect or disconnect your controller, and show how much battery life your DualShock 4 has left next to its icon. As long as your controller is awake, ToothFairy is really handy for connecting it to your Mac with a single click!

Best of all, ToothFairy is available for free during your trial with Setapp, along with more than 150 top Mac utilities and apps. Try it out for seamless PS4 Bluetooth experience.

How to connect Xbox One controller to Mac

Since it’s so easy to connect a PS4 controller to a Mac, and since Xbox One controllers have built-in support for connecting to Windows, you could be forgiven for thinking that connecting Xbox One controller to Mac would be simple. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong — consider it a casualty of the ongoing Windows vs. Mac war!

It’s possible to connect Xbox One controller to Mac, but doing so requires a little bit of extra work. For a start, you can’t use Bluetooth to connect, so that’s the wireless route blocked right off the bat. You’ll also need to purchase a micro USB cable, since one isn’t included with Xbox One controllers like it is with a PS4 handset.

Once you’ve got your controller and cable in hand, you’ll need to download an Xbox One controller driver for Mac before you can plug anything in:

  1. Head to GitHub (yes, it’s shocking that mapping an Xbox One controller requires unofficial drivers downloaded from GitHub)

  2. Download the latest release

  3. Double click the .dmg file that appears in your Downloads folder

  4. Run the .pkg file

  5. Follow all of the instructions, check out the Read Me file, and then click Install to progress to the next step

  6. Restart your computer and you’ll find an Xbox controller icon in your System Preferences menu

Using Xbox One Controller For Diablo Macbook

Now it’s time to (finally) plug your controller in, using a USB-C to USB-A adapter if necessary, and head to Security & Privacy to bypass the popup that’ll appear when you plug the controller in.

Once all that’s done, you should be connected!

Which controller should you choose?

Just a quick glance at the instructions above shows that listing how to connect Xbox One controller to Mac takes up almost as much space as three different ways of explaining how to pair PS4 controller with Mac. So for some readers, that will make the decision of which controller to use a no-brainer.

If you already own an Xbox controller, it’s worth remembering that, while the above may look like a bit of a headache, the process is something that you only need to go through once.

Console and Mac gaming often tend to be treated as polar opposites, as if they are on different ends of the spectrum, and never the twain shall meet. But in reality, there’s a huge grey area in the middle that offers up a lot of fun.

Using a controller can, for example, be a really compelling way to enjoy VR titles that aren’t “on rails.” In fact, until someone starts mass producing those omnidirectional treadmills from Ready Player One, they are the best way to do so.

Whichever option you choose, using a controller offers an intuitive and familiar experience that’s backed up by all of the processing power a high-end Mac can offer. And don’t forget to make sure your Mac is properly optimized for games.

Xbox

There are certain viewpoints that are widely held by gamers — those who play mobile games aren’t for “real” gamers, a Mac doesn’t make for an effective gaming laptop or desktop, and that “controllers are for consoles, mice and keyboards are for computers.”

Don’t buy any of that for a second! Gaming should be something that brings you joy and, whether that means crushing candy all the livelong day or using a controller with your Mac, more power to you.

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When it comes to controllers, the Xbox One controller is regarded as one of the best ones out there. With the textured grip that has curves that slip into your palms comfortably, clicky durable buttons, and a sophisticated vibration system, who doesn’t want to enhance their gaming experience with the Xbox One controller? After all, sometimes you tend to prefer a nice controller for gaming rather than the traditional keyboard and mouse. The Xbox One is tempting too, with its sleek, streamlined design, custom button mapping and up to twice the wireless range. But what if you want to use the Xbox One controller for gaming on a Mac, and do not know how to connect it to your Mac?

For a Mac gamer who wants to use a controller as good as the Xbox One Controller to play games, it can be quite confusing as to how would one connect the controller to their Mac. But don’t worry! Outlined below is an easy explanation to use your Xbox One Controller on a Mac Computer. Start reading!

Contents

  • 1 Steps to Connect your Xbox One Controller to Mac

Using Xbox One Controller For Diablo Machines

Steps to Connect your Xbox One Controller to Mac

Xbox One is a wireless controller, true, but instead of Bluetooth, it implements Microsoft’s own proprietary wireless connectivity system. Because of this, it is not possible to use your Xbox One controller on the Mac wirelessly, by Bluetooth or the wireless adapter (MacOS does not support functionality for it yet).

However, you can use Xbox controller on Mac OS with the help of a micro-USB cable. Along with that, you will also require third-party drivers and configuration. The steps are easy, so follow them and let’s get started!

1. Installing the Third-Party Drivers

  • Open your Web Browser
  • Follow the link given below for the 360 Controller Driver:
  • Download the latest release of 360Controller that is available on the GitHub link. As of this article, the latest release is 360 Controller 0.16.10.
  • Before you begin the installation, save your files or other ongoing tasks or work as your Mac Computer will be restarted as part of the installation process of Xbox 360 Controller Driver.
  • The .dmg file 360Controllerinstall_*.dmg will be present in the downloads folder. Double click to open it, and open the pkg file.
  • Click on continue. Then click continue to Agree to the License Agreement present in front of you (Go through it if you want). Then click install.
  • You will be prompted to restart your Computer to continue installing the software, as mentioned before. Click on Continue Installation.
  • Click on Restart. Your Mac will be restarted.
  • After restarting, open System Preferences. You will now find Xbox 360 Controllers among the icons at the bottom. Click to open it.
  • It will display ‘No devices Found’ if your controller is not connected.
  • The next step will be connecting your controller.

2. Connecting the Controller

  • Plug in the Xbox One controller in the Mac. For the latest MacBook/MacBook Pro, use the USB-C to USB-A
  • A System Extension Blocked warning might pop up. Click OK.
  • In System Preferences, go to Security and Privacy. Open the General tab, and click on the lock in the lower left. Enter your password to Unlock.
  • Click Allow.

3. Testing the Connection

  • You can test if your controller is functioning properly with the Mac in the Controllers Test
  • When your controller is connected and you press buttons on it, the image on the controller will respond. Test the buttons and check if they show up on the Preference pane. After checking all the buttons, you can be sure that the Xbox One controller is now functioning properly with your Mac.

4. Time to Put the Controller to Use

Your controller is Connected! Run your favorite Mac Games and start playing with the Xbox One Controller!

Configuring Xbox Controller on your Macbook

After your xbox 360 or xbox one controller has been connected, you can optionally set some changes according to your wish.

  • On the front page, you can invert the X or Y axis of the controller, for both the left and the right stick. For example, in-game, if you press the joystick upwards the camera will move downwards. This is preferable to some Users.
  • In the Binding tab, you can also link each control to a custom or default function, as per your desire. (Warning: this custom button mapping might prove to be buggy in the current version).

Using Xbox One Controller For Diablo Macbook Pro

  • Under the Advanced tab, the controller’s sticks can be calibrated in order to fix the dead zones.
  • If for any reason you wish to uninstall the driver from your Mac, there is an uninstall option present in the Advanced tab.

Final Take!

I hope your Xbox One controller was able to connect to the Mac successfully. If you require added troubleshooting help, you can refer to the ReadMe for 360Controller or visit Tattiebogle, who is the forerunner of the array of Xbox + Mac Drivers that are accessible.

If this is not helpful, or if you face any further problems regarding the connection of the controller, feel free to ask in the comments section below and we shall get back to you as soon as possible.

Using Xbox One Controller For Diablo Machine

I hope this article was beneficial to you! That’s all for today’s article about How to connect your Xbox One Controller to Mac computer.

Keep on reading for more informative articles about topics that might interest you.

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