How to use a PS4 or Xbox One controller on your Mac?

Summary

• > Connect a PS4 controller to a Mac
• > Connect an Xbox One controller to a Mac

To improve your gaming experience on MacOS, we suggest connecting either the DualShock 4 or Xbox One controller to your Mac.

Although they are not designed for use on an Apple environment, it is easy to use them from any Mac thanks to Bluetooth or a USB cable.

Whichever controller you choose, we show you below the different techniques for playing with a PS4 or Xbox One controller on your Mac.

Connect a PS4 controller to a Mac

To play your favorite MacOS games from your Mac using a PS4 DualShock 4 controller follow these 3 techniques.

The official wireless adapter

Although there is no plug and play for the DualShock 4 on Mac, Sony has launched a wireless USB adapter that allows cable-free connectivity with PCs and Macs. It is sold on Micromania.

If you don't want to pay for this official accessory, then try our other 2 options below.

Micro-USB cable

The easiest way to connect a PS4 controller to a Mac is to use a Micro USB cable. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Connect your PS4 controller to your Mac using a Micro-USB cable.
   
   
2. Turn on your controller.
   
   
3. Then, on your Mac, click theapple icon, And then About this Mac.
   
   
4. Click the option System report.
   
   
5. Sous Home, select USB.
   
   
6. Finally, click on your wireless controller.
   
   

Note that macOS games on Steam are compatible with the DualShock 4 controller, so you won't need to change any other settings.

Bluetooth

Our third technique is to go through the Bluetooth connection. So you can play remotely on your Mac as you would with a console.

Here are the 4 steps to connect a PS4 controller via Bluetooth:

1. Open System Preferences (icon Apple → System Preferences).
   
   
2. Click onBluetooth.
   
   
3. Hold down the buttons PlayStation et Share (to share).
   The light on the front of the controller is flashing, and on your Mac, in the window Bluetooth, the controller appears.
   
   
4. Click on Pair in front of the option Wireless controller.

You can now play on your Mac with the PlayStation controller.

Connect an Xbox One controller to a Mac

Want to play with an Xbox One controller on your Mac? To do this, you must install the 360Controller driver and use a micro-USB cable.

1. Go to GitHub and download the most recent version of 360Controller, it supports Xbox One and Xbox 360 controllers.
   
   
2. Open the file .dmg downloaded and launch the installation of the 360Controller.
   
   
3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen. Note that installation requires a restart of your Mac, so make sure all your files are backed up.
   
   
4. Once your Mac restarts, go to System Preferences (icon Apple → System Preferences) and select Xbox 360 controller, at the bottom of the window.
   
   
5. Plug your Xbox One controller into your Mac and change the key layout as desired.

Once you have changed the settings, save them and close the window System Preferences.