To use any of these controllers with your system, you will first need to connect it to your system physically, and then install a driver package to make use of the controller's inputs.
While the Mac platform has not been noted for catering to hard-core gamers, there are still many popular gaming titles and gaming accessories available for the Mac OS. If you own a Mac and have a few games you would like to try, then you might also be interested in getting a gaming controller or two up and running with your system. While the Mac's keyboard and mouse ought to be enough for most purposes, having a dedicated gaming controller can give you the feel of playing with a gaming console. Of the game controllers available for home computers, only a few are officially supported on the Mac, but you can often get others, like those for the PS3, Wii, or Xbox, working just fine. To use any of these controllers with your system, you will first need to connect it to your system physically, and then install a driver package to make use of the controller's inputs.
For factory-supported devices like the and the, drivers are available from their manufacturers; however, for unsupported devices like Wii Remote, PS3, and Xbox controllers, you will have to use a third-party driver package. The easiest of these unsupported remotes to configure is likely the Xbox controller, which can be (physically) connected directly via USB or with a for wireless Xbox controllers. If you have a PS3 controller, you'll need to follow a quick procedure to establish a connection to your Mac.
First, connect the controller to your Mac, and then open the Bluetooth system preferences and make sure Bluetooth is both on and discoverable. Next, hold the PS button on the controller for a few seconds, then unplug the USB cable, and the controller should appear in the Bluetooth system preferences and be available for use in a number of games and programs. A Wii Remote can also be connected via Bluetooth.
Once the gaming controller is connected, you can use one of several software driver packages to configure its inputs. The first is, with which you should be able to configure most gaming controllers. The second is the for Xbox controllers, which should work for both wired and wireless (using the receiver noted above) controllers. For Wii users, the program and the should allow you to crudely connect and configure the motion-sensitive Wii Remote, but if you have trouble establishing a connection using these drivers in OS X 10.8, then you can try a that should work in the latest version of OS X. A final couple of driver options for these controllers are, which is available in the Apple App Store, and, which has been a long-standing option for configuring USB input devices on the Mac platform. These last tools are useful especially if you have a controller that only has driver support for Windows. When connected to the Mac, the button inputs will be registered, and universal drivers like USB Overdrive should be able to recognize them and allow you to assign global or application-specific settings to them.
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There are several unofficial projects that aim to provide Xbox One controller support for the Mac, but the one we recommend is the project by (a.k.a. To use it, first disconnect your Xbox One controller from your Mac if necessary (if you had tried to just plug it in without any drivers, you’d notice that it doesn’t do anything, even though the controller is recognized in System Profiler). Next, head over to the at GitHub. If you’d like to check out the source code and compile the installer yourself, you’ll find all you need at the project’s main page.
![Controller Controller](http://tattiebogle.net/images/360/Pref360Control2.png)
For users who would rather not bother with source code, you can find a pre-compiled version ready to go at the. Download and run the installer package and follow the on-screen prompts. You’ll need to reboot your Mac after the installation is complete, so make sure to save your work and close any open apps. Once your Mac reboots, connect your Xbox One controller using a cable and you’ll see the controller’s Xbox light turn on if the driver installation was successful. To configure your Xbox One controller for use with your Mac, head to System Preferences, where you’ll find a new “Xone Controller” preference pane. With your Xbox One controller plugged in, you’ll be able to test buttons and inputs, adjust deadzones for calibration, and optionally invert the control scheme for the left or right analog sticks. Unfortunately, you can’t use the Xbox One controller wirelessly, as Microsoft uses a proprietary wireless technology for the Xbox One, compared to Sony, which uses standard.
We’ve been testing the Xone-OSX driver for a few days and are happy to report that everything works great in apps like and modern. Controller support isn’t as broad in OS X as it is in Windows, but Xone-OSX makes the the Xbox One controller look like an Xbox 360 controller to most applications, ensuring maximum compatibility for the relatively limited number of games that support third party controllers.
As with the PS4 controller, just make sure you go into each app’s settings or preferences and select the Xbox One controller prior to starting the game (it appears as “Microsoft Official Wired” in OpenEmu, for example). If you have trouble with Xone-OSX, another Xbox One controller for Mac project is, also hosted at GitHub. This project doesn’t offer the same graphical System Preferences interface, and it isn’t updated as frequently as Xone-OSX, but some users report success with this project in games that Xone-OSX missed in the past. A final note: those who want to enjoy marathon gaming sessions with their Xbox One controller and their Mac should plan to keep a few extra AA batteries on hand.
Even though the controller plugs into the Mac via USB, that connection is only for data. The controller is still powered by batteries, and won’t charge via the standard USB cable unless you also pick up the accessory. Want news and tips from TekRevue delivered directly to your inbox? Sign up for the TekRevue Weekly Digest using the box below. Get tips, reviews, news, and giveaways reserved exclusively for subscribers.