Whether you’re trying to no-scope that enemy on COD or score a last-minute slam-dunk on NBA, the touchpad just doesn’t do it.

So, we thought we’d share the best tips on how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your Mac, to make them tense gaming moments a little easier.

If you take one look at the current dispute between Epic Games and Apple, you’ll see why Microsoft wasn’t able to launch an app on the App Store. However, we’ve seen other cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce Now and Google Stadia provide access in other ways. OneCast is an app available for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV (also with versions for Android and macOS) that streams your Xbox One games to any supported device, in high definition video with near-zero lag. A paired Xbox One controller can be used to play any game that supports controllers on the Mac, whether that’s popular titles like Fortnite, or Apple Arcade games, or many others. The Microsoft Xbox One S and Xbox One X controllers are great controllers to play with and very popular with gamers in general, and now it’s easier than ever to.

Before you do: Clean up your Mac

How to download and install the drivers; How to connect your Xbox controller; How to download and install the drivers. We're assuming that you already own a wired Xbox controller, but if you're needing to buy, a standard controller is about $50. You'll need to connect it to your Mac using a microUSB cable which, sadly, isn't included. Cronus Zen supports almost any controller on any console, including Xbox One, PS4 & Nintendo Switch. Download thousands of free mods for the latest games!

The Xbox Wireless Controller features sleek design, a textured grip, and Bluetooth for playing favorite games on your iPhone or iPad. MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020). 4 Answers (is Xbox one controler model 1697 compitable with iPad 2019) Is this the same as the ones that come with the xbox one x. Asked by Gavin M from San. An Xbox Wireless Controller purchased in or after June 2015 can take updates wirelessly without connecting with a USB cable. This controller has a small, circular 3.5-mm port on the bottom of the controller (controllers without this port must update via USB cable).

BUT, before we get into all the juicy techy stuff, let’s remind you of how beneficial cleaning up your Mac can be.

Before installing any new hardware, it’s important to have an un-cluttered file space so the new software can run efficiently, and you can keep an eye on what’s where.

With CleanMyMac X, it’s easy. It’s one-click cleaning approach and powerful scanning means you can swiftly dispose of useless documents and apps which may be slowing your Mac down.

So, to get optimal controller connectivity, you should download CleanMyMac and tidy up your digital space – prior to any installations. Now, onto how to use an Xbox 360 controller on a Mac.

How to use the Xbox 360 controller on Mac

Not many of us know it, but there could be a handy use for all those old Xbox 360 or Xbox One controllers lying around. But, before you get set up, you need to have the correct hardware installed on your Mac to enable connectivity.

Here’s how.

First of all, you will need either a wired or wireless Xbox controller. Both work fine, but for all those passionate gamers with a tendency to erupt, a wireless device would be best to save any damages to wires (or opponents). These wireless receivers can be bought for around $20 on Amazon, and can handle up to 4 Xbox 360 controllers.

Free Drivers

Obviously, Macs don’t have an in-built driver for Xbox controllers as Apple are in no way affiliated with Microsoft. Similarly, Microsoft doesn’t supply drivers for Mac users for their hardware, which leaves us wanting users having to find our own way.

So back in 2006, it was music to gamer’s ears to hear that Tattie Bogle had developed their own driver free of charge to users across the gaming globe. However, this driver hasn’t been updated since 2012, and is therefore sticky when it comes to compatibility with MacOS X.

For a more streamlined approach to this conundrum, download GitHub’s free driver – it’s maintained and updated frequently and is free to all Mac users.

1. Install the driver

After opening the GitHub link, double click on the DMG file visible under ‘Assets’. This will start the installing process, where you will have to follow the appropriate instructions.

Remember though, as with any new program installation, it will reboot your Mac, so don’t panic. After the restart, you should be able to find ‘Xbox 360 Controllers’ in the system preferences.

2. Connect the Xbox 360 Controller to your Mac

Now you’ve installed the driver, the next step is to connect the controller, which is simple and only needs to be done once.

• Firstly, you need to plug the USB receiver into a free USB port on your Mac. Once plugged in, the USB receiver’s light should start blinking

• Press the big Xbox logo button on the controller so it lights up green

• Press the button on the USB receiver

• Press the connect button on the controller, which can be found at the top - in-between the left and right toggles

• The top left quarter of the circle around the Xbox button should now light up, indicating you are the first controller connected

Now the controller and Mac are linked - so in the future if you want to connect again, all you need do is press the big Xbox logo button to get going. Told you it was simple!

3. Test the Controller

As with all things techy, there’s always loopholes. So, it’s important to test the connections to ensure the controller works before we embark upon a mobile-gaming-gallivant.

Go to ‘System Preferences’, ‘Xbox 360 Controllers’ and you’ll see a screen like below.

This is a control pad, which indicates whether all the buttons on the controller are working properly. That’s about all you can do on this, as well as shutting the controller down by clicking ‘power off’.
Download voice memo for mac.

4. Configuring for multiple games on your Mac

We all have different tastes in games - some of us like sports and some of us like military, there’s no right or wrong (asides from Half-Life, that’s just awesome and it’s not up for debate).

With these different games come different control configurations, which can get tedious when you only have one type of controller.

For full flexibility of use, there are many tools and apps available which allow you to play any game with any Mac compatible joystick or controller – even the ones that are not compatible with joysticks.

5. Use Joystick Mapper

Out of the many apps to choose from, Joystick Mapper is our pick. And at only $4.99 from the App Store, it’s real value for money – especially when considering the amount of effort it takes to develop such a complex tool.

Here’s how it works –

Once you download the Joystick Mapper app, you need to create a pre-set for your game preferences. To do this, open the app and click ‘Add new pre-set’.

Enter a name for future reference such as ‘My Game’, and for each joystick, click ‘Add a new joystick’.

Now that you’ve identified the joystick, you need to ‘bind’ joystick inputs to keyboard or mouse movements - which is easier than it sounds.

Click on ‘Add new bind’, and then ‘Scan’, and press the button of your game controller that you’d like to use. Next select a mouse or keyboard action, and that will ‘bind’ the chosen inputs.

Xbox One App For Mac

Simply repeat this process until you’ve bound all the buttons you’d like to use.

If by chance you’re using a controller other than an Xbox 360 or Xbox One, you can replicate these actions and apply them to different controllers. To do this, simply click the ‘Clone’ icon in the top right corner. To put the pre-set into action, set a checkmark before the preferred pre-set/profile you’ve created for the game you’re about to play. Now, you’re good to go!

BUT – don’t close the Joystick Mapper app before starting the game, it needs to keep running to work. Simply select ‘cmd + H’ to hide the window.

Declutter your Mac to make more room for games

Remember, all of these processes won’t work as effectively if you have a messy Mac.

Xbox One Controller Mac Bluetooth

On average, there is a whopping 62GB of junk found on Macs, with jam-packed caches and folders full of useless documents cluttering the hard drive.

This considerably slows down the performance of your Mac, preventing quick and easy installations, and can even hinder the controller connectivity.

CleanMyMac X is an app dedicated to cleaning your Mac head-to-toe. It scans everything on the computer - even old folders that have been evading your wrath for years - identifying what needs to be removed.

The Mac is inspected rigorously, and with its smart one-click clean-up, CleanMyMac sweeps away the unwanted rubbish to organize folders and speed up performance.

Furthermore, CleanMyMac X is free to download. So, what are you waiting for? Download it for free here.

Xbox One Controller Download Mac Iso

Xbox App Download Windows 7

These might also interest you:

Apple Original shows and movies from Apple TV+. The premium channels you want. Thousands of movies to buy or rent. Popular streaming services and cable TV providers.¹ It’s all on the expertly curated Apple TV app, and it’s everywhere — on your favorite Apple devices, streaming platforms, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and more. It’s the ultimate way to watch TV.

Xbox One Companion App Mac

Apple TV+ streams critically acclaimed Apple Original shows and movies, only on the Apple TV app.

Take control of your channels. Now you can quickly and easily subscribe to just the channels you watch — like Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, and AMC+. There are no new apps, accounts, or passwords needed for up to six family members, and you can even watch offline.

Buy. Rent. Watch. All inside the app. Welcome to the new home of thousands of movies, including all the latest blockbusters. Now you can buy, rent, and watch right inside the app — as well as watch everything you’ve previously purchased from iTunes.

Streaming services, streamlined. Easily discover all your favorite shows from streaming services including Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more — all inside the app.

Watch cable TV outside
the box. Enjoy all the top-rated prime-time TV shows, live sports, and news — from leading cable providers — on demand right in the Apple TV app.

Apple TV+ streams critically acclaimed Apple Original shows and movies, only on the Apple TV app.

Take control of your channels. Now you can quickly and easily subscribe to just the channels you watch — like Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, and AMC+. There are no new apps, accounts, or passwords needed for up to six family members, and you can even watch offline.

Buy. Rent. Watch. All inside the app. Welcome to the new home of thousands of movies, including all the latest blockbusters. Now you can buy, rent, and watch right inside the app — as well as watch everything you’ve previously purchased from iTunes.

Streaming services, streamlined. Easily discover all your favorite shows from streaming services including Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more — all inside the app.

Watch cable TV outside
the box. Enjoy all the top-rated prime-time TV shows, live sports, and news — from leading cable providers — on demand right in the Apple TV app.

Personalization. Like you’ve never seen it. Discover more of what you love — including movie and show suggestions picked just for you, and dedicated selections based on everything you like to watch from all the different apps you use.

What We’re Watching

DRAMA

One Night in Miami

A gorgeously shot, powerfully vital snapshot of four Black icons coming together.

THRILLER

Promising Young Woman

A diabolical, devastating takedown of toxic masculinity that defies genre labels.

REALITY

RuPaul’s Drag Race

The show that transformed drag into an irresistible mainstream sensation.

DRAMA

One Night in Miami

A gorgeously shot, powerfully vital snapshot of four Black icons coming together.

THRILLER

Promising Young Woman

A diabolical, devastating takedown of toxic masculinity that defies genre labels.

Choose from the editors’ choices. Watch Now gives you the freedom to explore curated recommendations, handpicked by our editors, that guide you to the best of what’s on — across all your apps.

It’s game on. Being a fan
has never been easier, with wider and more in-depth coverage of your favorite teams. Browse by sport or league, and get live scores and notifications for close games.

A dedicated Kids section. For kids of all ages. You can easily find great shows selected just for children — categorized by character, topic, and even age — unless your kids find them first.

The Apple TV app
is everywhere.

The Apple TV app is already on your favorite Apple devices, as well as streaming platforms, popular smart TVs, gaming consoles, and AirPlay‑enabled devices. Just open the app to start watching.

See it on your big screen.

Roku

Xbox One App Mac

Amazon Fire TV

Google TV

Samsung

LG

VIZIO

Sony

Xbox One App On Mac

PlayStation

Xbox

Update to the latest version of iOS to discover the new Apple TV app.

Apple TV Plus

Get 3 months of
Apple TV+ free when
you buy an Apple TV 4K.³

Apple TV 4k

A higher
definition of TV.