Turn a game controller into a trackpad and keyboard for macOS
A game controller has two sticks, a dozen buttons and, on a PlayStation pad, a touchpad. That is enough to stand in for a trackpad and most of a keyboard. Ottoman does the translating.
Pointer and scroll on the sticks
The left stick moves the pointer, the right stick scrolls, and Cross clicks. Hold Cross to drag. Hold R2 to slow the pointer for precise aim. The mapper has sliders for mouse speed, scroll speed, precision and deadzone, and an invert scroll switch.
The DualSense touchpad
On a PlayStation controller, slide one finger on the touchpad to move the pointer and two fingers to scroll, as on a laptop. Press the pad to right-click. Xbox and Switch Pro pads have no touchpad, so they use the sticks.
A keyboard when you need one
Hold L2 and press R2 for an on-screen keyboard. It never steals focus from the app you are typing into. Common keys are already on the pad: Square is Return, Circle is Backspace, Create is Escape, and the D-pad sends arrow keys. On the L2 layer you get copy, paste, undo, close tab and new tab.
Dictation instead of typing
Hold Triangle, speak, let go. Ottoman holds down Right Command, the push-to-talk key many dictation apps use. Your dictation app does the listening, so what it can do depends on that app. If you prefer macOS Dictation, the mapper can start it from any button.
Make it yours
Click a button on the picture of your controller and choose what it does. Start from a preset, change what you like, and your map is live at once. You can export it to a file and import it on another Mac.
Try it on your own Mac
No terminal, no JSON, nothing to build. Download, press a button, done.
14-day free trial, no account. $29 one time. Refund within 14 days, see the terms.
Questions
Is it as good as a real trackpad?
No, and it does not try to be. It is for the couch, the TV and tired hands, where a stick beats reaching for a trackpad. For fine work at a desk, a trackpad wins.
Can I use the touchpad on an Xbox controller?
Xbox controllers have no touchpad. Only PlayStation controllers have one, and only they get the trackpad feel.
Does the on-screen keyboard work in every app?
It types into whichever app is in front, without taking focus from it. Test it with your own apps during the free trial.
Which dictation apps work?
Any that let you set a push-to-talk key and offer Right Command. Ottoman only presses the key.
Related: PS5 controller as a Mac mouse, game controller accessibility, code from the couch.