Ottoman

Use an Xbox controller to control your Mac

An Xbox wireless controller pairs with a Mac in a minute. Out of the box it mostly works in games. Ottoman makes it move the pointer, click, scroll and type.

One honest note first: we build and test on a PlayStation DualSense. Xbox pads use the same macOS controller support, so they should work, but we have not yet tested one on hardware. If something is off, email us and we will fix it.

Pair it over Bluetooth

  1. Turn the controller on, then hold the small pairing button on the top edge until the Xbox button blinks fast.

  2. On the Mac, open System Settings > Bluetooth and click the controller.

  3. Open Ottoman and allow Accessibility when macOS asks.

Which models have Bluetooth? Controllers made for the Xbox One S (2016) and later, including Series X and S, do. The very first Xbox One controllers do not, so they will not pair this way.

The defaults on an Xbox pad

The cheat sheet and mapper label buttons by PlayStation names. Match them by position:

  • A clicks, and holding it drags. B is Backspace. X is Return. Y is push-to-talk.
  • The left stick moves the pointer, and the right stick scrolls. Hold the right trigger to slow the pointer down.
  • LB and RB go to the previous and next tab. The D-pad sends arrow keys.
  • View is Escape. Menu shows the cheat sheet. The Xbox button pauses the controller.
  • Hold the left trigger for a second layer: copy, paste, undo, window snapping, and an on-screen keyboard on the right trigger.

There is no touchpad, so right-click is not on a default button. Give it any button you like in the mapper, in a few clicks.

Try it on your own Mac

No terminal, no JSON, nothing to build. Download, press a button, done.

Download the free trial

14-day free trial, no account. $29 one time. Refund within 14 days, see the terms.

Questions

Does an Xbox controller really work?

It should, and the free trial lets you check on your own pad. We have not yet tested Xbox hardware, so tell us what you find.

Can I use it with a USB cable?

We describe Xbox pads over Bluetooth only, so pair it as above. We have not tested a cable.

The pad is connected but nothing moves.

Close Steam, because Steam Input can grab the pad. Then check that Ottoman is switched on in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.

Can I swap the buttons around?

Yes. Open the mapper, click a button on the picture and pick what it does. Changes apply right away.

Related: PS5 controller as a Mac mouse, Mac mini on a TV, controller apps compared.