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.
- Mac Compatible Xbox 360 Controller For Pc
- Mac Compatible Xbox 360 Controller 360
- Xbox 360 Controller Software
- Microsoft and Apple are working together to bring compatibility for the Xbox Series X controller to customers in a future update. Pair a controller with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV or Mac Use the instructions that came with your wireless controller to put it into pairing mode.
- I tried using both of these Xbox 360 controllers to try and connect to the Xbox One X using the sync feature but none of them connected. The lights on the Xbox 360 controllers just flash infinitely. I did hear that Xbox 360 controllers are not compatible with Xbox One’s but does this apply to the Xbox One X as well?
- The Xbox 360 wireless controller is about as standard as it comes. What makes it an incredible buy, however, is the packed in charge kit. While most wireless controllers require the use of lots of.
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.
Before you do: Clean up your Mac
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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Summary :
How to connect Xbox 360 controller to PC? This article from MiniTool will show you how to connect a wired or wireless Xbox 360 controller to a Windows PC especially for Windows 10 users. If you want to use your Xbox 360 controller on a Windows PC, check out this post now.
Quick Navigation :
The first part will show you how to connect an Xbox 360 wired controller to a Windows PC with detailed steps. If you use a wireless Xbox 360 controller, you can skip straight to the second part to connect the Xbox 360 controller to a Windows PC wirelessly.
Connect a Wired Xbox 360 Controller to a Windows PC
If you are using a Xbox 360 wired controller, you can follow these steps to install your Xbox 360 wired controller on Windows 10.
Step 1. Plug the USB connector of your Xbox 360 controller into any USB 2.0 or 3.0 port on your Windows PC.
Step 2. Then Windows 10 will automatically install drivers for the Xbox 360 controller. Just wait patiently and Windows will download or install the related driver software very quickly.
Step 3. When you see the pop-up notification that shows the drivers have been installed, you can use your controller immediately.
Step 4. Open a game that support your controller and then press a button, pull a trigger, or move a stick on the controller to test if your controller works properly.
Tip:- If the Xbox 360 wired controller is not detected by your Windows PC, try re-plugging it into a different USB port, and then try again.
- If your controller still does not work, try installing latest Windows updates and then try again.
Mac Compatible Xbox 360 Controller For Pc
Connect a Wireless Xbox 360 Controller to a Windows PC
If you own a wireless Xbox 360 controller, you can connect the Xbox 360 wireless controller to a Windows PC with an Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver. Then you can follow the steps below to setup a wireless Xbox 360 controller on a Windows PC and to play games with it.
Step 1. Prepare an Xbox 360 wireless gaming receiver. If you don't have one, you can purchase a wireless receiver on Amazon, which may cost you about $10 to $20.
Step 2. Insert the gaming receiver’s USB connector into an USB 2.0 port on your Windows computer.
Step 3. Once it is plugged in, you will see a green light appeared on the receiver, which indicates that the unit is working properly.
Step 4. Install software to make sure the gaming receiver and the wireless Xbox 360 controller to properly sync with one another.
- If the Add New Hardware Wizard automatically appears on your PC, select Install the software automatically (Recommended), and then select Next. Then follow the prompts to install the software driver.
- If the wizard fails to install the software, use the installation disc that came with your Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver to install the software from the disc. Insert it into your Windows PC’s main optical drive and follow the on-screen instruction to finish the installation.
- If you don’t have the disc, you can install the software by downloading it from the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows link. The Windows 7 drivers will also work for Windows 8 and Windows 10. Just select the proper operating system and language, and click the Download button.
Step 5. Then you need to turn on the Xbox 360 wireless controller. Press and hold the Xbox Guide button to turn on it.
Step 6. On the gaming receiver, press the Connect button. It is a small circular button located near the middle of the receiver.
Step 7. The lights on the controller and on the receiver will flash green, which indicate that the device is trying to establish a connection. When the lights stop flashing and one of the lights around the Guide button remains lit, this means that the controller is connected.
You can press the controller’s buttons, pull the triggers and move the stick to ensure the controller is functioning properly. After that, you can enjoy the games on your Windows PC.
This article will show you top 3 Xbox 360 emulators that can be used on Windows PC. With Xbox 360 emulators, you can play Xbox games on your Windows PC directly.
Mac Compatible Xbox 360 Controller 360
Bottom Line
The above is all you need to do if you want to connect an Xbox 360 controller to a Windows PC. And depending on what Xbox 360 controller you use, the steps can be rather simple. Now open a game that supports the Xbox 360 controller and whether if your controller works properly.
Xbox 360 Controller Software
If you are using Xbox One controller and want to know how to connect Xbox One controller to a Windows PC, you may check out this post listed below.
This post will show you how to connect Xbox One controller to PC with 3 different methods. If you want to use Xbox One controller on PC, check out the post now.