Xbox One Controller Games Mac

MOST UNIQUE - Games Played With Xbox Controllers More Than Any Other Type.

Xbox One is one of the most sold consoles from Microsoft and it being a next gen controller allows the gamers to have much better experience while playing games on it. Microsoft also launched the updated version of Xbox One i.e. Xbox One S with better specifications and also support for 4K and HDR.

The best part about these consoles are the controllers and how they easily allow you to play video games. Did you know that you can actually use a Xbox One controller to play games on your Windows PC?

The whole process of Xbox One setup and to sync Xbox one controller on PC to play games on Steam is very easy. In fact, you can use it for any game that supports a gamepad. Recently, Steam updated the client to officially support controllers. You can now officially use Xbox One or even a Sony PlayStation controller on Steam games. Of course, the support was available already but it wasn’t supported by Steam on the core. These controllers interacted directly with the game and it totally depended on the game whether they support a controller or not. This means, syncing Xbox one controller is now very easy. With this new update, the controller has now become compatible with all games you have on Steam.

Things You Need

Xbox One controller
USB cable for wired controller gaming
Xbox One Controller Wireless Adapter for wireless gaming
The latest version of Steam
Xbox One Driver – 32-bit
Xbox One Driver – 64-bit

How to Setup Xbox One Controller on PC (Windows)

Make sure you have the latest version of Steam installed on your PC. Keep the Steam client updated and move on to the next steps.
Connect your Xbox One controller to your PC and you will notice that the PC will start looking for drivers.
If you have problems with installing the drivers automatically or if the Xbox controller won’t connect to PC, then just use the download links provided above and you will be able to install them manually.
Install the 32-bit drivers if you have a 32-bit system and 64-bit if you have a 64-bit system.
Start up Steam and you will have a proper working controller that will work with all the games now.

Steps to use Xbox One Controller on Steam on Linux

Believe it or not but Linux has been growing up to be a very feasible platform for gaming. Valve, the parent company of Steam has been testing things out with SteamOS which is a Linux based OS specially for Steam games.

Linux also has a native support for Xbox Controller which makes it quite unique because this is something that is only found in Windows OS. Just plug in your Xbox One controller on a Linux system and you’re all set to game.

Steps to use Xbox One Controller on Steam on Mac

Mac is where things get a little bit tricky as there is no plug and play support for the Xbox One controller. You need to download a driver compiled by FranticRain. You can find the latest drivers at this link.

After the install, the Xbox One controller will be detected by Steam inside the games. If you’re facing some sort of issue, just Enjoyable which is a freeware and it lets you map keys of your controller easily.

You can use these gamepads in games that require much better control that a keyboard and a mouse can provide. Racing games are one such genre where you can use a controller to properly control things like acceleration, brakes and more.

Xbox One controllers are known for being easy to use and the fact that they’re manufactured by the same company that develops Windows is the reason why the Xbox Controller is readily supported on Windows and hence Steam.

Once upon a time, Microsoft didn't support its own controllers on its own PC platform. You needed hacked drivers and workarounds to use the excellent Xbox One controller with PC games. That's no longer the case, with official drivers built right into Windows 10. So, while it's easy to do, there's more to it than just plugging it in. Here's a complete guide. (You might also want to check out our pick for the very best Xbox One controller.)

Products used in this guide

The controller: Xbox One controller ($65 at Microsoft)
The cable: Rampow micro USB cable ($7 at Amazon)
Going wireless: Xbox Wireless Adapter ($28 at Amazon)
For USB-C PCs: AmazonBasics USB-C adapter ($10 at Amazon)
The app: Xbox Accessories for Windows 10 (Free)

How to use a micro USB cable with the Xbox One controller

By far, the simplest way to use an Xbox One controller is to use a micro USB cable. Attach to the connector on your controller and any free USB port on your PC, and it'll automatically recognize it's there, and you're good to go.

Any decent cable will do the trick, even the one that you used to use to charge your phone.

However, it's not just desktop PCs that you can use an Xbox One controller with. It's entirely possible to use it with a tablet or laptop, and in those cases, you may only have USB-C connectors available.

The easiest thing to do is get a USB-C to USB-A dongle, allowing you to use a regular micro USB cable through the USB-C connector on your laptop or tablet.

The Xbox Wireless Adapter

Microsoft also has an official wireless dongle for Windows PCs that allows you to go wire-free. The first-generation controller and the original Xbox Elite controller don't support Bluetooth, so to go wireless on your PC, you'll need the dongle.

It isn't expensive, and the redesigned model is much smaller than the original. Simply plug it into your PC and connect your controller to is as you would the Xbox One, by holding down the pairing button on the top.

Xbox 360 Controller On Mac

The Bluetooth controller

The current generation Xbox One controller from Microsoft, as well as the second-gen Elite Controller, supports Bluetooth. Any currently on sale, or that came with the Xbox One S or Xbox One X have Bluetooth capabilities. That means you can connect it to any Windows PC, laptop, or tablet that has Bluetooth built-in.

Open settings on your PC.
Go to devices.
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
Turn on the controller by pressing the large round X button.
Click on the controller in your discovered devices to pair.

This is particularly handy if you're taking a controller on the road with you and your laptop. One less cable to pack!

Taking advantage of the Xbox Accessories app

This is particularly handy if you're using an Xbox Elite Controller, as the Xbox Accessories app allows you to customize the buttons and paddles to a layout of your choice.

It's in the Windows Store to download to your PC, all you need to do is connect the controller to the PC to get started. There's a bunch of things you can do to customize your controller for your favorite games, and you can save two profiles to the Elite Controller at any one time.

All the gear you need

Exactly which piece of equipment you need will depend on which controller you want to use with which type of Windows PC. The list below covers everything you might need to get your hands on.

Xbox One Controller

The Xbox One Controller is officially supported by Windows 10, and it's also the best around!

Rampow micro USB cable

This braided cable from Rampow is reliable, braided for durability, and plenty long enough to reach your gaming PC.

Xbox Wireless Adapter

Xbox One Controller Games Mac Games

The official wireless adapter from Microsoft, this is what you need if you're using an Elite or first-gen controller to go wire-free.

AmazonBasics USB-C adapter

For laptops and tablets without regular USB ports, pop this into the USB-C connector and use a regular micro USB cable with your controller.

Xbox Accessories app

Particularly useful for Elite Controller owners, this app allows you to customize button layouts, paddles, and save your favorite profiles for easy use.