Connect Playstation, Switch & Xbox controllers to iPad & Co.: This is how it works
How to connect your Playstation, Nintendo or Xbox controller to your iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple TV or iPod Touch.
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This turns your iPad into the ultimate mobile gaming console
The days of game apps like Doodle Jump or Angry Birds, where you have to move the iPhone or iPad back and forth or operate it via touch, are not over, but some games have made it to the App Store that one require a more complex way of playing. action games like ”
Call of Duty: Mobile
” or ”
PUBG Mobile
“, but racing games of all kinds are easier to play with a controller than via touch. We’ll tell you how you can connect a gaming controller to your Apple device.
Which controllers are suitable?
Do you own a Sony or Microsoft games console? All the better! You can easily connect your Playstation, Switch or Xbox controller to an Apple device of your choice. If you don’t have a controller yet: no problem! For example, on Amazon you can get one
Buy PS5 controllers in different colors
as well as
an Xbox controller
or
a pair of joy cons
– independent of the console.
Pair Xbox controller
You can pair the following Xbox controllers with an Apple device:
-
Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth (Model 1708)
-
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
-
Xbox Adaptive Controllers
-
Xbox Wireless Controller Series S and Series X
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Press the Xbox button to turn on the controller.
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Now hold the Connect button for a few seconds to put the controller into pairing mode. The Xbox button flashes quickly when the controller is in pairing mode.
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Go to the Bluetooth settings on your Apple device and connect it to the controller.
If the controller won’t connect or isn’t working as expected, Apple recommends the following:
-
Unpair the controller and try again.
-
Don’t try to connect too many Bluetooth devices at once: The Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD support up to two controllers of the same kind at the same time, or one controller and a combination of Bluetooth audio devices, according to Apple. Other limitations for controllers and Bluetooth audio accessories vary by device.
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Verify that the firmware on the controller is up to date.
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After pairing with an Apple device, some controller functions are not supported, including the controller’s audio jack.
Pair Playstation Controller
You can pair the following Playstation controllers with an Apple device:
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With the controller powered off, press and hold the PS button and the Share button at the same time.
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Wait for the light bar to start blinking.
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Go to the Bluetooth settings on your Apple device and connect it to the controller.
If you’re having trouble pairing, follow the same steps as the Xbox controller above.
Pair Nintendo Switch Controller
You can pair the following Nintendo controllers with an Apple device. iPhone and iPad require iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 for this. The special thing about the Joy-Cons is that, like the Nintendo Switch itself, they can be used individually or in tandem.
-
Detach the Joy-Cons from the Switch or remove the wrist strap.
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Press and hold the sync button on the Joy-Con’s black rail, located between the SR and SL buttons, for a few seconds to put the controller into pairing mode. On the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, the sync button is on the top next to the USB port.
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Go into your Apple device’s Bluetooth settings and connect it to the controller.
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Repeat the process for the second Joy-Con in case you want to use the Joy-Cons in tandem.
If you’re having trouble pairing, follow the same steps as the Xbox controller above.
