Button Mapping

Assign an action

1. Select your controller in the left pane and the layout you want to edit.
2. Press a button on the controller (or pick it in the buttons panel).
3. Assign an action. Available action types include:

• Keyboard: a key or key combination, typed while the button is held or as a toggle.
• Mouse clicks: left, right, or other clicks.
• Cursor movement: drive the mouse pointer with a stick.
• Motion Sensor Cursor / Motion Sensor Scroll: drive the pointer or scrolling with the controller's gyro (see Motion below).
• Scrolling: scroll with a stick.
• Switch to Layout: jump to another layout, either permanently or only while the button is held.

1. Analog sticks, triggers, hat switches (D-pads), and special inputs like the PlayStation touchpad (first and second finger positions) can also be bound where the controller supports them.

The app maps digital buttons, axis buttons, and hat switches. It does not control rumble/vibration.

Choose an input mode

• Hold: keep the assigned key pressed while you hold the controller button.
• Toggle: press once to keep an action active, then press again to release it.
• Rapid: repeat the assigned input while held.
• Sequence: send a series of inputs in order.
• 2-Tap: send a tap on press and another on release.

Text actions behave differently from held keys: Hold types the text once, while Rapid repeats the text while held.

Keys, mouse buttons, and text

Use the Buttons panel to choose a keyboard key, a combination of keys, mouse clicks, or a text string. Match the binding to the keyboard or mouse controls configured in your game.

Test text bindings in a text editor before using them elsewhere. Avoid putting passwords or other secrets into a layout you may export or share.

Sticks, triggers, and the pointer

Analog axes, triggers, and D-pads can be bound where the device exposes them. Use cursor and scroll actions to move around apps, then adjust sensitivity, dead zones, and response to suit the control.

Supported PlayStation touchpads can provide cursor and scroll input. For gyro aiming, see Motion and Settings.

Prevent double inputs

By default every controller stays visible to other apps. If a game reacts to the controller directly while Controllers is also sending mapped keys (double inputs), select the controller and click the lock button: Exclusive hides that controller from other apps so only the mapped output reaches the game. The connection line shows a lock symbol while Exclusive is on. The setting is remembered per controller. Controllers without a direct HID connection (MFi controllers, Switch 2 over Bluetooth) cannot be made exclusive.