Nintendo Controllers

Choose your generation

Controllers supports original Switch Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers, plus Switch 2 controllers. Pairing and connection options differ between generations.

Original Joy-Cons appear as separate left and right controllers. Give each its own layout; this does not combine them into a virtual gamepad.

Pair original Switch controllers

1. Open Controllers and click the Bluetooth button at the bottom left.
2. Hold the controller’s small sync button until the player lights sweep.
3. Click Connect when the controller appears. Repeat for the other Joy-Con if you use a pair.
4. Select the controller, assign a layout, and turn mapping On.

For original Switch Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers, use Bluetooth for input in Controllers. USB is for charging in this setup.

Connect Switch 2 controllers

Supported models include Joy-Con 2, Pro Controller 2, and the Switch 2 GameCube controller.

1. For USB, connect the controller with a data-capable cable. Controllers activates it automatically.
2. For Bluetooth, open the in-app connect panel. Hold the sync button until the player lights sweep, then click Connect.
3. After pairing, the controller reconnects automatically when powered on. If you pair it with a Switch console again, pair it with Controllers again afterward.

Use the in-app panel for Switch 2 Bluetooth pairing. These controllers do not appear in macOS Bluetooth Settings.

Buttons and motion

Map the reported buttons, sticks, and D-pad inputs. Supported extra buttons include Capture and Home on original Switch controllers, and C, rail buttons, or additional controls where available on Switch 2 models.

Both generations support gyro cursor and scrolling. Assign Motion Sensor Cursor or Motion Sensor Scroll to a button, then choose hold or toggle activation in Settings > Motion. See Motion and Settings.

Limits and troubleshooting

• Original Switch battery readings use coarse steps. Switch 2 readings are estimates based on voltage.
• Switch 2 over Bluetooth cannot use Exclusive mode.
• Joy-Con 2 mouse mode is not used by Controllers.
• Controllers does not provide rumble, audio, or user-configurable lighting control.

If motion drifts, hold the controller still briefly so it can calibrate. If an original Switch controller’s gyro does not respond, power it off and reconnect. See Troubleshooting for more checks.