Use Xbox 360 Controller On Mac No Download
As I earlier discussed how can you connect Xbox 360 controller to PC, some readers have asked me about what can be done if the Xbox 360 controller driver is not working on their Windows PC at all. Well, let me tell you that the reasons usually revolve around a corrupted or outdated driver or Windows 10 is not upgraded to the latest version. Don’t worry; you can play your favorite Xbox games once again on Windows PC with some of the quickest fixes mentioned below.
Fix: Xbox 360 Controller Not Working On Windows 10
Step 2: Here, expand Xbox 360 peripherals, right-click on the Xbox 360 controller driver and select Update Driver. (The name could be Xbox 360 Receiver for Windows). NOTE that if you cannot find the exact controller driver, go to Device Manager View tab Show hidden devices Universal Serial Bus Controllers or Universal Serial Bus Devices. Fix 3: Update Xbox 360 Driver Using Smart Driver. Install the drivers for your controller - Macs only recognize Direct Input controllers. If you're trying to use an Xbox controller or another device using Xinput, there are a few driver options out there. Here's a great Xbox controller driver for the Mac that works with Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers. If the driver requests security.
The first three fixes are meant to update Xbox 360 driver on Windows PC only. You can go for any of them amongest the manual, via device manager or a third-party tool. However, a third-party tool makes it easier for you to update any driver in the future, name one. So I recommend Smart Drive Care which you will be able to learn about below.
Fix 1: Update Xbox 360 Driver Manually
When you have Xbox 360 controller not working problem on Windows 10, go to the official website for the same. For more, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Go to Microsoft Xbox official website.
Step 2: Navigate yourself to the section of Downloads. Choose Windows 10 (or other operating systems) and select the driver.
Step 3: Install the driver on Windows PC. Once installed, check if the issue has been resolved.
Fix 2: Update Xbox 360 Driver Using Device Manager
Although we are once again updating the Xbox 360 controller driver, it is being done using Device Manager. For this method, follow the instructions.
Step 1: Open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X at the same time.
Step 2: Here, expand Xbox 360 peripherals, right-click on the Xbox 360 controller driver and select Update Driver. (The name could be Xbox 360 Receiver for Windows)
Xbox 360 Controller Driver For Pc Download
NOTE that if you cannot find the exact controller driver, go to Device Manager > View tab > Show hidden devices > Universal Serial Bus Controllers or Universal Serial Bus Devices >
Fix 3: Update Xbox 360 Driver Using Smart Driver Care (Recommended)
If you could see that the above method is a little tricky process and requires a lot of patience and hard work, I would have chosen Smart Driver Care. This is why I recommend the same to you. Let me tell you how it makes things easier for you.
Step 1: Download Smart DriverCare on your PC. from the button below:
Step 2: Let the tool scan the whole system and indicate all the outdated drivers to you.
Step 3: Once detected, click on ‘Update All’ or the Xbox 360 Controller driver. It will be automatically updated in a few minutes without worrying about anything else.
Moreover, Smart Driver Care is also capable of backing up installed drivers, restoring them in one click and updating all the outdated drivers in one go. Ease of use and user-friendly interface are some other features that I liked.
Fix 4: Check For Windows Update
Did you check your Windows with the latest updates? If you are facing Xbox 360 controller not working problems on Windows 10, you do not miss the step.
Step 1: Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security.
Step 2: Click on Check for Updates under Windows Update.
If you have updated the system, the problem of Xbox controllers is probably solved.
Conclusion
We are sure that the Xbox 360 controller driver is now working for you by now. If it hasn’t, don’t forget to ping us in the comments section below. Also, read the following:
Frequently Answered Questions
Use Xbox 360 Controller Mac
Q1. Why is my Xbox 360 controller not working?
Unless your Xbox 360 controller is not damaged, the reason for it not working may revolve around corrupted or outdated drivers and Windows not updated to the latest version.
Q2. How do I get my Xbox 360 controller to work?
If you keep your Windows updated to the latest version and update the Xbox 360 controller driver, your Xbox controller will probably start to work.
Responses
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’.
How To Use Xbox 360 Controller
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.
Use Xbox 360 Controller On Mac No Download Windows 10
Furthermore, CleanMyMac X is free to download. So, what are you waiting for? Download it for free here.