Playing video games on a Mac isn't always easy. Not all games have Mac support, Macs tend to have less graphical power, and figuring out how to connect your favorite controller can be a challenge.
Luckily, you can use almost all of your controllers on a Mac, including an Xbox controller. Unfortunately, it's something of an involved process.
You can indeed use an Xbox controller with a Mac, but you'll need a wired connection via micro-USB cable — you can't play wirelessly.
You'll also need to install the 360Controller driver. Once you do so, you can use your Xbox One controller, or an Xbox 360 controller.
How to connect an Xbox controller to your Mac
1. Go to GitHub and download the latest 360Controller driver for your Mac. On the download page, scroll down and expand Assets and then click the .dmg file.
2. Install the 360Controller driver by opening the downloaded .dmg file, then follow the installation steps, which consist of clicking Continue and Agree when prompted. You'll need to restart your computer afterwards.
3. Once your computer restarts, click the Apple logo at the top-left of your screen and select System Preferences.
4. Click on the Xbox 360 Controller icon.
5. Now connect the Xbox controller to the Mac via a microUSB to USB cable, or via microUSB to USB-C, depending on how new your Mac is.
6. A picture of an Xbox 360 controller will appear on the screen, along with a number of customization options. The dropdown menu at the top of the page should read, Xbox One Wired Controller (Wired).
You can now configure the gamepad's buttons as you see fit, then start playing your favorite games on a Mac using your Xbox controller.
Troubleshooting
If the Xbox 360 Controller menu isn't detecting your controller, make sure that it's plugged in and turned on (you can turn on the controller by pressing and holding the Xbox button in the center).
If it still isn't detected:
1. Make sure that you've installed the latest version of 360controller.
2. Open System Preferences again.
3. Click Security & Privacy.
4. At the bottom of the menu that opens, there will be a notice saying that your Mac blocked a program signed by "Drew Mills." Click Allow next to this message.
5. Try plugging in your controller and going to the Xbox 360 Controllers menu again.
