Tech

How to use an Xbox, PS4, or PS5 controller on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Android

The many updates applied to Apple and Google operating systems make it very easy to link an Xbox One or PlayStation controller. And thus, no longer having to use a poorer controller “designed for smartphones”. How to do ? Follow the guide.

Playing a video game has never been easier. Today, as many devices as possible can consume video games, with the added bonus of freedom in the way you do so (buy games, subscribe to a catalog like Apple Arcade or Xbox Game Pass, enjoy free-to-play like Fortnite). So much so that it is now recommended to associate a controller with your smartphone or tablet, for the comfort it brings.

Thanks to recent updates to the operating systems developed by Apple and Google, it is now very easy to connect a joystick with known and reassuring ergonomics to a smartphone, tablet or even an Apple TV. We immediately think of those supplied with the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S or Xbox Series X – renowned for their many qualities.

You do not know how to do it ? Don’t panic, this guide describes the different steps to follow so as not to get lost along the way, knowing that it is as easy to connect a controller as a wireless headset. Note that we will more readily orient towards an Xbox controller, because of the Xbox Game Pass now available on Android and iOS.

Source: Louise Audry for Numerama
  • A PS4 controller costs around € 60
  • A PS5 controller costs around € 70
  • An Xbox controller costs around € 60

Switch the levers to fitting mode

The first step is perhaps the most complicated : you have to switch the controller you want to connect to ready to be paired. For the Sony DualShock 4, you have to keep pressing the Share and PlayStation buttons until the light bar flashes white. On the DualSense, you have to do the same operation (the light zone will then flash frantically).

On the Xbox side, you must first turn on the pad by pressing the Xbox button and then keep pressing the small button located on the upper edge, near the USB port. Be careful, you must ensure that your Xbox controller is indeed Bluetooth (the first versions were not).

To find out if your Xbox One controller is Bluetooth enabled, you need to check its design. Here is the official explanation from Microsoft: ” On Bluetooth compatible controllers, the plastic around the Xbox button is part of the face of the controller. On controllers without Bluetooth, the plastic around the Xbox button is part of the top of the controller, where the triggers are. »The controllers included with the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X are 100% compatible.

Top: no Bluetooth – bottom: Bluetooth // Source: Microsoft

iPhone and iPad

On iPhone and iPad, connecting to either controller is as easy as pie:

  • Activate Bluetooth on the device (if it has not already been done);
  • Go to Settings> Bluetooth;
  • Look for ‘DUALSHOCK4 Wireless Controller’, ‘DualSense Wireless Controller’ or ‘Xbox Wireless Controller’ in the ‘Connect to other devices’ list;
Controller connection to an iPad // Source: Numerama
  • Press the name of the controller;
  • That’s it (the Xbox controller logo will no longer flash while the DualShock 4 / DualSense light bar will turn fuchsia).
DualSense controller on iOS // Source: Maxime Claudel for Numerama

Apple tv

The functionality that allows you to connect a controller to the Apple TV is essential to enjoy the Apple Arcade catalog. Moreover, the Cupertino company does not hesitate to highlight the compatibility with the accessories PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, recognized for their optimal ergonomics.

Controller connection to an Apple TV // Source: Numerama

On Apple TV, connecting to either controller isn’t complicated either:

  • From the home menu, go to Settings> Remote controls and devices> Other devices> Bluetooth;
  • Look for ‘DUALSHOCK4 Wireless Controller’, ‘DualSense Wireless Controller’ or ‘Xbox Wireless Controller’ in the ‘Other devices’ list;
  • Press the name of the controller;
  • That’s it (the Xbox controller logo will no longer flash while the DualShock 4 / DualSense light bar will turn fuchsia).

Note that you can then control the Apple TV with your controller, as if it became a remote control.

Android

Google did not wait until 2019 and iOS 13 to facilitate the connection between an Android smartphone / tablet and a Bluetooth compatible controller (since the integration of the GamePad API in version 4.1).

The fitting can be different from one brand to another, but you just have to go to the Bluetooth settings and find the name of the controller you want to connect. Nothing rocket science, in short.

Article originally published on October 02, 2019 and updated on June 30, 2021

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