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How to Pair a PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X Controller With iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV

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Apr 12, 2001
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With the release of iOS 14.5 and tvOS 14.5, Apple users can now connect their PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers to an iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Keep reading to learn how it works.

xbox-series-x-controller-microsoft.jpg

Since iOS 13 and tvOS 13, users have been able to connect popular console controllers to an iPhone or Apple TV to play Apple Arcade games and other iOS games, instead of having to spend extra money on MFi-compatible controllers.

The newest updates, iOS 14.5 and tvOS 14.5, introduce additional support for the latest gaming controllers from Sony and Microsoft, allowing the PS5 DualSense controller and the Xbox Series X controller to be used with iPhones and iPads.

The following steps walk you through the process of pairing your DualSense or Series X controller to your Apple device. If you haven't already, you'll need to update your iPhone/iPad to iOS 14.5 (Settings > General > Software Update) or your Apple TV to tvOS 14.5 (Settings -> System -> Software Updates).

How to Connect the PS5 DualSense controller to iPhone or iPad

  1. Open your iOS device's Settings app and navigate to Bluetooth.
  2. On your DualSense controller, press and hold the Share button (next to the D-Pad, with three lines radiating out from the top) and the PS button (in between the thumbsticks) at the same time. Hold them for at least three seconds, until you see the light bar flashing blue.
    ps-dualsense.jpg

    On your iPhone/iPad, under "Other Devices," tap on your PS5 DualSense controller.
  3. Tap Pair.
To save battery once you're done using the controller, return to the Bluetooth settings screen and tap the info ("i") icon next to the PS5 controller, then tap Disconnect or Forget this device to remove it from the list.

How to Connect the Xbox Series X controller to iPhone or iPad

  1. Open your iOS device's Settings app and navigate to Bluetooth.
  2. On your Xbox Series X controller, hold down the pairing button located on the top of the controller for a few seconds.
    xbox-series-x.jpg

    On your iPhone/iPad, under "Other Devices," tap on your Xbox Series X controller.
  3. Tap Pair.
To save battery once you're done using the controller, return to the Bluetooth settings screen and tap the info ("i") icon next to the Xbox Series X controller, then tap Disconnect or Forget this device to remove it from the list.

How to Connect the PS5 DualSense Controller to Apple TV

  1. Open the Settings app on Apple TV and select Remotes and Devices -> Bluetooth.
  2. On your DualSense controller, press and hold the Share button (next to the D-Pad, with three lines radiating out from the top) and the PS button (in between the thumbsticks) at the same time. Hold them for at least three seconds, until you see the light bar flashing blue.
    ps-dualsense.jpg

    On your Apple TV, select the DualSense Controller to pair it, which will be confirmed with a notification on tvOS.
How to Connect the Xbox Wireless Controller to Apple TV

  1. Open the Settings app on Apple TV and select Remotes and Devices -> Bluetooth.
  2. On your Xbox Series X controller, hold down the pairing button located on the top of the controller for a few seconds.
    xbox-series-x.jpg

    On your Apple TV, select the Xbox Series X controller to pair it, which will be confirmed with a notification on tvOS.
The above steps should work for most wireless console controllers, including the DualShock 4 Wireless controller and Xbox Wireless controller.

Article Link: How to Pair a PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X Controller With iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/pair-ps5-xbox-series-x-controller-iphone-apple-tv/
blazerunner said:
Amazing; connect a non Apple controller to every Apple platform except the one that matters. LOL... Mac OS gaming is DEAD.
Click to expand...
Seems like they are happy to sit in this little corner of the gaming word, which it probably quite lucrative. The next iMac and its graphics power will be a good indicator of what they are thinking.
 
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javanate said:
Seems like they are happy to sit in this little corner of the gaming word, which it probably quite lucrative. The next iMac and its graphics power will be a good indicator of what they are thinking.
Click to expand...
Spoiler: Nothing.

The other problem is that the only reason why game devs would even want to develop for Mac OS is if Apple actually had a good computer. You either get lousy mobile GPUs in laptops and desktops that drive 4k screens OR you $10,000 for a Mac Pro with dated GPUs.

This is all on Apple. They never have and likely never will care about the gaming market. Anyone with any sense that would want to play any decent game on PC would just build a Hackintosh anyway... except now with the shift to M1 this makes Hackintoshing an inevitable dead end for the Mac side of things.
 
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WestonHarvey1 said:
It's rather amazing that you can pair one of these controllers with an iPhone, but I have no idea what I would even want to play with one.
Click to expand...
Screen real estate on phone is at such a premium it makes a lot of sense if you don't have an iPad. Minecraft is one example. Wonderbox from Apple Arcade is another that benefits a ton from not having fingers blocking part of the screen.
 
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blazerunner said:
Spoiler: Nothing.

The other problem is that the only reason why game devs would even want to develop for Mac OS is if Apple actually had a good computer. You either get lousy mobile GPUs in laptops and desktops that drive 4k screens OR you $10,000 for a Mac Pro with dated GPUs.

This is all on Apple. They never have and likely never will care about the gaming market. Anyone with any sense that would want to play any decent game on PC would just build a Hackintosh anyway... except now with the shift to M1 this makes Hackintoshing an inevitable dead end for the Mac side of things.
Click to expand...

So you seem pointlessly angry about this. You are answering your own question. People use a PC for gaming, fine… or actually most buy an Xbox or PS.

Apple don’t care about triple AAA gaming. It’s a diminishing return for the PC market. However Casual gaming is where they have a great sweet spot. The iPad and iPhone have killer mobileGPUs and the market is healthy and making everyone tons of cash.

In the Mac Pro Vega pros are amazing cards, but they are not gaming cards they handle billions of polys but not great at texture fills. And massive video streaming throughput. Gaming cards are the opposite.

That said my Mac pro can run most games in bootcamp with Ultra settings at pretty insane frame rates.
 
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Anyone know how many controllers you can pair with iPad Air / iPad Pro? All Apple's support site says is

Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD support up to two of the same kind of controller at once, or one controller with a combination of Bluetooth audio devices. Other controller and audio Bluetooth limits vary by device.
Click to expand...

I'm wondering if iPad or iPad Pro allows more than 2. (and it's disappointing that ATV can't support more than 2-- from what I gather, local multiplayer hasn't been much of a thing on Apple Arcade.)
 
I tried using an Xbox Series X|S wireless controller with my MacBook and it connects via Bluetooth no problem, but when I try to use it in Apple Arcade games, the buttons don't seem to be mapped correctly. But it shows up fine on gamepad-tester.com, anyone else tried this? I even upgraded the firmware using a Windows PC.
 
Yes, we will pair our iPhones with the PS5 and it's controller that we can't get.
 
Is it worth the extra money for a PS5 controller when no game takes advantage of it’s features?
 
diamond.g said:
Is it worth the extra money for a PS5 controller when no game takes advantage of it’s features?
Click to expand...
I can't speak for the future, but for now, my advice would be to buy the Xbox controller. Most PC (windows) games are expecting the XBOX controller, so the in-game prompts are going to show the XBOX buttons. [ X Y A B]

If you are rich, I would recommend the XBOX elite controller. The 4X backbuttons are really nice to have. I map them to thumbstick downpresses for Tomb Raider, and to triggers for Devil may cry, where u need to press many buttons at the same time for combos (it's almost impossible to press right trigger and right shoulder button at the same time, etc)
 
blazerunner said:
Amazing; connect a non Apple controller to every Apple platform except the one that matters. LOL... Mac OS gaming is DEAD.
Click to expand...
I only connect the controller to my Mac so I can play my PS games remotely :p Before they nuked 32 bit apps I had quite a few games on Steam, butI used a mouse to play these.
 
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presston said:
I can't speak for the future, but for now, my advice would be to buy the Xbox controller. Most PC (windows) games are expecting the XBOX controller, so the in-game prompts are going to show the XBOX buttons. [ X Y A B]

If you are rich, I would recommend the XBOX elite controller. The 4X backbuttons are really nice to have. I map them to thumbstick downpresses for Tomb Raider, and to triggers for Devil may cry, where u need to press many buttons at the same time for combos (it's almost impossible to press right trigger and right shoulder button at the same time, etc)
Click to expand...
Do any macOS/iOS games utilize the xbox impact triggers? (maybe the better question is if Apple even has an API for them)

My son has an Elite controller, I do think the customization of the sticks are cool. If used properly the Dual Sense is the bees knees, but as far as I know there are no API's to access the adaptive triggers so half of what makes the controller so cool is useless everywhere but on the PS5.
 
blazerunner said:
Spoiler: Nothing.

The other problem is that the only reason why game devs would even want to develop for Mac OS is if Apple actually had a good computer. You either get lousy mobile GPUs in laptops and desktops that drive 4k screens OR you $10,000 for a Mac Pro with dated GPUs.

This is all on Apple. They never have and likely never will care about the gaming market. Anyone with any sense that would want to play any decent game on PC would just build a Hackintosh anyway... except now with the shift to M1 this makes Hackintoshing an inevitable dead end for the Mac side of things.
Click to expand...

Seems to me, Apple don't enter markets/fights they can't dominate/win; and the gaming market is hard to crack. With business or creative; you only really need (say) Office and a handful of key apps and you have a reasonable platform. But for a gaming platform you need dozens/hundreds of games and so need a lot of 3rd party support from gaming companies. Maybe if they bought up some AAA exclusives (Halo could have been one, once upon a time) that could be enough to start the ball rolling, but no sign of any such interest.

Add to that, with gaming hardware it's almost all about power & specs (and maybe price); whereas Apple has been focusing on 'premium design', miniaturisation/thinness, power efficiency. They don't want to get into a rat-race with other manufacturers where the hardware is effectively commoditised and they're just fighting over price.

All that said, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if we see a genuine console (something beyond the AppleTV) from Apple in the near future. They seem to be putting together all the technical pieces, and there seems to be a huge demand for games from macOS/iOS users; seems an obvious step.
 
blazerunner said:
Spoiler: Nothing.

The other problem is that the only reason why game devs would even want to develop for Mac OS is if Apple actually had a good computer. You either get lousy mobile GPUs in laptops and desktops that drive 4k screens OR you $10,000 for a Mac Pro with dated GPUs.

This is all on Apple. They never have and likely never will care about the gaming market. Anyone with any sense that would want to play any decent game on PC would just build a Hackintosh anyway... except now with the shift to M1 this makes Hackintoshing an inevitable dead end for the Mac side of things.
Click to expand...
This always comes up. There are more to gaming than the Call of Duty or Cyberpunk or Crysis games. Some of my favorite games that I have up to 1,000 hours playing are available on macOS - Stardew Valley, Terraria, Factorio, Borderlands 2 and more.
 
presston said:
I can't speak for the future, but for now, my advice would be to buy the Xbox controller. Most PC (windows) games are expecting the XBOX controller, so the in-game prompts are going to show the XBOX buttons. [ X Y A B]

If you are rich, I would recommend the XBOX elite controller. The 4X backbuttons are really nice to have. I map them to thumbstick downpresses for Tomb Raider, and to triggers for Devil may cry, where u need to press many buttons at the same time for combos (it's almost impossible to press right trigger and right shoulder button at the same time, etc)
Click to expand...
The Xbox Elite Pro 2 controller is by far the best controller I have ever used. I cannot stand the PS4 controller, and I can't even find a PS5 to buy so I haven't even tried the PS5 controller.
 
xWhiplash said:
This always comes up. There are more to gaming than the Call of Duty or Cyberpunk or Crysis games. Some of my favorite games that I have up to 1,000 hours playing are available on macOS - Stardew Valley, Terraria, Factorio, Borderlands 2 and more.
Click to expand...
If Borderlands 2 was such a success on Mac why isn't Borderlands 3 available? No snark implied.

Nevermind I see that Aspry ported the game to Mac and Linux. So it will probably be a while for the Mac port of 3.
 
diamond.g said:
If Borderlands 2 was such a success on Mac why isn't Borderlands 3 available? No snark implied.

Nevermind I see that Aspry ported the game to Mac and Linux. So it will probably be a while for the Mac port of 3.
Click to expand...
Obviously if I were to want to play AAA and 4K/8K gaming and the Cyberpunks of the world, I would choose PC. But there is more to games than those select few. I am fortunate enough to have both a Mac and a gaming PC. Right now I am playing some old games on Windows that could run on a potato (2004 old type RPG games).
 
xWhiplash said:
Obviously if I were to want to play AAA and 4K/8K gaming and the Cyberpunks of the world, I would choose PC. But there is more to games than those select few. I am fortunate enough to have both a Mac and a gaming PC. Right now I am playing some old games on Windows that could run on a potato (2004 old type RPG games).
Click to expand...
Have you tried Horizon Zero Dawn?
 
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