How to connect a PS4 or Xbox controller to your iPhone or iPad.
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iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 open up the world of iPhone and iPad gaming to the two most popular game controllers. Now you can connect a PS4 or Xbox One S controller directly to your device and instantly start playing any game that supports controllers.
Compatible models
The iPhone and iPad previously supported game controllers, but they had to be certified through the MFi (Made for iPhone) program. The options were very limited, expensive and not that great.
iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 are adding support for more wireless controllers, but the system isn’t open for all Bluetooth-based wireless controllers. Currently, only PS4 Dualshock 4 and Xbox One controllers are supported. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller does not work.
There are a couple of Xbox One controllers out there in the wild. Apple currently only supports the 1708 model, which is the Xbox One S controller (the original Xbox One controller does not work). Most PS4 Dualshock controllers are compatible (except for the CUH-ZCT1U model that shipped with the original PS4 in 2013).
The easiest way to check if your controller is compatible is by connecting it to your iPhone or iPad.
How to Connect PS4 and Xbox Controller to iPhone and iPad
You can pair a controller to your iPhone or iPad using the Bluetooth section in the Settings app. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone or iPad and then tap on the “Bluetooth” option.
Here, make sure that the Bluetooth feature is enabled and in discovery mode.
Now, let’s put your controller into pairing mode. If you’re using a PS4 Dualshock 4 controller, hold down the “PS” and “Share” buttons together until the light on the back of the controller turns white and starts blinking rapidly.
If you’re using an Xbox One S controller, press and hold the “Pairing” button on the back of the controller. If this is your first time pairing the controller with any device, you need to hold down the “Xbox” button.
Now the PS4 or Xbox controller will appear in the “Other Devices” section. Tap it and the controller will pair and connect to your iPhone or iPad.
How to disconnect and unbind the controller
You can quickly disconnect the controller using the new expandable Bluetooth menu in Control Center.
On your iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center. If you’re using an iPhone with a home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
Next, press and hold the “Toggle” panel.
Here, tap and hold the “Bluetooth” button to expand the menu.
Find the paired controller and tap it to disconnect. You can go back to the same menu and touch the controller to connect again.
To unpair a controller, you’ll need to go to the “Bluetooth” menu in the “Settings” app. Here, locate the controller and tap on the “i” button next to it.
In the menu, tap “Forget this device” to unpair it.
How to Play Controller Games on Your iPhone and iPad
Controller support in iOS and iPadOS has been around for many years, so many popular games already support it. Once you connect the controller, go to the game settings page to check if you can switch to controller mode.
If you are playing Apple Arcade games, the controller will be activated automatically when you start the game. Apple Arcade Games also highlights controller support for fair gameplay at the top of the list.
Controller support is just one of the new features in iOS 13. Once you’ve paired your controller with your iPhone or iPad, you need to enable dark mode to make late-night gaming sessions easier on the eyes.
