Connecting a gamepad to a smartphone. Using the controller on iPhone and Android

Mobile gaming has been actively developing for many years. Every month, well-developed modern games with high-quality graphics and pleasant gameplay appear on smartphones. In many projects it is more convenient to use a controller rather than a touchscreen. To connect modern gamepads, in the vast majority of cases, USB cables or wireless data transfer technologies are used. In this manual we explain in detail how to connect the controller to a smartphone.

Connecting a controller via an adapter on Android. Assigning keys on a gamepad

To successfully connect the gamepad to the device, the smartphone user needs to purchase an additional USB-OTG cable. This adapter plugs into the wall outlet used for charging and the other end plugs into the controller. Please note that not all smartphones can support this adapter, so please check the performance of the cable (adapter) with the seller.

You can find out information about USB OTG technology support yourself using the USB OTG Checker application:

1. Go to Google Play via the link and download the app.
2. Run the program after installation.
3. If the device supports USB OTG technology, a green check mark will appear on the screen with the words “Android Compatible USB OTG” or “Compatible USB OTG”.

If it is not supported, a cross that reads “Not Compatible USB OTG” will be displayed. In this case, to connect the device with a cable, you need to install custom firmware and look for answers in the forums of a specific smartphone model. We do not recommend changing the official firmware so take any third party actions with the software component of the device at your own peril and risk.

If you have USB OTG support, connect the adapter to the device. Plug in the gamepad and start the game. If for some reason the buttons do not work or are not mapped, you will need to install an additional application. In the past, users often used Tincore Keymapper, but now this application is not available on Google Play – you can find it yourself on popular forums.

As an analogy, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with Octopus If you have problems with the controller in games, go to the link and download the application. The program does not require special permissions to work, in addition, after installing Octopus, the player can select not only ready-made sets of control parameters for well-known games, but also the assignment of keys, triggers and stabs with his own hands.

Connecting a controller via Bluetooth on Android

Almost all modern devices do not require serious knowledge and skills from the user to set up a smartphone. Previously, connecting the controller required root permissions and changing the MAC address. Gamepads from PlayStation (Dulasock and DualSense), Xbox and Nintendo Switch (Pro Controller) are currently fully supported on mobile platforms. Below is an instruction for connecting a controller using these models as an example:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone. To do this, go to the device settings or open the corresponding menu in the blind.
2. Press the pairing button on your smartphone. “PS” in the center on the Dualshock or small round buttons on the end of the Xbox and Pro Controller controllers. The backlight flashes on all devices. Some controllers need to be powered on first.
3. Go to the Bluetooth settings, start a device search if necessary and select the gamepad you are using from the list that appears.
4. Wait for pairing and start the game. Don’t forget to study the control buttons in the settings or remap the buttons yourself.

Please note that this instruction is suitable for other devices. Put the controller in pairing mode and connect it to your smartphone via the settings. If you are having trouble connecting, please refer to the manufacturer’s manual. You can also install Octopus, which we wrote about in the previous section.

It is worth bearing in mind that after connecting the controllers of the PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, the player has to synchronize the devices with the consoles again with a cable.

Connecting a controller to iPhone and iPad

On modern firmware devices from Apple, there is also support for game controllers. There is a caveat: all devices can only be connected via Bluetooth. Currently, PlayStation wireless controllers (DualShock and DualSense), Xbox controllers and third-party gamepads that are “MFi” certified are supported. Please note that these devices must be labeled “Made for iPhone”, “Made for iPad” or “Made for iPod touch”.

Below is the instruction for connecting the controller to Apple devices:

1. Open the settings, go to the “Bluetooth” section and enable it.
2. Put the controller in pairing mode (detailed instructions can be found in the section above).
3. After the name of the gamepad appears in the “Other Devices” section, click on it.
4. Wait for the device to pair and launch the game.

Useful tips. How to use the controller with a smartphone. How to connect your device to Android TV

First of all, we recommend updating the controller firmware. Do not move more than 10 meters from the smartphone when using the controller. In this case, interference may occur in the operation of the device. Here are the main problems that arise in the operation of devices:

1. Does not connect via Bluetooth. This error can occur when the list of used devices is full. It is necessary to remove unnecessary devices and also try to restart Bluetooth or smartphone and try to join again.
2. The USB OTG adapter is not working. Use the USB OTG Checker app to check the compatibility of your smartphone.
3. Buttons don’t work. Install Octopus or any other button mapping application.
4. Connect to Android TV. The process of connecting the controller to the set-top box is completely the same as syncing the device to a smartphone. Go to the sections above for instructions.
5. The controller will not work in just one game. This issue has arisen due to the lack of gamepad support in the project. Most likely, the developers did not have time to implement this feature in the game or specifically closed access to the use of controllers.
6. Restore the gamepad to its original state. To connect the controller to the game console, you need to reconnect the device to the console with a cable.