How to Use Controller as Mouse or Keyboard?

By default, a controller cannot navigate through you PC. And if you are a console gamer, switching between a mouse/keyboard and a controller could be an inconvenience.

Wouldn’t it be easy if you could simply control the mouse cursor and type using the controller? Fortunately, in today’s world, it is possible.

And in this article, we will guide you through a list of applications and steps to configure your controller to use it as a mouse or a keyboard. 

How to Use Controller as Mouse or Keyboard?

To configure your controller, you have to rely on a program. All the applications we’ve listed below are free. However, some apps such as Controller Companion and REWASD charge fees to reconfigure your controller. 

Through Steam Client

The Steam client also offers built-in controller support to use the controller as a mouse and keyboard. Steam supports a wide range of controllers such as the PlayStation, XBOX, Switch Pro, or any generic gamepad. 

Since most users using the controller likely have a steam client installed in their system. Therefore, using it to configure the controller is an ideal choice. However, below we have explained the process of installing steam and using it to manage the controller settings.

1. Download Steam from the official Steam Website.
   
2. Install and update the Steam Client.
3. Once Steam Runs, log in to your Steam account. Create an account if you do not have a Steam account.
4. Connect the controller to the PC.
5. Once you log in, click on View and go to Settings.
   
6. On the left panel, click on Controller.
7. Now, on the right panel, click on General Controller Settings. Another Steam window should open.
   
8. Under Detected Controllers, it should show your controller.
9. Here, check the correct controller configuration Support. For example, check Xbox Configuration Support if you use an XBOX controller.
   
10. Close this Window.
11. On the Settings Window, click on Desktop configuration. Another window named Steam Controller Configuration should open.
    
12. On the bottom, click on Browse Configs.
    
13. Click on Recommended and select Desktop Configurations.
    
14. Click on Apply Configuration, and you should have the desktop controller configurations.
    

If you want to rebind a key according to your choice, click on one of the pop-up sections. Now select the mouse or the keyboard key to rebind. Furthermore, you can also use the configuration you set in other non-steam games. You need to add this game to steam. Then, you can use the profile you set on non-steam games.

Using Gopher360

Gopher360 is a great lightweight tool to use as a mouse. You can use the on-screen keyboard to press certain keys and use it to type. Once you connect the controller to the PC, wired or wirelessly, the application will automatically detect the controller and configure its left stick movement with the mouse movement.

One downside to Gopher is that it only allows mouse movement from an XBOX controller (Wired or wireless) and DualShock (With InputMapper 1.5+). You cannot use this tool if you use a generic controller.

Follow the steps mentioned below to use the controller as a mouse or keyboard by using Gopher360.

1. Go to the Github Repository that contains the Gopher360 file.
2. Once the site opens, scroll down under Assets.
3. Click on Gopher.exe to download the file.
   
4. Connect the XBOX or DualShock controller to the PC.
5. Now, right-click on the downloaded file, Gopher.exeand select Run as Administrator.
6. Wait for a few seconds for the application to set up the controller. 
7. Once the setup is complete, you should be able to move the mouse cursor using the right stick.

It will help if you run Gopher360 as an administrator to use the controller to access the on-screen keyboard. Follow the steps below to run the application as admin by default.

1. Right-click on the Gopher.exe file and select Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab.
3. Under Settings, check Run this program as administrator.
   
4. Click on Apply, then OK.

Once the application is set to run as admin by default, you need to ensure that it runs automatically on startup. Doing this means you do not need to use a mouse to run the application every time the computer starts.

1. Copy the Gopher.exe downloaded file.
2. Press Windows + R to open Run.
3. Type Shell:startup and press Enter. A Windows Explorer dialog box should appear.
4. Paste Gopher.exe in this file location.
   

Gopher will now run automatically every time you turn on the PC, and you can use the controller directly on the go.

Through InputMapper

Unlike Gopher360, InputMapper allows you to map the entire keybinds according to your choice. This gives the user full control over their controller buttons. You can even remap your DS4 (DualShock 4) to work like an XBOX controller. 

This variety of advanced macro and customization makes the InputMapper a great application you can use to replace your mouse and keyboard with the controller. Furthermore, the application is not only restricted to XBOX and PS controllers but also any other generic controllers.

Follow the steps below to remap your controller using InputMapper.

1. Download the setup file from the official InputMapper website.
   
2. Once the download is complete, install and run the application.
3. Connect the controller to the PC.
4. Once the PC detects the controller, the application should detect the controller as well.
5. On the left panel of the application, click on Profiles.
6. On the right panel, click on New Profile.
   
7. Now, the visual layout of your controller should appear under Button Mapping.
8. To remap your buttons, click on the button you want to remap. A window named Mapping should pop up.
   
9. Here, you can bind this selected button to any keys from the keyboard, controller, or mouse buttons or even set it as a media control key.
10. On the Configuration tab, you can set the controller’s cursor speed, scroll speed, sensitivity, and lights.
11. If you use a DS4 controller, you can check Trackpad as Mouse to use the trackpad for mouse movement.
    
12. Once you have configured everything, click on Save to save all your keybind settings.

Related Questions

How to Connect a Wireless Playstation Controller to a PC?

Unlike the XBOX wireless controller, the wireless PlayStation controller does not come with a USB dongle. First, you need to set up the controller for the PC to detect it. Below are the steps to connect a wireless PS controller to a PC.

1. Turn off the controller.
2. Hold the Share button and the Power button on the Dualshock until the LED on the front of the controller starts blinking.
3. In Windows, press the Windows + I key to open Settings.
4. Go to Bluetooth & Devices.
5. Click on Add device, select Bluetooth, and wait for Bluetooth to detect the wireless controller.
6. Once detected, click on Wireless Controller to connect it to the PC.

Do All Games Run With a Controller on a PC?

Most, if not all, single-player games support gameplay using both the keyboard/mouse and the controller. However, MMO FPS and MMO RPG games like Dota, Valorant, etc., may not fully support controllers. 

You cannot just plug in the controller and play these games. You might require a third-party application like Gopher or InputMapping to configure the mouse movement first.