It can be quite distracting to be unable to use your preferred controls in games. Many gamers are accustomed to playing Minecraft with a controller, so the fact that Java Edition does not support gamepads may come as a surprise. Fortunately, there is a workaround.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to add controller support to Minecraft Java Edition on Windows 10, Mac, and Linux computers. In addition, we’ll go over the most common reasons your controller isn’t connecting, as well as how to add controller support to Minecraft Bedrock.
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How to Implement Controller Support in Minecraft Java
As previously stated, Minecraft Java Edition does not support native controllers. As a result, in order to use it in the game, you must first install third-party mods. Controllable is one of the most popular mods for this purpose. The instructions for configuring controller support on various operating systems are provided below.
Minecraft Controller Support in Windows 10
Let’s get started: To enable controller support in Minecraft Java on Windows 10, do the following:
- Go to the Controllable installation page and click the Download button.
- After the file has finished uploading, double-click it to begin the installation process.
- Place the Controllable file in your Minecraft mods directory. To find it, type “AppDataRoaming.minecraftmods” into the Start menu’s Search box.
- Launch Minecraft Launcher, then click Launch Options, then Add New.
- Enter the name of your new launch option here (e.g., Controllable). Choose the Minecraft version for which you want to configure the controller.
- Select your Controllable file by clicking the arrow icon next to Game Directory, then click Open.
- Click Save to return to the main menu.
- Click Play after expanding the menu next to the Play button and selecting the Controllable version.
Adding Mac Controller Support to Minecraft
Follow the steps below to use a controller in Minecraft Java on Mac:
- Go to the Controllable installation page and click the Download button.
- After the file has finished uploading, double-click it to begin the installation process.
- Place the Controllable file in your Minecraft mods directory. To find it, open the Spotlight search window and enter “/Library/Application Support/Minecraft/mods.” Make a mods folder if you don’t already have one.
- Launch Minecraft Launcher, then click Launch Options, then Add New.
- Enter the name of your new launch option here (e.g., Controllable). Choose the Minecraft version for which you want to configure the controller.
- Select your Controllable file by clicking the arrow icon next to Game Directory, then click Open.
- Click Save to return to the main menu.
- Click Play after expanding the menu next to the Play button and selecting the Controllable version.
Minecraft on Linux Gets Controller Support
To enable controller support for Minecraft Java on Linux, follow the steps below:
- Go to the Controllable installation page and click the Download button.
- After the file has finished uploading, double-click it to begin the installation process.
- Place the Controllable file in the “mods” folder in Minecraft. Use the shortcut to find it. In the search box, type “/.minecraft” and open or create the “mods” folder.
- Launch Minecraft Launcher, then click Launch Options, then Add New.
- Enter the name of your new launch option (for example, “Controllable”). Choose the Minecraft version for which you want to configure the controller.
- Select your Controllable file by clicking the arrow icon next to Game Directory, then click Open.
- Click Save to return to the main menu.
- Click Play after expanding the menu next to the Play button and selecting the Controllable version.
Questions and Answers
More questions about using a controller in Minecraft can be found below.
If your controller does not connect to your computer or Minecraft, make sure you haven’t made any of the following errors:
You’re attempting to configure a controller for Java Edition via Steam. Because Java Edition lacks controller support, make sure you’ve installed the necessary mods.
You did not configure the preferred controls. Check that steps 12-13 of the setup process were completed.
At the sixth step of the setup instructions, you selected Activate a Product on Steam rather than Add a Non-Steam Game. Rep the procedure and choose the correct option.
You have Bluetooth problems. Connect the controller with a cable.
If neither of the preceding reasons work for you, your controller drivers are most likely out of date. Follow the steps below to update controller drivers on a Windows PC:
Select Device Manager from the Windows Start Menu, or type “devmgmt.msc” into the search box.
After launching the Device Manager, expand the Xbox Peripherals section and right-click the name of your controller.
Select Update driver from the dropdown menu.
Select Search Automatically and follow the on-screen directions to install the most recent drivers.
There are no native controller drivers for Mac OS. You must find and install the most recent drivers for your controller online. Instructions may vary and are outside the scope of this article.
To use a controller in Minecraft Bedrock, no third-party mods are required. Steam can be used to complete the installation. Follow the steps outlined below:
Go to the Steam official website and click the Install Steam button.
Run the installation file and follow the instructions on the screen.
After installing Steam, launch the application and create a new account or log in to an existing one.
Open the Steam app and go to the Library.
In the bottom-left corner of your screen, click Add a Game.
Select Add a Non-Steam Game from the menu. This will open the file library on your computer.
Navigate to your Library and double-click the Minecraft Bedrock Edition Launcher file. The game should now be available.
Select the Big Picture Mode option from the Steam Library’s bottom-right corner. It has the appearance of a rectangle with two arrows pointing in opposite directions.
Connect your controller. For the time being, you must use a cable, but once everything is in place, you can connect via Bluetooth.
Go to Steam Settings and then Controller Settings.
Return to Steam Library and check the box next to the controller type.
Open Minecraft settings from the Library and then click Manage Shortcut, which is located under the Minecraft image.
Select Controller Options to modify the controls you want to use.
Minecraft Java Now Supports Controllers
You should now be able to use your gamepad in Minecraft Java Edition thanks to the Controllable mode. If Controllable does not work on your device, you should look for another mod. When downloading third-party software, we recommend being cautious of viruses. Scan any files before installation with antivirus and a VPN. This allows you to play Minecraft with your preferred controller while protecting your PC.
Do you have any recommendations for reliable sites to download the most recent controller drivers for Mac computers? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
