When it comes to gaming on the go, it doesn’t get much better than using your iPhone or iPad. This is especially true if you have the iPhone 13 Pro Max with its incredible battery life or the iPad Pro with its massive display. While it’s been possible to connect different controllers, such as the Xbox Series X and the Sony PS5 DualShock controllers, the same can’t be said for Nintendo’s offerings.
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With the Nintendo Switch, you have multiple options if you want to sit back and enjoy some great games. Of course, you can go with the portable solution with the detachable Joy-Cons. But Nintendo’s Pro Controller is more comfortable and is similar to what you’ll get with the Xbox or PS5 controllers.
How to Use Nintendo Switch Pro Controller With iPhone and iPad
Surprisingly, none of Apple’s devices offered official support for the Pro Controller, until now. It was still possible to pair the controller over Bluetooth, but many users found that the experience didn’t match up with what other controllers could offer. With the release of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and even macOS Ventura, Apple is finally bringing official support for you to use Nintendo Switch Pro Controller with iPhone and iPad. Here’s how you can get your devices set up with the Pro Controller:
- Grab your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
- At the top of the controller, press the small pairing button next to the USB-C charging port.
- Continue holding until the LED lights begin flashing to indicate that you have entered pairing mode on the controller.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Under the Other Devices section, tap the name of your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
- Wait a few moments.
Once paired, the Pro Controller will appear under the My Devices section of the Settings app. Now, you can go about playing your favorite emulators, or other games, all while using the Pro Controller.
Customize Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Layout
Official support in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 goes far beyond just being able to play your favorite Apple Arcade games with the Pro Controller. Apple is also bringing full-on controller layout customization to the iPhone and iPad. This means that if you want to remap some of the buttons on your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, you can do just that!
- Make sure that your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is paired to your iPhone or iPad.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap General.
- Scroll down again and tap **Game Controller.
- Select the name of your controller.
- Tap Default Controls.
- Select the controls that you would like to remap on your controller.
Alternatively, Apple even makes it possible for you to remap the controller to have a custom layout for specific games.
- From the Game Controller settings panel, tap the name of your controller.
- Tap Add Game Controls.
- Select the game that you want to change the controls for.
- From the list of options, tap the name of the game again.
- Select the controls that you would like to remap.
This is a much more in-depth customization than we expected to see from Apple with iOS 16. It’s clear that the company is focused on continuing to improve the mobile gaming experience. But the best part is that unlike using an 8Bitdo controller that comes with its own accompanying app for customization, you can remap all of the buttons for your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, right from the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.
Take says
Thank you. This is very informative article.
Actually I am struggling to use the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller with Minecraft on iPad.
Apparently the pro controller os connected to ipad. I can move nothing on Minecraft on ipad.
Here is the specifications.
*ipad – 6th generation
*ipad os – 16.2
Here is what I did.
Connected the Pro Controller to ipad successfully.
I see the “Pro Controller” as connected in ipad > settings > Bluetooth.
I see the “Pro Co troller” as connected in ipad > settings > general > game controller. But it says “this controller does not adapt control customization” (I don’t know if this wording is exactly the accurate as I use iPad in Japanese. )
When I return to Home Screen of ipad. I can move something like cursor with the pro controller and open the apps by pressing A button of the pro controller. That’s why I understand the pro controller is connected to ipad.
But I can move nothing on Minecraft.