Controlly is a new app by developer Hugo Lispector that makes it very easy to navigate the entirety of the macOS user interface with your PlayStation and Xbox controllers.
This can be especially helpful when, for example, streaming your favorite TV show from a Mac to your telly in the living room via AirPlay but couldn’t be bothered to get up and sit in front of the computer just to select another show. Controlly lets you use the controller that came with your Sony or Microsoft gaming console as a remote control for your Mac.
You get the ability to control not just mouse movement but also assign system features like Mission Control, App Exposé, and more to hardware buttons. Certain MFi (Made for iOS) controllers may also work with Controlly after being paired via Bluetooth to a Mac computer.
What About Key-Mapping Apps?
Lispector explains on his blog why Controlly is better than various key-mapping tools.
Key-mapping tools allow users to map each button on the controller to one letter or number key. That is good for gaming, but not enough for a general purpose controller for the Mac. Besides that, these key mapping tools do not support keyboard shortcuts and their user interface could be more visual in my opinion.
Lispector is also the brains behind El Trackpad for Mac. Available in the App Store, El Trackpad lets you control the macOS mouse cursor through an iPhone or iPad.
A Single-Window App
Controlly sits in your Mac’s menu bar. The app is very easy to use, with everything confined to a single window. This is where you can configure mouse actions to your liking, as well as set custom keyboard shortcuts to trigger specific system features. System controls can be applied to the thumbsticks as well. For instance, you may want to control the cursor with the left thumbstick while using the other one for scrolling.
I wanted to use a game controller as a remote for Mac, but I couldn’t find an app for that. So I’ve built one myself and it’s now available on the App Store 🎮🥳: https://t.co/HEkFXUtMeL
Special thanks to @siracusa for finding an interesting bug just before launch! pic.twitter.com/2QVwvZjjvI
— Hugo Lispector (@hugolispector) February 8, 2021
Supported media and playback controls include play/pause, skip forward/backward, mute, volume up/down and brightness up/down. People who regularly use the various macOS conveniences such as Look Up, Smart Zoom, Mission Control, Launchpad, and Mirror Displays can also assign any of those functions to a button.
How to Get Controlly
Controlly is available free in the Mac App Store and requires macOS Big Sur to work.
The app comes with a 7-day free trial providing full functionality. After your trial period has expired, any controls beyond mouse movement and clicking will no longer be recognized.
Full functionality requires a one-time $3.99 upgrade. You’ll be asked to start the trial when you first connect a compatible gaming controller to your Mac.