Tutorials/Playing with a controller

Playing Minecraft: Bedrock Edition with a game controller.

Here is a tutorial on how to use a game controller (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.) for playing Minecraft.

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition officially supports game controllers. You can play the game with controllers directly by connecting them to your PC or consoles, wired or wireless, and without the need to use third-party tools.

This is not the same case for Minecraft: Java Edition, as the game does not natively support game controllers. In order to use controllers for Minecraft: Java Edition, there are two main workarounds: using Steam as a middleware to provide controller support for the game, or using community mods.

How to use the controller

Xbox controller buttons diagram.

PlayStation controller buttons diagram.

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition features controller buttons that are simple to use and easy to remember, and similar to those in first-person video games. Here is a brief list of actions you can do in Minecraft:

• You can navigate through menus pressing buttons.
• You can move your player character moving left thumb, and move the camera moving right thumb.
• You can jump pressing or buttons.
• You can sprint moving left thumb forward two times.
• You can attack entities or destroy blocks pressing button.
• You can interact or place blocks pressting button.
• You can sneak or fly down pressing or buttons.
• You can open up crafting and inventory menu pressing or and or buttons.
• You can cycle your item left and right in the hotbar pressing and buttons.
• You can drop your item pressing button.
• You can toggle your perspective pressing button.
• You can open the chat pressing button.
• You can select emote for your character pressing button.

For full list of controller buttons mapping, see Controller Controls.

Connecting a controller to Windows

PlayStation DualSense and DualShock 4 controllers

You can connect your DualShock 4 or DualSense controllers into your Windows computer, however, Windows UI navigation using these controllers is not supported, this includes the Windows controller keyboard.

Wired

Simply plug in the controller into a USB port on the computer by using micro USB cable for PS4 and USB type C cable for PS5.

Wireless

Placement of Share and PlayStation buttons on the DualShock 4.

This only works if your computer has Bluetooth enabled.

1. Press and hold the Share and the PlayStation buttons on the controller until it starts flashing. When the controller starts flashing, the controller is ready to be paired.
2. Open "Bluetooth & devices" on the Windows settings.
3. Click "Add device" button, and in the menu, click the "Bluetooth" button.
4. Wait until "Wireless Controller" appears on the device list, and then connect.
5. Your controller is now connected.

Xbox One and Xbox Wireless Controller

Wired

Simply plug in the controller into a USB port on the computer by using micro USB cable for Xbox One controllers and USB type C cable for Xbox Wireless Controllers.

Wireless

Placement of Xbox and Pair buttons on the Xbox Wireless Controller.

Note: the first-gen Xbox One controllers do not have Bluetooth. For those controllers, you need a Wireless Adapter for Windows. Make sure that any Xbox consoles is unplugged because the controller may turn on Xbox consoles.

1. Turn on the controller by holding the Xbox button.
2. Hold the Pair button on the top of the controller in the middle until the controller flashes quickly.
3. Open "Bluetooth & devices" on the Windows settings.
4. Select "Xbox Wireless Controller" in the menu of available devices.
5. Your controller is now connected.

Java Edition workarounds

Steam

This method is the easiest, as it only requires you to download Steam and don't have to use any mods. Here’s the simple process of setting up a controller to use with Minecraft: Java Edition on PC:

1. Download Steam if you do not have it in your PC.
2. Open Steam, and then navigate to "Library".
3. Add Minecraft Launcher as a non-Steam game by clicking the "Add a Game" button, then click "Add a Non-Steam Game", and then selecting the Minecraft Launcher in the list.
   

   

4. Right click Minecraft Launcher in the game list, then click the "Properties..." button.
   

   

5. Navigate to Controller settings, and then click the underlined "Controller Configurator" in the text to configure the controller layout. You can either do it manually, or click the controller icon and browse presets from other users in the Steam community.
   

   

   

6. Start the game through Steam. You can now use your controller to play Minecraft: Java Edition!

Unfortunately, this method only supports the legacy Minecraft Launcher downloaded from the official website, and not from Microsoft Store. However, you can try out the next method using community-made mods.

Supported controllers

Officially supported controllers in Steam are Xbox controller, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam controller, Steam Remote Play, and generic controller.

Community mods

This method is the most effective and reliable way to play Minecraft: Java Edition with game controllers, as mods can directly add controller support into the game itself. There are many community-made mods exist to enable controller support for Minecraft: Java Edition, such as Controllable, Controlify, and MidnightControls. In order to use these mods, you'd need to install a mod loader such as Forge or Fabric.