How to control your Mac with a game controller when a mouse hurts

A mouse asks your wrist and fingers to make small, repeated movements. A game controller spreads the work across your thumbs and shoulder buttons. For some people that is easier. Ottoman makes a controller work as a Mac mouse and keyboard. We are not clinicians, and it is not a treatment. Try it, and stop if it does not suit you.

What helps

A gentler pointer. The "Accessibility (slower, larger deadzone)" preset slows pointer, scroll and touchpad movement and widens the deadzone, so small drifts and tremors are ignored. Sliders for mouse speed, scroll speed, precision and deadzone let you fine-tune it. Holding R2 slows the pointer further for precise aim.

Your own layout. Click any button on the picture of your controller in the mapper and choose what it does: a click, a key, a shortcut, a media key, a window command. Changes apply instantly.

A one-handed layout, on the left. The pointer is on the left stick, so a left-hand setup works: put click on L1, Page Up and Page Down on the D-pad, and Return on another left-side button. The D-pad also sends arrow keys by default.

Less typing. Hold Triangle to talk to a dictation app, or open the on-screen keyboard with L2 and R2.

What it cannot do

The sticks are fixed: the left one moves the pointer and the right one scrolls. A layout for the right hand alone is therefore not possible. There is no response curve editor, only the sliders above. You need Accessibility allowed once at the start, which takes a mouse or keyboard. It does not replace the Mac's own accessibility tools, such as Voice Control. You still need to grip a controller and press buttons, so check it suits you.

Clinics and schools

A clinic or school licence is available on request. Email [email protected].

Try it on your own Mac

No terminal, no JSON, nothing to build. Download, press a button, done.

Download the free trial

14-day free trial, no account. $29 one time. Refund within 14 days, see the terms.

Questions

Will this prevent or treat RSI?

We make no medical claims. Any device can cause strain if used badly. If you have pain, talk to a clinician.

Which controller is easiest on the hands?

It depends on your hands. Light triggers and buttons suit some people. We test on a PlayStation DualSense, and Xbox and Switch Pro pads are not yet tested on hardware.

Can I save my layout?

Yes. Export your map to a file and import it on this Mac or another.

What if the pad drifts?

Raise the deadzone slider, or start from the Accessibility preset, which uses a larger deadzone.