Use Your Controller as a Mouse on Windows 11

Plug in an Xbox, PlayStation, or compatible gamepad and control your Windows 11 desktop from the couch. Move the cursor, click, scroll, and drag — no configuration needed, ready to use.

Why Use a Controller as a Mouse?

A keyboard and mouse aren't always practical. Maybe you're sitting on the couch during a presentation, or you prefer one-handed control for accessibility. Controller as Mouse bridges that gap: the left stick becomes your cursor, the triggers and buttons handle clicks and scrolling, and the D-pad works like arrow keys.

Unlike gaming aim tools, this is designed for the living room, HTPC setups, and everyday desktop work. Your gamepad becomes a genuine input device across any Windows window — browser, media player, file manager, anywhere you'd normally use a mouse.

Default Controls

Left stick moves the cursor with built-in acceleration. Right stick scrolls vertically and horizontally — perfect for web pages and documents. The A button and RT trigger both left-click; X right-clicks; R3 (pushing in the right stick) middle-clicks. The D-pad acts as arrow keys, B sends Escape.

To toggle the mapping on and off without closing the app, press Start + Back on the pad or Ctrl + Alt + M on the keyboard. Pull the LT trigger for precision mode: the harder you squeeze, the finer your cursor movements become.

All these mappings are fixed — the app doesn't let you rebind keys. If you need something different, profiles let you swap the entire sensitivity and feel.

Get Started in 2 Minutes

  1. Download and install Get Controller as Mouse from the Releases page. Download the zip and run the installer. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning on first run — click 'More info' and 'Run anyway.' Installation finishes in seconds.
  2. Plug in your controller Connect an Xbox controller, DualShock 4, DualSense, or compatible gamepad. The app detects it instantly.
  3. Move the left stick That's your cursor. Move it to test. Tilt gently for precision, push to the edge for speed — the acceleration curve handles both naturally.
  4. Done Right-click the tray icon to enable, switch profiles, or adjust settings. Optionally check 'Start with Windows' to launch automatically.

Tune It to Your Preference

Open Settings in the app to adjust five sliders: Cursor Speed, Scroll Speed, Deadzone, Acceleration, and Scroll Inversion. Every adjustment appears instantly. No text files, no guessing.

Controller as Mouse ships with built-in profiles: Couch/Media for relaxed use, Precision for detail work, and Left-handed mode for one-handed players. Each profile is a separate JSON file saved locally. You can duplicate any profile, rename it, and tweak the settings independently. Switch profiles from the tray menu without restarting.

All data stays offline on your PC — no account, no cloud sync, no telemetry.

Common Questions

Can I use this in games?

The app sends standard mouse and keyboard input, not anything injected into the game. Whether a particular game allows controller-as-mouse input is up to the game's rules. Always check the game's guidelines before using third-party input tools.

What controllers work?

Xbox controllers, PlayStation DualShock 4, DualSense (PS5), and most XInput/DirectInput gamepads. The app uses SDL2's built-in controller database, so no vendor drivers are needed.

Does it work on Windows 10?

Yes. Controller as Mouse supports both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What if I unplug the controller?

Unplug and replug anytime. The app detects hot-plugging instantly — no restart needed.

Can I run it from a USB drive?

Install normally once. Then move the folder if you like, but the tray integration and 'Start with Windows' feature work best with a proper installation.

More guides

Ready to Control Your Desktop from the Couch?

Download Controller as Mouse now — it's free, offline, and works right out of the box.

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