'Controlly' App Turns a Game Controller Into a Remote Control for Macs

Controlly, a new app available in the Mac App Store, is designed to turn a gaming controller into a full-featured remote control that can be used with a Mac.

controlly app
With the app installed and a gaming controller connected, the different keys on the controller can be mapped to various functions such as displaying the desktop, adjusting screen brightness, tweaking volume, controlling media playback, accessing Launch Pad, launching Mission Control, and more.

There's even an option to use the controller in lieu of a mouse with controls for moving the mouse pointer, clicking, right clicking, and scrolling. You can essentially set any function on the Mac to be performed with a click of a controller button, which is handy if you want an alternate input method. There's also an option to create custom shortcuts that can be launched with a controller.

Note that to use the app, you must enable the Accessibility feature that allows apps to control your computer. This is available in System Preferences, and the app setup will walk you through it. Without the control option enabled, Controlly does not work.

controlly key mapping options
Most wireless controllers should be able to work with Controlly after being paired via Bluetooth to a Mac. We tested with the PlayStation 4 DualShock controller and the app worked flawlessly, with the controller able to perform all of the appropriate mapped actions.


Controlly can be downloaded for free and used for seven days to test it out, but after that, there's a one-time $3.99 in-app purchase to unlock full functionality. [Direct Link]

Popular Stories

Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Leak Reveals All-New Design

Friday January 17, 2025 2:42 pm PST by
iOS 19 is still around six months away from being announced, but a new leak has allegedly revealed a completely redesigned Camera app. Based on footage it obtained, YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to...
2024 App Store Awards

Apple Explains Why It Removed TikTok From the App Store in the U.S.

Sunday January 19, 2025 6:58 am PST by
Apple on late Saturday removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S., and it has now explained why it was required to take this action. Last year, the U.S. passed a law that required Chinese company ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok due to potential national security risks, or else the platform would be banned. That law went into effect today, and companies like Apple and Google...
iPhone 17 Air Size Feature

'iPhone 17 Air' With Rear Camera Bar Allegedly Shown in Leaked Photo

Tuesday January 21, 2025 12:46 pm PST by
A leaker known as "Majin Bu" today shared an alleged image of a component for the rumored, ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air" model. The blurry, pixelated image shows a pair of rear iPhone shells with a pill-shaped, raised camera bar along the top. On the left side of the bar, there is a circular cutout that appears to be for a single rear camera. On the right side of the bar, there appears to be an ...
iPhone SE Dynamic Island Majin Bu

iPhone SE 4 Leak Shows Dynamic Island, Casts Doubt on Rumored 'iPhone 16E' Name

Monday January 20, 2025 9:01 am PST by
A new iPhone SE is widely rumored to launch this year, and the device has potentially been confirmed today by known leaker Evan Blass. In a private social media post, Blass shared an image of what appears to be source code mentioning an iPhone SE (4th Gen), which casts doubt on the alternative "iPhone 16E" name rumored for the device. However, the name in the source code could be a...
airtag 4 pack blue

AirTag 2 Launching This Year With These 3 New Features

Sunday January 19, 2025 8:11 am PST by
After a four-year wait, a new AirTag is finally expected to launch in 2025. Below, we recap rumored upgrades for the accessory. A few months ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was aiming to release the AirTag 2 around the middle of 2025. While he did not offer a more specific timeframe, that means the AirTag 2 could be announced by the end of June. The original AirTag was announced...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Rumored to Be Compatible With These iPhones

Saturday January 18, 2025 10:28 am PST by
iOS 19 will not drop support for any iPhone models, according to French website iPhoneSoft.fr. The report cited a source who said iOS 19 will be compatible with any iPhone that can run iOS 18, which would mean the following models: iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhon...
apple power beats pro 2

Powerbeats Pro 2 Coming Soon: Apple to Announce Them 'Imminently'

Sunday January 19, 2025 8:25 am PST by
In September, Apple said that it would be launching Powerbeats Pro 2 in 2025, and it appears the wireless earbuds are coming very soon. Powerbeats Pro 2 images found in iOS 18 code In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the Powerbeats Pro 2 are "due imminently." In addition to Apple filing the Powerbeats Pro 2 in regulatory databases last month, Gurman said Apple is...
Generic iOS 18

Everything New in iOS 18.3 Beta 3

Thursday January 16, 2025 12:39 pm PST by
Apple provided the third beta of iOS 18.3 to developers today, and while the betas have so far been light on new features, the third beta makes some major changes to Notification Summaries and also tweaks a few other features. Notification Summary Changes Apple made multiple changes to Notification Summaries in response to complaints about inaccurate summaries of news headlines. For...

Top Rated Comments

Unggoy Murderer Avatar
52 months ago

NO. We do not need apps to turn every device into every other device.
Perhaps others see value in things you don’t...? Using a controller might be a decent ergonomic choice for people with large hands, or perhaps folks with disabilities or dexterity issues.

No harm in getting more out of something.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
52 months ago

NO. We do not need apps to turn every device into every other device.
I love these posts which sound like someone is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to use/purchase it :rolleyes:
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nathan_reilly Avatar
52 months ago

NO. We do not need apps to turn every device into every other device.
I think this is so misguided. You might not need it but someone else could really benefit from it. And does it hurt you that it exists now? Or are you like imagining this developer could have solved some important (to you) problem instead of this unimportant (to you) problem? My god.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wowfunhappy Avatar
52 months ago

NO. We do not need apps to turn every device into every other device.
I would, um, say that's precisely what we need. :)

I do wish they were Preference Panes instead of apps though, from an UI/aesthetic standpoint. But you can't sell those in the App Store...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
System Of A Down Avatar
52 months ago

NO. We do not need apps to turn every device into every other device.
oh ok.

we'll just tell the developers to take the app of the store because you said we don't need it. smart! /sarcasm
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sharewaredemon Avatar
52 months ago

Perhaps others see value in things you don’t...? Using a controller might be a decent ergonomic choice for people with large hands, or perhaps folks with disabilities or dexterity issues.

No harm in getting more out of something.
Yep, or simply being able to do a few things with your computer using the controller that's already in your hands after you finish playing a game, when you might not be physically close to your computer, or it's not somewhere ergonomic for the trackpad and keyboard.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)