Some Users Experiencing Issues With Game Controllers in macOS Monterey 12.3

Following the macOS 12.3 update that was released on March 14, some Mac users have run into issues with game controllers after installing the new software.

xbox series x controller microsoft
Complaints on the Apple Developer Forums and Reddit suggest that some Xbox, PlayStation, and other third-party controllers are not functioning over Bluetooth. Not all users appear to be affected, as some people have said that their controllers are operating as expected, so it's not quite clear what's going on.

Those who are experiencing problems connect their controllers to their Macs using Bluetooth and then are unable to use the controllers in Mac games. Some with problematic controllers have been able to use the controllers on the web, but for some, the controllers do not work at all. From the Apple Developer Forums:

Also experiencing the same issue. My Nimbus + Controller won't work with Apple Arcade after updating to Monterey 12.3. I'm able to connect via bluetooth, but none of the buttons work. I'm sure there are a lot of Mac Gamers with the same issue and hopefully Apple fixes this soon.

Other users have been able to get their controllers working for some games, but not others:

Same problems here. My controller is working in some games, but not everywhere:

- macOS: 12.3 (21E230)
- Xbox Wireless Controller:
- Manufacture ID: 0x045E
- Product ID: 0x02FD
- Firmware: 9.0.3
- Additional type: Gamepad

Working in apps:
- Steam
- Pac-Man Party
- The Pathless

NOT working in apps:
- Sonic racing
- Asphalt 8+
- Agent Intercept

Those with controllers experiencing issues have attempted to remove the controller from the Bluetooth menu and re-connect it, but that does not appear to fix the problem. There is no known fix for problematic controllers at this time, so it may be something that Apple has to address in a future software update.

Related Forum: macOS Monterey

Popular Stories

2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

iPhones Could Cost Up to $2,300 in the U.S. Due to Tariffs, Analyst Says

Friday April 4, 2025 9:30 am PDT by
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that steep tariffs will be applied to imports from many countries, starting April 9. The tariffs could have a significant impact on Apple, as the company assembles the majority of iPhones in China, and products imported to the U.S. from China will be subject to a 54% tariff. iPhone prices could increase by up to 43% in the U.S. due to the...
iphone 16 pro colors 1

Is Now the Time to Upgrade Apple Devices Before Tariffs Lead to Price Increases?

Friday April 4, 2025 3:41 pm PDT by
If you have an older Apple device that you've been considering upgrading, you're probably wondering how the newly announced tariffs might impact prices going forward, and whether it's worth buying now before there's a price hike. Given analyst and economist responses to the tariffs, market panic, and Trump's stance on the current financial chaos, the answer is that making a purchase...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro: New 48MP Telephoto Lens May Change How Zoom Works

Thursday April 3, 2025 5:11 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly planning a major upgrade to the Telephoto camera in the iPhone 17 Pro, and while it may seem like a step back on paper, the change could actually improve real-world usability, if one leaker's claims are anything to go by. According to Majin Bu, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a new Telephoto lens with a 48MP sensor, up from the current 12MP sensor found in the iPhone 16...
iOS 18

12 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.4

Tuesday April 1, 2025 4:06 am PDT by
Apple has released iOS 18.4, bringing further refinements to Apple Intelligence features, a neat new capability to iPhone 15 Pro devices, new emoji, and more. While not quite as packed with new features as Apple's preceding iOS 18 point releases, iOS 18.4 still introduces enhancements that aim to make your iPhone smarter and more intuitive. Below, we've listed 12 new things your ‌iPhone‌ ...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...

Top Rated Comments

msfdc Avatar
40 months ago

Thank you for publishing this on MacRumors frontpage, Juli, this will give more visibility to the issue
Booting into safe mode solved the problem for me.
Once you have the controller works properly under safe mode, you can reboot the system and the controller should work fine in normal mode.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scotty321 Avatar
40 months ago
The Mac has games?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Treq Avatar
40 months ago

The Mac has games?
Not as many as Windows, but yes and on my Mac studio Max they play buttery smooth. Downloaded shadow of the tomb raider and played it at 4k with ultra settings with no issues whatsoever for about an hour. When I was done I checked how hot the chassis was… cool to the touch. Like cold metal. Not even a little warm. My 2018 mini with an i7 would be too hot to handle if I watched a 4k movie for 15 min.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
stiligFox Avatar
40 months ago
Man, 12.3 has been a mess... completely borking Navi GPUs, borking M1 Macs with replaced logic boards, and now this...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ImperialForces Avatar
40 months ago
Apple needs to double down on gaming. Most of the people I know who would never buy a Mac typically bring up “Macs can’t play games”.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
40 months ago

Most of the people I know who would never buy a Mac typically bring up “Macs can’t play games”.
Think about what you just typed, does that make a lot of sense to ask their opinions about gaming on Macs? :D
It exists just not to the same abundance as platforms that game vendors specifically target.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)