Keysticks
Keysticks lets users control a Windows PC with a gamepad or joystick, including for web browsing, games, music, and other tasks usually handled with a keyboa…
What Keysticks is
Keysticks lets users control a Windows PC with a gamepad or joystick, including for web browsing, games, music, and other tasks usually handled with a keyboard and mouse. It supports correctly installed XInput and DirectInput controllers, both wired and wireless. For games that accept keyboard or mouse input, users can create custom layouts and mappings. Configurable pointer controls and an on-screen keyboard with word prediction support computer use; the keyboard and prediction work with multiple languages, while the interface is English only. Sample control profiles are included, and the Profile Browser lets users preview and download profiles created by others. Sharing profiles through the Download Area requires an account and sign-in. A profile can support up to four players, and the software supports per-app profiles and profile switching. Keysticks is free and open source under the Eclipse Public License v1.0. Some games block emulated input, and administrator-level tasks require Keysticks to run with administrator privileges.
Good
- Free and open source under EPL v1.0.
- Supports wired and wireless XInput or DirectInput controllers.
- Includes configurable pointer controls and an on-screen keyboard.
- Profiles can support up to four players.
Watch out
- Some games block emulated input.
- Administrator-level tasks require matching privileges.
- The interface is English only.
- Profile sharing requires an account and sign-in.
Who it suits
Keysticks suits Windows users who want to use a compatible gamepad or joystick for PC controls. It may also suit people seeking an alternative to mouse and keyboard input for more comfortable computing.
Verdict
Keysticks provides configurable controller-based input for Windows, including game layouts and everyday PC controls. Check game compatibility and privilege requirements before relying on it for a particular task.
Plans and prices
From Keysticks's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Windows only · XInput or DirectInput controller · 30 MB disk space minimum |
| Keysticks | Free | Windows · EPL v1.0 · no time limitation stated · Free software; no registration required |
The facts
Each one read from Keysticks's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility use
- The maker says Keysticks is designed to make computing more comfortable and describes using a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Account security
- The members page says account names and email addresses are stored for login and profile sharing, while remembered passwords are stored locally in encrypted form.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Actions
- Actions include key presses, pointer control, window activation, program launching, profile loading and media or browser commands.checked 15 Oct 2026
- AlternativeTo listing
- AlternativeTo lists Keysticks as a free Windows application developed by T C Brogden Limited and written in C#.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API and SDKs
- The repository documents internal use of the OpenAdaptxt API for word suggestions and the SlimDX API for gamepad input, without describing a public Keysticks API or SDK.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- The repository documentation names the SlimDX SDK for .NET 4 x86, NSIS and Visual Studio Community 2019 as build prerequisites.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Controller compatibility
- Supported controllers are correctly installed gamepads or joysticks using XInput or DirectInput.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Current release
- The site lists version 2.14 for Windows, dated 6 July 2024, with a 9.51 MB installer.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Developer source
- The public repository is a C# .NET WPF application with installer projects, a C++ WordPredictor COM wrapper and CHM help sources.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The official help area covers installation, profiles, controls, keyboard features, options, Profile Designer tabs, advanced editing and action types.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Editorial review on Softpedia
- 4.5 out of 5 from the Softpedia reviewer.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Game controls
- Users can create controls for games that accept keyboard or mouse input, including custom layouts and input mappings.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Gaming
- Users can create controller mappings for games that only accept keyboard or mouse input.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent domain check
- Scam Detector reports an 86.5/100 authenticity score for keysticks.net and says the domain was registered on 23 April 2012.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent safety check
- Gridinsoft reports a 79/100 trust score for keysticks.net with no malware or phishing detections in its scan.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Installer dependency
- The installer may request the SlimDX Runtime before installing Keysticks.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Language
- The user interface is English only, while the on-screen keyboard and word prediction support multiple languages.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The maker states that Keysticks is open source under the Eclipse Public License 1.0.checked 15 Oct 2026
- License and source
- Keysticks is free and open source software released under the Eclipse Public License v1.0, and the maker links to its source code on GitHub.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Limit: account migration
- The 2.14 release required users who wanted profile sharing to create or re-register accounts because old accounts could not be migrated.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: blocked games
- The FAQ warns that games requiring physical hardware or overriding emulated cursor input may not work with Keysticks.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: configuration effort
- Softpedia says configuring presets for every application or game can take considerable time.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: elevation
- Keysticks actions do not work in administrator-level tasks unless Keysticks is also run with administrator privileges.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: language
- The user interface is English only, although the screen keyboard and word prediction support multiple languages.checked 15 Oct 2026
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