Recontrol
Recontrol is a free macOS app that maps game controller inputs to mouse and keyboard actions for games and applications without gamepad support.
What Recontrol is
Recontrol is a free macOS app that maps game controller inputs to mouse and keyboard actions for games and applications without gamepad support. You can create multiple mappings, switch between them, or enable one automatically when a controller connects. Inputs can trigger keyboard keys, modifier combinations, macOS system keys, mouse movement, or scrolling. Thumbsticks support continuous Smooth mode or discrete 8-Way directions. Mouse control includes smooth movement, relative mode, and linear or exponential response curves. Per-controller settings provide a dead zone from 0% to 50% and calibration for thumbstick drift. Auto-scan jumps to an input’s configuration after you press that controller input, then listens for the keyboard assignment. Mappings import and export as JSON. Recontrol requires macOS Accessibility permission, supports one controller and one monitor, and needs macOS 15.6 or later. It downloads directly, does not auto-update, and remains in active development.
Good
- Free with local-only data handling
- Keyboard and mouse remapping
- Switchable and automatic mappings
- Thumbstick calibration and dead-zone control
- JSON mapping import and export
Watch out
- One controller at a time
- One monitor officially supported
- Requires macOS 15.6 or later
- Direct download does not auto-update
Who it suits
It suits Mac users who want to use one game controller with software lacking native gamepad support. It is also useful for people who need customizable keyboard, mouse, and thumbstick mappings.
Verdict
Recontrol offers detailed controller-to-input mapping without collecting personal information or making network requests. Its single-device limits, Accessibility requirement, and direct-download update model define the trade-offs.
The facts
Each one read from Recontrol's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Active development
- The app is in active development and the maker is seeking early user feedback.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Auto scan
- Auto-scan jumps to an input's configuration when that gamepad input is pressed and then listens for the keyboard input to map to it.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Controller limit
- The app supports one controller at a time.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Controller tuning
- Per-controller settings include a dead zone adjustable from 0% to 50% and calibration to correct thumbstick drift.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Development status
- The home page describes Recontrol as in active development and seeking early user feedback.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The home page offers a direct download and warns that the app will not auto-update.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Gamepad settings
- Per-controller settings include dead zone adjustment from 0% to 50% and calibration to correct thumbstick drift.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Input options
- Mappings can assign inputs to keyboard keys and combinations of modifier keys, and can control mouse movement and scrolling.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The maker says the app officially supports one monitor and one controller at a time.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Monitor limit
- The app officially supports one monitor.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Mouse control
- Features include smooth mouse movement, relative mouse mode, and linear or exponential response curves.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- Recontrol requires macOS Accessibility permission to remap a gamepad and send inputs on the user’s behalf.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The privacy policy says the app does not collect personal information or make network requests, and that data stays local to the computer.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Recontrol maps gaming controller inputs to mouse and keyboard inputs for games and applications without gamepad support.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker invites feedback, bug reports, questions, and feature requests by email.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Thumbstick modes
- Each thumbstick can use continuous Smooth mode or 8-Way mode for discrete directional controls.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Keyboard mappings
- Inputs can map to keyboard keys with modifier combinations, including modifier-only combinations and macOS system keys.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Mapping
- Users can create mappings that pair gamepad inputs with mouse or keyboard outputs and switch between mappings for different tasks.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Mapping files
- Mappings can be imported and exported as JSON.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Mappings
- Users can create mappings that pair gamepad inputs with mouse or keyboard outputs and switch between mappings.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Mapping tools
- The app supports importing and exporting mappings as JSON and automatically enabling a mapping when a controller connects.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Minimum macOS
- The changelog says the minimum macOS version was raised to 15.6 in version 2.0.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- Recontrol is built by Dan Neumann, who says he plans to publish its source code on GitHub after it is accepted into the macOS App Store.checked 8 Oct 2026
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