Xbox 360 & DualShock 4 emulation
Expose your pad as a virtual Xbox 360 controller for the widest game support, or as a virtual DualShock 4 to keep PlayStation button icons in games that support them.
Free Windows controller mapper
InputMapper – Advanced Controller Mapping and Configuration Software for Windows PC
InputMapper is an advanced controller mapping solution for Windows, designed to deliver precision, flexibility, and seamless control. Effortlessly remap buttons, configure personalized profiles, and fine-tune controller settings to suit your gaming preferences. With support for compatible controllers via USB and Bluetooth, InputMapper provides a refined, customizable, and responsive PC gaming experience.
Virtual Xbox 360 pad
Per-game profiles
01
What is InputMapper
A translator between your controller and your games
InputMapper is a free Windows utility that sits between a physical gamepad and the games you play. Most PC titles are built around Microsoft's XInput standard, which means they expect an Xbox controller. A PlayStation pad speaks a different protocol, so many games either ignore it or show the wrong buttons.
InputMapper fixes that mismatch by creating a virtual controller. Your real DualShock 4 talks to InputMapper, and InputMapper hands the inputs to Windows as a virtual Xbox 360 pad, a virtual DualShock 4, or plain keyboard and mouse events. The game sees a device it already understands.
The project began around 2015 as a DualShock 4 helper from the same early community that produced DS4Windows. It has since grown into a general mapper with game profiles, macros, light bar control and support for several controller families. A separate, newer app sharing the InputMapper name is also listed on the Microsoft Store; we cover both on this page.
Your physical controller
DualShock 4, DualShock 3, Xbox pad or a generic USB gamepad sends raw HID data.
InputMapper engine
Reads every button and axis, applies your mapping, dead zones and macros.
Virtual device
A virtual Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 pad is created through the ViGEm bus driver.
Your game
The game reads a controller it supports natively, with correct prompts and vibration.
02
Features
Everything InputMapper does for your gamepad
Six core capabilities turn a console controller into a fully configurable PC input device, with no paid tier hiding any of them.
Full button and axis remapping
Swap face buttons, invert a stick, move a function to the touchpad press, or send any button to a keyboard key for games that never supported controllers.
Auto-switching profiles
Save a layout per game and link it to the game's executable so the right profile loads the moment the game starts.
Macros
Record a sequence of presses and fire it from one button, ideal for menu shortcuts or repeated single-player actions.
Dead zones & curves
Tune stick dead zones and sensitivity to calm a worn stick or sharpen aim without touching in-game settings.
Light bar, rumble and touchpad
Set the DualShock 4 light bar colour or use it as a battery gauge, adjust vibration strength, and use the touchpad as a mouse on the desktop.
Wired or wireless
Connect over USB for zero-fuss play, or pair through Bluetooth for a cable-free couch setup with live battery reporting.
How it works
From plug-in to play in four moves
InputMapper runs quietly in the system tray. Here is what happens every time you connect a controller.
1
Detect
The HID listener spots your controller over USB or Bluetooth and shows it with battery and connection type.
2
Claim
Exclusive mode hides the real pad from games so they only see one controller, never two.
3
Translate
Your active profile maps each button, axis and macro to the chosen output device.
4
Emulate
A virtual Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 pad delivers the result to the game in real time.
03
Installation
Install InputMapper on Windows 10 & 11
Setup takes about five minutes. Pick your connection type below for the exact steps.
- 1
Close other mappers
Quit Steam, DS4Windows and any other controller tool. Two mappers on one pad is the most common cause of double input.
- 2
Download and extract
Use the Download button, save the ZIP, right-click it and choose Extract All to a folder you can find again.
- 3
Run the installer and accept drivers
Approve the driver prompts. They install the virtual bus driver that creates the emulated Xbox pad.
- 4
Plug in with a data cable
Connect the controller and press the PS button. Charge-only cables power the pad but carry no data, so it will not appear.
- 5
Confirm in joy.cpl
Press Win + R, type
joy.cpland check that an Xbox 360 controller responds to your inputs.
- 1
Install InputMapper first
Complete the download and driver steps from the USB tab so the virtual device is ready before pairing.
- 2
Enter pairing mode
Hold Share and PS together until the light bar flashes in quick double pulses.
- 3
Pair in Windows
Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Add device → Bluetooth and select Wireless Controller.
- 4
Open InputMapper
The pad appears with a Bluetooth icon and battery level. Choose virtual Xbox 360 as the output.
- 5
Keep the adapter close
Use a Bluetooth 4.0+ adapter on a front USB port. USB 3.0 ports and long distances cause dropouts and input lag.
04
Use cases
Where InputMapper earns its place
Real situations where a mapper solves a problem Windows and game launchers leave open.
Non-Steam games
Epic, Xbox app & GOG titles
Steam Input only covers games launched through Steam. InputMapper brings PlayStation pads to every other launcher.
Emulators
Retro and console emulators
Give emulators a clean XInput device so mapping screens recognise every button on the first try.
Keyboard-only games
Play mouse-and-keyboard games
Map sticks to WASD and the mouse, triggers to clicks, and play older PC titles from the sofa.
Media
Couch media remote
Control video players and music apps with the touchpad and face buttons on a living-room PC.
Local co-op
Multiple controllers
Connect several pads at once and give each player a separate virtual Xbox controller for split-screen games.
Accessibility
Comfort layouts
Move hard-to-reach actions to easier buttons and build macros that reduce repeated presses for players who need it.
05
Download
Download InputMapper for Windows
Grab the free package, then follow the installation steps above. Check the details below so you get the build that suits your PC.
InputMapper package
Free download for Windows 7, 8.1, 10 and 11. No account, no payment, no trial limits.
Download ZIP Hosted on GitHub · unofficial guide site, not affiliated with the developer| Package | ZIP archive from GitHub |
|---|---|
| Latest classic build | 1.7.7452.13622 (labelled Beta) |
| Older lines | 1.6.x for legacy PCs, 1.5.x archived |
| Licence | Freeware, optional donation removes the in-app ad |
| Operating system | Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 |
| Required driver | ViGEmBus virtual bus driver |
| Not available for | macOS, Linux, Android |
Using a PS5 DualSense, DualSense Edge or Switch Pro pad? The classic build has limited support for these. The newer InputMapper app on the Microsoft Store, DS4Windows or DSX handle them better.
06
Compatibility & vs
Controller compatibility and how InputMapper compares
Two apps share the InputMapper name, and they support different hardware. Check your controller first, then see how the tool stacks up against popular alternatives.
Supported controllers
| Controller | Classic InputMapper | Microsoft Store InputMapper | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| DualShock 4 / DS4 V2 | Full | Yes | USB, Bluetooth |
| DualSense (PS5) | Limited | Yes | USB, Bluetooth |
| DualSense Edge | No | Yes + paddles | USB, Bluetooth |
| DualShock 3 (PS3) | Yes | Not listed | USB |
| Xbox 360 / Xbox One | Yes | Yes | USB, Bluetooth, adapter |
| Nintendo Switch Pro | Not listed | Yes | USB, Bluetooth |
| PS Move Navigation | Yes | Not listed | USB, Bluetooth |
| Generic XInput / DirectInput | Yes | Not listed | USB |
InputMapper vs alternatives
| Tool | Cost | Open source | Best for | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| InputMapper | Free | No | DualShock 4, auto profiles, macros | Slow development, weak DualSense |
| DS4Windows | Free | Yes | DualShock 4 and DualSense | Community support only |
| reWASD | Paid | No | Deep combos for any pad | Licence cost, learning curve |
| DSX | Freemium | No | DualSense triggers and haptics | PS5 controllers only |
| Steam Input | Free | No | Games launched in Steam | Useless outside Steam |
07
Troubleshooting
Fix the problems InputMapper users hit most
Pick the symptom you are seeing to get the likely cause and the fix order that works.
Cause: another program holds the controller
Restore exclusive mode
- Close Steam, Discord overlay, DS4Windows and browser tabs that use gamepads.
- Disconnect the controller and reconnect it with InputMapper already open.
- Install or reinstall HidGuardian, then restart Windows.
- If it still fails, run InputMapper as administrator once to let it whitelist itself.
Cause: cable, driver or unsupported pad
Get the controller recognised
- Swap to a known data cable; charge-only cables never show up.
- Try a rear USB 2.0 port directly on the motherboard.
- Check Device Manager for a yellow warning under Human Interface Devices.
- For a PS5 DualSense, use the Microsoft Store app or DS4Windows instead of the classic build.
Cause: game reads the real and the virtual pad
Stop duplicate controllers
- Enable exclusive mode in InputMapper's device settings.
- Disable Steam Input for that game in its controller settings.
- Make sure DS4Windows is fully closed, not just minimised.
- Recheck in joy.cpl that only one Xbox 360 controller is listed.
Cause: weak adapter or radio interference
Stabilise the wireless link
- Use a Bluetooth 4.0 or newer adapter.
- Move the adapter to a front port or a short USB extension cable.
- Keep it away from USB 3.0 ports and Wi-Fi routers.
- Turn off Bluetooth power saving in Device Manager → adapter → Power Management.
Cause: virtual bus driver removed or broken
Repair drivers after an update
- Uninstall InputMapper from Apps & features.
- Uninstall ViGEmBus and HidGuardian if they are listed.
- Restart, then reinstall InputMapper and accept all driver prompts.
- Re-import your backed-up profiles.
Cause: worn analog stick (drift)
Calm stick drift
- Open the profile and raise the stick dead zone in small steps.
- Test in joy.cpl until the cursor stays centred at rest.
- Clean around the stick base with isopropyl alcohol while the pad is off.
- The Microsoft Store InputMapper can measure the rest position and cancel the offset.
08
System requirements
What your PC needs to run InputMapper
InputMapper is lightweight. Driver support, not raw hardware, decides whether it works well.
Operating system
Windows 10 / 11
Recommended. Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 work for legacy installs.
Architecture
x64 or x86
Windows on ARM is unreliable because of driver limits.
Disk space
~150 MB
About 72 MB installer plus drivers and profiles.
Memory
2 GB RAM+
Runs in the tray with a small footprint while you game.
Driver
ViGEmBus
Installed during setup to create virtual controllers.
Connection
USB 2.0 / 3.0
Use a data cable; charge-only cables are not detected.
Wireless
Bluetooth 4.0+
Built-in or a USB adapter for cable-free play.
Permissions
Administrator
Needed once to install drivers during setup.
09
Safety
Is InputMapper safe to use?
Yes, when you download it from a trusted source. InputMapper installs kernel-level helper drivers to create virtual controllers, which is normal for this type of tool. Keep these points in mind:
- No paid version exists. Every feature is free, so there is nothing to unlock or "crack".
- Driver warnings are expected. Windows asks you to approve the virtual bus driver; that prompt is legitimate.
- Scan before you run. Right-click the extracted files and scan them with Microsoft Defender before installing.
- Avoid repacked .exe files. Unknown mirrors offering "InputMapper 2.0 full" or "APK" versions are not genuine.
- Skip automation in ranked play. Remapping is fine, but turbo or aim macros can break anti-cheat rules in competitive games.
Pros and cons
The honest verdict on InputMapper
A strong free choice for DualShock 4 owners, with clear trade-offs for newer hardware.
Pros
- Completely free with no feature locks
- Simple setup for DualShock 4 over USB or Bluetooth
- Profiles switch automatically when a game launches
- Built-in macro recorder
- Keyboard and mouse output for non-controller games
- Light bar, rumble and touchpad control
Cons
- Classic build still labelled Beta with slow updates
- Limited PS5 DualSense support in the classic app
- Exclusive mode can break after Windows updates
- Small in-app ad until you donate
- Windows only: no macOS, Linux or Android
- Closed source, unlike DS4Windows
FAQs
InputMapper questions, answered
InputMapper lets a PlayStation or generic controller work in PC games that only accept Xbox controllers. It creates a virtual Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 pad and lets you remap buttons, set dead zones and save per-game profiles.
Yes. Every feature is free. The classic app shows a small in-app advert that disappears after an optional donation of two dollars or more; there is no paid edition.
Yes. Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 are supported for legacy PCs, often with the older 1.6 line. Current drivers mainly target Windows 10 and 11, so expect fewer fixes on older systems.
Most users should install the newest 1.7 build. The 1.6 line suits older Windows installs where 1.7 misbehaves, and 1.5 is only worth keeping for archive purposes.
No. InputMapper is Windows-only. Android 10 and later already pairs a DualShock 4 or DualSense natively over Bluetooth, so no mapper app is needed for most games.
The classic build has limited DualSense support and often fails to detect it. The newer InputMapper app on the Microsoft Store, DS4Windows or DSX are better choices for PS5 pads.
No. Both tools try to claim the same controller, which causes double inputs and connection errors. Close or uninstall one before using the other.
Another program, often Steam or a browser, is holding the controller, or a Windows update has broken exclusive mode. Close other apps, reconnect the pad and reinstall HidGuardian if needed.
Usually not for Steam games, because Steam Input supports PlayStation pads. InputMapper is useful for non-Steam launchers, emulators and desktop control.
The classic InputMapper app is closed source and distributed as an installer. GitHub searches return several unrelated projects with similar names, so check what a repository actually contains before running it.
Yes. Choose keyboard and mouse output to play games that have no controller support, mapping sticks to WASD and mouse movement and triggers to clicks.
The newest classic build, 1.7.7452.13622, is still labelled Beta. It works for most users, but keep a backup of your profiles and know how to roll back to 1.6 if a feature breaks.