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Controller pairing guide

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Jacques Gagnon edited this page Jan 24, 2025 · 74 revisions

Table of contents

i - Your controller not in the list?

I can add support for it if it's uniquely identifiable in one of its modes of operation.
Follow this guide to get me a Bluetooth trace of it:
Getting BlueRetro Debug Trace

ii - BlueRetro Joystick calibration

Each time a controller is connected to BlueRetro every axis (Joysticks & Triggers) neutral value is calibrated. This calibration assume the joysticks and triggers are left to their neutral position during the connection process.

Some controller like Xbox, Stadia or any device in XInput mode do not send report update if no buttons/axes are pressed.

So for Xbox, Stadia or any device in XInput mode it's important to press a button (like A) a couple time after connection while the joysticks and triggers are left to their neutral position so that BlueRetro is able to calibrate the neutral values properly.

1 - List of tested Bluetooth devices

1.1 - List of tested Bluetooth Gamepads

  • Controller may have multiple hardware revision; only the ones listed under Product Number were tested.
  • Controller may have various mode of operation; only the ones listed under Mode is supported.
  • Controller often spoof the name of another ones and may not be detectable; for thoses a mapping preset other than default may be required and is listed under Mapping preset.
Name Product Number Mode Mapping Src Label Mapping preset Pairing Guide
8bitdo GBros. Adapter 83GA Xinput GameCube Default Gamepad 7
8bitdo M30 Bluetooth 80HA Xinput Saturn Default Gamepad 7, 7.3
8bitdo N30 Arcade Stick NS30 Xinput Xbox One S / X|S Default Gamepad 7
8bitdo N64 RB8-N64 HID Generic N64 Default Gamepad
8bitdo N64 Modkit S Switch N64 Default Gamepad 15
8BitDo NGC Modkit Android GameCube Default Gamepad 16
8bitdo NeoGeo Gamepad BT NeoGeo Default Gamepad
8bitdo SF30 Pro 80DB Xinput 8bitdo SN30 / SF30 Default Gamepad 7
8bitdo S30 Modkit Xinput Saturn Default Gamepad 7, 7.3
8bitdo N30 Modkit Xinput NES Default Gamepad 7, 7.3
8bitdo Ultimate BT WiiU / Switch Pro Default Gamepad 7
Atari VCS Classic 1511233-01 HID Generic Xbox One S / X|S Default Gamepad 17
Atari VCS Modern 1511232-01 HID Generic Xbox One S / X|S Default Gamepad 17
Google Stadia H2B HID Generic Default Default Gamepad 14
Exlene GameCube Switch WiiU / Switch Pro Default Gamepad 12
Hyperkin Admiral N64 MO7389-AP Switch N64 Default Gamepad 13
Microsoft Xbox Adaptive 1836 BT Xbox One S / X|S Default Gamepad 4
Microsoft Xbox One S 1708 BT Xbox One S / X|S Default Gamepad 4
Microsoft Xbox Series X|S 1954 BT Xbox One S / X|S Default Gamepad 4
Nintendo Switch Famicom & NES HAC-033-036 Switch Switch NES Default Gamepad 6
Nintendo Switch Joycon (Dual) HAC-015-016 Switch Switch Joycon Switch Left/Right Joycon Upright 6.3
Nintendo Switch Joycon (Single) HAC-015-016 Switch Switch Joycon Default Gamepad 6
Nintendo Switch MD & Genesis 3btns HAC-045 Switch Switch MD / Genesis Default Gamepad 6
Nintendo Switch Mega Drive 6btns HAC-046 Switch Switch MD / Genesis Default Gamepad 6
Nintendo Switch N64 HAC-043 Switch Switch N64 Default Gamepad 6
Nintendo Switch Pro HAC-013 Switch WiiU / Switch Pro Default Gamepad 6
Nintendo Switch SFC & SNES HAC-042 Switch Switch SNES Default Gamepad 6
Nintendo Wiimote RVL-036 Wii Wiimote Default Gamepad 5
Nintendo Wiimote + Classic RVL-005 Wii Wiimote + Classic Default Gamepad 5
Nintendo Wiimote + Classic Pro RVL-005 (-02) Wii Wiimote + Classic Pro Default Gamepad 5
Nintendo Wiimote + Nunchuck RVL-004 Wii Wiimote + Nunchuck Default Gamepad 5
Nintendo WiiU Pro WUP-005 Wii WiiU / Switch Pro Default Gamepad 5 Press -
PowerA GameCube 1511638-01 Switch WiiU / Switch Pro Default Gamepad 6
Retro-Bit SEGA Saturn Bluetooth Xinput Saturn Default Gamepad 8
Retro Fighters Brawler64 Bluetooth Switch Switch N64 Default Gamepad 11
Retro Fighters Warrior Adapter Xinput Game Cube Default Gamepad 10
Sony PS3 DualShock 3 PS3 PS3 Default Gamepad 2
Sony PS3 Sixaxis PS3 PS3 Default Gamepad 2
Sony PS4 DualShock 4 PS4 PS4 / PS5 Default Gamepad 3
Sony PS5 DualSense CFI-ZCT1W PS5 PS4 / PS5 Default Gamepad 3
Valve Steam Controller 1001 Lizard (BLE) KB & Mouse DC FPS for Steam ctrl lizard 9

1.2 - List of tested Bluetooth Keyboards

If your keyboard prompt for a pin on Windows you may have to do the same with BlueRetro. Simply put 0000 and press Enter (BlueRetro have no way to ask you to do so). This is only needed for older BT keyboard, BT 4.0+ (LE) will not ask for a pin.

  • Logitech MX5000 (Enter pin 0000 when prompted by KB screen)
  • Logitech K600
  • 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

1.3 - List of tested Bluetooth Mouses

  • Logitech MX Master 2S
  • Logitech M585
  • Logitech M720
  • Rapoo MT550
  • Rapoo 7200M

2 - PS3 Pairing Guide

  • Note: only official PS3 controllers are supported.

2.1 - First pairing

2.1.1 - Windows

  1. Download and install Sixaxis Pair Tool
  2. Determine BlueRetro MAC address

  • Open https://blueretro.io/ in a chrome web browser (desktop/android).

  • Navigate to "BlueRetro System Manager".

  • Click on "Connect BlueRetro".

  • Pair your device.

    On connection the MAC address of the device will be shown: write it down.

    Connected to:BlueRetro_XX_XXXX
(XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX)[v.x.x.x]
  1. Connect your PS3 controller to PC using USB cable.
  2. Launch Sixaxis pair tool and type in the address found in step #2.
  3. Click update, once done disconnect the controller from PC.
  4. Boot up BlueRetro and press the PS button, the controller should connect to BlueRetro.

2.1.2 - OSX

  1. Install Prerequisites (macOS)

  • Install Homebrew https://brew.sh

  • Install required libs & packages

    brew install wget libusb libusb-compat

  1. Compile sixpair binary

    mkdir ~/Documents/sixpair
cd ~/Documents/sixpair
wget -O sixpair.c https://gist.github.com/wouterds/4ab5715966812009d634e3d034abc7fc/raw
gcc -o sixpair sixpair.c $(pkg-config --cflags --libs libusb)

    If everything went well you should now have a sixpair executable at ~/Documents/sixpair.

  2. Determine BlueRetro MAC address

  • Open https://blueretro.io/ in a chrome web browser (desktop/android)

  • Navigate to "BlueRetro System Manager"

  • Click on "Connect BlueRetro"

  • Pair your device

    On connection the MAC address of the device will be shown. Write it down.

    Connected to:BlueRetro_XX_XXXX
(XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX)[v.x.x.x]

  • Open a shell terminal and set the master PS3 address to BlueRetro MAC address

    .~/Documents/sixpair/sixpair XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

2.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press PS button to reconnect to BlueRetro.

3 - PS4 & PS5 Pairing Guide

3.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Press & hold simultaneously Share & PS buttons until the LED blink white.
  3. Color on controller will change once pairing is complete.

3.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press PS button to reconnect to BlueRetro.

4 - Xbox Pairing Guide

Update firmware via the Xbox accessories Win10 app.

4.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power on controller via Xbox button and then hold the black sync button until the logo blink.
  3. Logo will stop blinking on controller once pairing is complete.
  4. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

4.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply hold Xbox button for a small moment to power on controller and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.
  2. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

5 - Wii & WiiU Pro Pairing Guide

  • 1+2 pairing is not supported.

5.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Press red Sync button.
  3. LEDs will stop blinking on controller once pairing is complete.

5.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press any button on controller and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.

6 - Switch Pairing Guide

6.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Press and hold sync button until LEDs move in a left/right pattern.
  3. LEDs will stop pattern on controller once pairing is complete.

6.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press any button twice on controller and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.

6.3 - Dual Joycon Pairing Guide

  1. Go to https://blueretro.io/presets.html and connect to your BlueRetro.
  2. First select output 1 and select "Switch Left Joycon Upright" click save, wait for green text to appear.
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  3. Then select output 2 and select "Switch Right Joycon Upright" click save, wait for green text to appear.
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  4. Then pair the joycon with blueretro separately using the sync button hidden on the sliding side.
    It's important to connect the left joycon first, then connect the right joycon.
  5. After that you can clip them on the middle support and they should function as one controller.

7 - 8bitdo Pairing Guide

Update firmware via the 8bitdo Upgrade tool Win10 app.

7.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power up 8bitdo controller in Xinput mode (Start + X or set switch to X) (Only Xinput mode supported!!).
  3. Press and hold sync button until LEDs flash.
  4. LEDs will stop pattern on controller once pairing is complete.
  5. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

7.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press Start on controller and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.
  2. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

7.3 - D-pad as Joystick or D-pad configuration

Most 8bitdo controllers are configured to have the D-pad emulate a joystick by default. In most case for BlueRetro you will want to configure it as a d-pad.

See 8bitdo support page FAQs for each controller for more info.

  • 8bitdo S30 Modkit: Hold Up + L + R for 5 seconds
  • 8bitdo N30 Modkit: Hold Up + Select for 5 seconds
  • 8bitdo M30 Bluetooth: Hold Up + Select for 5 seconds

8 - Retro-Bit Pairing Guide

8.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power up Retro-Bit controller in Xinput mode (Home + X) (Only Xinput mode supported!!).
  3. If done properly 2 LEDs will flash.
  4. LEDs will stop flashing on controller once pairing is complete and rumble will trigger.

8.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press Homeon controller and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.

9 - Steam controller Pairing Guide

You need to first install the BLE firmware update:
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1796-5FC3-88B3-C85F

9.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power on controller by holding Y and then pressing the Steam button.
  3. Logo will stop blinking on controller once pairing is complete.

9.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press Steam button to power on controller and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.

10 - RetroFighters Warrior Adapter Pairing Guide

10.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power on adapter by holding Home + Minus simultaneously until LED start blinking fast.
  3. LED will stop blinking once pairing is complete.

10.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press Home button to power on adapter and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.

11 - RetroFighters Brawler64 Bluetooth Pairing Guide

11.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power up Brawler64 by holding sync button until LEDs move in a up/down pattern.
  3. LED will stop blinking once pairing is complete.

11.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press any button a few time to power it on and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.

12 - Exlene GameCube Pairing Guide

The controller will mock an Switch Pro controller and can't be uniquely identified. As such you need to press (-) to toggle on the Rotated name based mapping.

12.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power up the Exlene controller by holding Home until LED start blinking fast.
  3. LED will stop blinking once pairing is complete.

12.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press Home button to power on Exlene controller and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.

13 - Hyperkin Admiral Pairing Guide

13.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power up the controller by holding the Sync button until LED start blinking fast.
  3. LED will stop blinking once pairing is complete.

13.2 - Reconnect

  1. It's important to press the A button to power on the Admiral controller as it's select the default internal mapping of the controller.
    It will reconnect to BlueRetro after doing so.

14 - Google Stadia Pairing Guide

14.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power up the Stadia controller by holding Stadia button + the Y button simultaneously until LED start blinking orange.
  3. LED will blink white once pairing is complete.

14.2 - Reconnect

  1. Simply press Stadia button to power on Stadia controller and it will reconnect to BlueRetro.

15 - 8BitDo N64 Modkit Pairing Guide

15.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Set switch at bottom of 8BitDo rumble to S.
  3. Power up the 8BitDo N64 Modkit controller by holding start.
  4. Hold sync button until LED start blinking fast.
  5. LED will stop blinking once pairing is complete.
  6. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

15.2 - Reconnect

  1. Set switch at bottom of 8BitDo rumble to S.
  2. Power up the 8BitDo N64 Modkit controller by holding start.
  3. LED will stop blinking once pairing is complete.
  4. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

16 - 8BitDo NGC Modkit Pairing Guide

8bitdo Switch mode will not work properly with BlueRetro.

Make sure to use either the Default Gamepad only or the Default Gamepad/Keyboard presets to make the triggers end button active. (Merge preset simulate the end button base on analog position.)

16.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Power up 8BitDo NGC Modkit in Android mode (Start + B) (Only Android mode supported!!).
  3. LEDs on controller will stop flashing once pairing is complete.
  4. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

16.2 - Reconnect

  1. Power up the 8BitDo NGC Modkit controller by holding start.
  2. LED will stop blinking once pairing is complete.
  3. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

17 - Atari VCS Pairing Guide

17.1 - First pairing

  1. Boot up BlueRetro and make sure adapter is in inquiry mode (LED pulsing).
  2. Press and hold the Atari button until the button LED start flashing quickly.
  3. LEDs on controller will stop flashing once pairing is complete.
  4. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.

17.2 - Reconnect

  1. Press and release the Atari button.
  2. LED will stop blinking once pairing is complete.
  3. Press A buttons a few times to make sure joystick center value is properly init.
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