How to connect a joystick to your phone

Modern smartphones and tablet computers have a wide range of functionality. Owners of the device can connect a variety of gadgets to them, one of which is a gaming joystick. In this case, the connection can be made without any special skills. And we will talk about how to do this in today’s article.

Is it possible to connect a joystick to Android

The need to connect a gamepad to phones or tablets running on the Android operating system may arise for a number of reasons. But the main one is the need to play such legends as:

• GTA;
• FIFA;
• NFS and a number of other games.

And to the delight of gamers, connecting a joystick to Android is a doable procedure. At the same time, users will be able to connect both wired and wireless devices from a PC and a number of game consoles to smartphones or tablets.

Difficulty connecting the game joystick to the phone

Inexperienced gamers may encounter a number of difficulties when connecting gaming devices to smartphones:

• lack of software;
• mismatch of connectors;
• The game is designed for PC.

Lack of software.

If special programs for connecting joysticks are not installed on your phone or tablet computer, then, alas, it will not work. To correct the situation, you will need to download the appropriate utilities and follow the instructions that will be presented below.

Different connectors.

A joystick for a PC or game console will have a different connector with an Android phone. In view of the above, connecting devices to each other can only be done after purchasing a special adapter.

The game was intended for PC, but was optimized for Android devices.

This complexity is not uncommon, and in most cases it will not be possible to connect a gamepad. The thing is that not all applications are designed to be played using a console.

Attention! The latter case mostly applies to wireless joysticks, and by connecting a wired gamepad, the problem can be solved.

These are just a number of common difficulties, but in most cases these are what gamers who want to synchronize devices face.

What is needed to connect a joystick to a smartphone

To connect the joystick to an Android smartphone, you will need to download the appropriate software or purchase a special adapter in case the connectors do not match.

In addition, you will need to strictly follow the instructions for synchronizing two gadgets, which will help you avoid complications and complete the procedure as quickly as possible.

And, of course, successful connection is only possible in situations if you use a modern joystick in working condition, and not old models!

Instructions for connecting a joystick to an Android phone

Joysticks fall into three main categories:

• designed for mobile devices;
• wired gamepads;
• wireless models.

In the first case, everything is clear, and these devices are already adapted to work with a smartphone or tablet. They are produced by many companies, and, as a rule, there are no problems with connecting to a mobile device. And it is done either via Bluetooth or through a special cable.

But wired and wireless gamepads were originally designed for PCs and game consoles. And connecting them to a mobile phone will be done a little differently.

Wired gamepad

Connecting a wired device to a mobile phone is quite simple, and at the same time the most affordable option. At the starting stage, you will need to prepare the phone itself, as well as the joystick and USB On The Go cable. You can also try to connect via USB OTG if the first option turns out to be ineffective.

In this case, before starting the procedure, you should go to the application store for Android devices and download a special utility called Tincore Keymapper from its pages. After installing it, you can connect a gamepad, set the necessary settings and enjoy both the comfortable control and the game itself.

Wireless joystick

Connecting this device is a more complex procedure and requires the following instructions.

Important! The connection can only be made from a smartphone that has root rights.

Synchronization will be performed using Bluetooth and include a number of additional manipulations.

1. The first step is to install a special program called Sixaxis Compatibility Checker on your mobile device.It is designed to check the compatibility of the phone and the connected joystick. To download the utility, you can visit the application store for Android OS or find it on specialized websites.
2. Then download the SixaxisPairTool program to the PC, having previously synchronized the joystick with the computer via a USB cable. If the actions are performed correctly, the utility will launch its own driver and display a 12-digit address on the display.
3. The next step is to install the Sixaxis Controller utility on the phone and then launch it. You will need to confirm permission for root access.
4. Next, the program should display the 12-digit address that previously appeared on the PC display. This address is entered on the computer in the SixaxisPairTool application in the Change Master cell and then click on Update.
5. Then the joystick should be disconnected and reconnected to the computer using the PS or X key.

If everything is done correctly, one light will light up and in the program on your smartphone you will need to click on Change Input Method, and then set the desired device.

What to do if the joystick does not connect to your Android phone

The joystick may not connect to the device in several situations:

• lack of root rights;
• incompatibility between phone and gamepad;
• wrong actions.

In the first two cases, the procedure for synchronizing two devices, unfortunately, will not work, and you will need to use another smartphone or gamepad. But in the latter situation, you will need to study the instructions again and determine at what stage the mistake was made.