macOS 13+ · Menu bar app
A mouse you already own.
JoyPointer turns any controller macOS recognizes — 8BitDo, Nintendo Pro Controller, PlayStation, Xbox — into the system pointer. Stick to move, A to click, right stick to scroll. Nothing else to install.
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How it works
-
Point
Left stick or D-pad. Speed and dead zone are yours to tune.
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Click and drag
A left-clicks, B right-clicks. Hold to drag. Remap to any button.
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Scroll
Right stick, both axes, smoothed so slow reading stays steady.
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Type
Y opens the macOS on-screen keyboard. Registered games pause control automatically.
Default mapping
Sensible out of the box. Yours in a click.
JoyPointer reads the pad through Apple's GameController framework and posts real mouse events, so every app sees an ordinary mouse. It lives in the menu bar and steps aside the moment a game you registered comes to the front.
| Controller | Action | Adjustable |
|---|---|---|
| Left stick / D-pad | Move the pointer | Speed, dead zone |
| Right stick | Scroll | Speed, or off |
| A | Left click, hold to drag | Any of A B X Y L1 R1 L2 R2 |
| B | Right click | Any of A B X Y L1 R1 L2 R2 |
| Y | Toggle on-screen keyboard | Any of A B X Y L1 R1 L2 R2 |
Lifetime License
Pricing
$22once
Activate on up to 3 Macs. Every future version is included and installs from inside the app. No subscription, no account.
Buy JoyPointer · $22macOS 13 Ventura or later · Secure checkout and taxes by Lemon Squeezy · License key and download link arrive by email
Requirements
What you need
- macOS 13 Ventura or later on Apple Silicon or Intel.
- A macOS-compatible controller, paired in System Settings → Bluetooth first. 8BitDo pads use their Apple or D-Input mode.
- Accessibility permission. macOS asks once; JoyPointer needs it to move the pointer and post clicks.
- A license key. JoyPointer is a paid app and controls the pointer only after activation.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Where is my license key?
It is in the Lemon Squeezy receipt email sent right after purchase, together with the download link. You can also open the order from that email at any time. Paste the key into JoyPointer → License → Activate.
How many Macs can I use it on?
One license activates up to 3 Macs. To move to a new Mac, open JoyPointer on an old one and choose “Deactivate this Mac”, or write to us and we will free a slot.
How do updates work?
JoyPointer checks for updates itself and installs them with one click, using the Sparkle framework with signed, notarized builds. Updates are included in the lifetime license.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. Lemon Squeezy is the merchant of record for your purchase. If JoyPointer does not work for you, email me@heg.wtf within 14 days of purchase with your order number and we will refund it.
What does the app send over the network?
Only two things, only when you activate, validate, or deactivate a license: your license key and this Mac's name, sent to the Lemon Squeezy License API over HTTPS. Update checks fetch a small signed feed from this site. There is no account, no analytics, and no telemetry. This website has no analytics either. See the privacy policy.
Why not the Mac App Store?
JoyPointer toggles the macOS Keyboard Viewer through Accessibility APIs and scans Steam libraries for game auto-suspend. Neither is possible inside the App Store sandbox, so JoyPointer is sold here and notarized by Apple for Gatekeeper.
Which controllers work?
Anything macOS lists as a game controller with an extended gamepad profile: 8BitDo (Apple / D-Input mode), Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, PlayStation DualShock 4 and DualSense, Xbox Wireless controllers, and most Bluetooth pads that follow the same profile.
Ready to point from the couch?
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