Download InputMapper

Yes, InputMapper is completely free to download and use. There are no paid tiers, no trial periods, and no feature restrictions. The full application — including macro editing, profile management, Xbox 360 emulation via ViGEm, and gyroscope mapping — is available at no cost. The project is developed by DSDCS and hosted on GitHub, where anyone can view the source code. Unlike paid alternatives such as reWASD ($6 license), InputMapper gives you the entire feature set without spending anything.

Yes, InputMapper is safe for Windows 11 and has been tested on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit systems. The installer includes the ViGEmBus driver, which is a well-known open-source virtual gamepad driver used by multiple controller mapping tools. Some antivirus programs may flag the ViGEmBus driver during installation because it modifies system-level device settings — this is a false positive and can be safely dismissed. The software does not collect personal data, does not phone home, and does not install adware or bundled third-party software. For extra peace of mind, you can download the source code directly from the GitHub repository and build it yourself.

InputMapper supports a wide range of controllers: DualShock 3 (via USB adapter/dongle), DualShock 4 (both V1 and V2 hardware revisions), DualSense (PS5 controller), Xbox 360, Xbox One, and generic DirectInput or XInput gamepads. Each controller type has its own detection profile with features specific to that hardware. For example, DS4 and DualSense controllers get touchpad support, light bar color customization, and gyroscope mapping, while Xbox controllers get native XInput passthrough. If your controller shows up as a game device in Windows Device Manager, there is a good chance InputMapper can read it.

You can connect a DualShock 4 to your PC either through USB or Bluetooth. For USB, simply plug the controller into any USB port using a micro-USB cable — Windows will install the basic drivers automatically, and InputMapper will detect it within seconds. For Bluetooth, open Windows Settings, navigate to Bluetooth & Devices, then hold the Share and PS buttons on your DS4 simultaneously until the light bar starts flashing rapidly. Select “Wireless Controller” from the Bluetooth device list. Once paired, launch InputMapper and the controller should appear in the device panel with its battery level and connection type displayed.

Both tools share a common ancestor and handle DualShock 4 mapping well, but they serve slightly different audiences. DS4Windows is lighter weight, actively maintained by a dedicated team, and focuses specifically on DualShock 4 and DualSense controllers. It has a simpler interface and quicker setup. InputMapper covers broader hardware — DualShock 3, Xbox controllers, and generic DirectInput gamepads — all in one application. It also offers a built-in macro editor and more granular dead zone curve controls. If you only use a DS4 or DualSense, DS4Windows may be the simpler choice. If you own multiple controller types or need macros and advanced touchpad zoning, InputMapper offers more under one roof.

Start by checking the basics: make sure your controller is powered on and connected (USB cable firmly seated, or Bluetooth paired in Windows Settings). Then verify these points:

• Confirm the ViGEmBus driver is installed — open Device Manager, look under “System devices” for “Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus.” If missing, reinstall it from the InputMapper installation folder or download it from the ViGEmBus GitHub page.
• Close any other controller software (DS4Windows, Steam Big Picture overlay, reWASD) that might be claiming exclusive access to the device.
• Try a different USB port or cable — some micro-USB cables are charge-only and do not carry data.
• Run InputMapper as Administrator by right-clicking its shortcut and selecting “Run as administrator.”

If Bluetooth detection fails, remove the controller from Windows Bluetooth settings and re-pair it from scratch.

Yes, InputMapper supports the PS5 DualSense controller. You can connect it via USB-C cable or Bluetooth, and InputMapper will detect it as a DualSense device. The software can emulate a virtual Xbox 360 or DS4 controller, remap all buttons, and read the DualSense gyroscope for motion input. Adaptive trigger and haptic feedback features have partial support — the controller will rumble normally, but the nuanced adaptive trigger resistance that PS5 games use is not fully replicated through virtual controller emulation on PC. For full button remapping and Xbox 360 emulation, the DualSense works exactly like a DS4 in InputMapper.

InputMapper is lightweight and runs on most Windows PCs. The minimum requirements are any modern processor, 2 GB of RAM, roughly 150 MB of free disk space, and a USB port for wired controllers (or a Bluetooth adapter for wireless). The software supports Windows XP through Windows 11, though 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 is recommended for the best experience with the ViGEmBus driver. You do not need a dedicated GPU — InputMapper uses minimal system resources and runs in the background without noticeable performance impact. The installer download is 72.2 MB.

Create a new profile in InputMapper and set the output type to “Keyboard/Mouse” instead of Xbox 360 or DS4 emulation. From there, click on any controller input in the visual diagram and choose the keyboard key or mouse action you want it to trigger. For analog sticks mapped to mouse movement, adjust the sensitivity slider to control how fast the cursor moves. You can set the left stick to WASD keys for movement, the right stick to mouse movement for camera control, triggers to left/right mouse clicks, and face buttons to number keys or other shortcuts. Save the profile and click “Start” to activate it. This setup is useful for desktop navigation, browser games, and applications that have no built-in controller support.

The ViGEmBus driver is bundled with the InputMapper installer and installs automatically during setup. If you skipped it or need to reinstall, download the latest ViGEmBus release from its official GitHub repository (github.com/ViGEm/ViGEmBus/releases). Run the ViGEmBus_Setup.exe as Administrator, follow the prompts, and reboot your PC when asked. After rebooting, open Device Manager and check under “System devices” — you should see “Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus” listed. Then launch InputMapper and Xbox 360 emulation will work correctly. Without this driver, InputMapper can still remap buttons to keyboard and mouse, but it cannot create virtual Xbox or DS4 controllers.

Startup crashes usually stem from one of three issues: a corrupted ViGEmBus driver installation, a conflict with another controller tool running in the background, or outdated .NET Framework components. Try these fixes in order:

1. Uninstall and reinstall the ViGEmBus driver, then reboot your PC.
2. Close DS4Windows, Steam, or any other controller management software before launching InputMapper.
3. Make sure .NET Framework 4.6.2 or later is installed (check via Windows Settings > Apps > Optional Features).
4. Run InputMapper as Administrator.
5. If the crash persists, delete the InputMapper configuration folder at %AppData%\InputMapper and restart the app with fresh settings.

If none of that works, check the GitHub Issues page for your specific error message — someone else may have reported the same problem with a known fix.

Yes, InputMapper fully supports Bluetooth connections for DualShock 4, DualSense, and Xbox controllers that have Bluetooth capability. Your PC needs a Bluetooth adapter (built-in or USB dongle) that supports Bluetooth 4.0 or later. Pair the controller through Windows Bluetooth settings first, then launch InputMapper — it will detect the wireless controller and show the battery level in the device panel. Bluetooth connections may have slightly higher input latency (1-4 ms more) compared to USB, which is negligible for most games but noticeable in competitive fighting or rhythm games. For the lowest latency, use a wired USB connection.

Open InputMapper with your controller connected, then click the “New Profile” button in the profile panel. Name the profile something descriptive (like the game or use case), choose your output type (Xbox 360, DS4, or Keyboard/Mouse), and configure your button mappings, dead zones, and sensitivity. Click “Save” when finished. You can create as many profiles as you want and switch between them from the profile dropdown. To link a profile to a specific game, use the “Auto-Profile” feature: select the game’s .exe file and associate your profile with it. Whenever that game launches, InputMapper will switch to the linked profile automatically. Profiles can be exported as files for backup or sharing with other users.

InputMapper received its most recent update on February 19, 2026 (version 1.7.7452.13622). Development has historically been intermittent, with periods of active work followed by longer gaps. The project is hosted on GitHub under the InputMapper organization, and the repository accepts pull requests from the community. While it may not receive monthly updates like DS4Windows, the software remains functional on current Windows versions including Windows 11. For users who want the most actively maintained alternative, DS4Windows has a more frequent release schedule, though InputMapper still works reliably for its supported controller types.

Open Windows Settings, go to Apps & Features (or “Installed apps” on Windows 11), find “InputMapper” in the list, and click Uninstall. The standard uninstaller removes the application files but may leave the ViGEmBus driver and configuration data behind. To fully clean up:

1. Uninstall InputMapper through Windows Settings or Control Panel.
2. Separately uninstall “ViGEm Bus Driver” from the same Apps list if you no longer need virtual controller emulation.
3. Delete the configuration folder at %AppData%\InputMapper for a complete cleanup.
4. If you installed HidGuardian, uninstall it from Device Manager under “System devices.”

Reboot your PC after removing the drivers to ensure all device changes take effect.

No, InputMapper is a Windows-only application. It relies on Windows-specific drivers (ViGEmBus, HidGuardian) and APIs that do not exist on macOS or Linux. If you need controller mapping on other platforms, consider these alternatives: on macOS, Joystick Doctor or the built-in Game Controller settings handle basic remapping. On Linux, AntiMicroX is an open-source controller-to-keyboard mapper that works well, and Steam Input handles most controllers natively within the Steam client on all platforms. For a cross-platform paid option, reWASD supports Windows only but covers the broadest range of advanced features.

Yes, InputMapper works fully offline after installation. The software does not require an internet connection to detect controllers, create profiles, remap buttons, or emulate virtual controllers. All processing happens locally on your machine. The only time you need internet access is to download the installer itself and to check for updates. Once installed, you can use InputMapper on a completely air-gapped system without any issues.

The original InputMapper website (inputmapper.com) is no longer active and redirects to an unrelated site. The official and safest source for InputMapper downloads is the GitHub releases page at github.com/InputMapper/InputMapper/releases. You can also download the latest version from our download section on this page, which links directly to the official GitHub release. Avoid downloading InputMapper from unofficial third-party sites, as those versions may be outdated, modified, or bundled with unwanted software. Always verify the file size (72.2 MB for the current installer) to confirm you have the genuine package.

Double input happens when a game reads both your physical controller and the virtual controller that InputMapper creates, causing every button press to register twice. The fix is to enable HidGuardian in InputMapper’s settings menu. HidGuardian hides the physical controller from all applications except InputMapper, so the game only sees the virtual Xbox 360 or DS4 controller. If HidGuardian is not installed, you can download it separately from its GitHub page. Another workaround is to open the game’s controller settings and manually disable or ignore the duplicate device. In Steam, you can also go to Controller Settings and uncheck support for the physical controller type while letting Steam pass through InputMapper’s virtual device.

Yes, but you need to be aware of potential conflicts with Steam Input. Steam has its own built-in controller management that can interfere with InputMapper’s virtual controllers. For the best results, open Steam, go to Settings > Controller, and disable “PlayStation Configuration Support” and “Xbox Configuration Support” so Steam does not try to remap the virtual controller that InputMapper already created. If you use Big Picture mode, also disable the Steam overlay controller features. With those settings adjusted, InputMapper’s Xbox 360 emulation works normally with Steam games, and you get the benefit of InputMapper’s more granular dead zone, macro, and profile features on top of Steam’s game library.