Please note that this only affects newer controllers bundled with Xbox One S/Xbox One X (controller model 1708). Older controllers are not affected. You can easily resolve this issue by either connecting the controller to your Mac via Bluetooth rather than USB, or connecting the controller directly to your Xbox console. How to join Xbox party chat on PC? In this tutorial, I show you how to start and join an Xbox Party on your Windows computer. This means you can chat with yo. Stream music and video content to your Xbox console using PlayTo Xbox feature that enables your Xbox 360 or Xbox One console to play streamed media from compatible devices and apps in Windows 10, including the Groove Music and Movies & TV apps.
If you are having a difficult time joining chats or multiplayer matches on your Xbox One it may be due to your network having a Strict or Moderate NAT Type. To change your NAT Type from Strict or Moderate to Open you will need to assign a permanent IP address to your console and then forward some ports in your router. This guide should help you solve this common networking problem and get you back to enjoying your game.
Assigning a permanent IP address to your Xbox One ensures that your console always has the same internal IP address even after it is rebooted. Some routers allow you to manually assign an IP address, so you should check to see if that is an option in your router. If your router does not allow manual assignments, you can set up a static IP address in your Xbox One console.
Assign a Static IP Address to your Xbox One In Your Router
In your router, look for a way to manually assign an IP address. This process will differ depending on the specific router that you have. If you find this feature in your router, simply assign a permanent IP address to your Xbox One (in your router) and no changes are required in your Xbox One console. Your router will take care of always assigning your Xbox One the same internal IP address which will function the same as a static IP.
If you have a router that does not allow you to manually assign IP addresses, you will need to set up a static IP address within your Xbox One console. Follow these steps to assign an IP address in your router:
1. You can try to permanently assign your Xbox One to the IP address that it is currently using. You can find the current IP address under advanced settings in the Xbox One Dashboard menu. To find the IP address, power up your Xbox One console and follow these steps:
- Go to the home screen and push the menu button on the controller
- Select Settings
- Select Network
- Select Advanced settings
- In the IP settings section you should see the IP address listed. (See screenshot below.) Write down this number because you will need to enter it into your router later.
- You should see Wired MAC address or Wireless MAC address listed under IP settings as well. The MAC address of your Xbox One console is a unique number and every console is assigned a different one from the factory. Write down the 12-digit address for the one that you are using (wired or wireless.)In your router, you will need to assign this MAC address to the IP address you have chosen (see step 2 for instructions.)
2. Login to your router (through your computer) and permanently assign your Xbox One to the IP address you found in step 1. For help logging in to your router visit our login guides.
Here is an example of a router that allows you to manually assign IP addresses.
In this Asus router, there is a box to type the IP address into and then a drop down menu for the MAC address. Use the numbers that you wrote down in step 1 of this guide. In this example, after typing in the addresses there is an 'Add' button to click.
Some routers do not allow you to assign IP addresses within the DHCP range of the router (the range of addresses that your router automatically assigns to devices on your network.) If this is the case with your router, you will need to choose an IP address to assign that is outside the DHCP range of your router. See steps 2 through 4 of the following guide for help with choosing an IP address that is outside your router's DHCP range.
3. After you have assigned your Xbox One to a specific IP address, test the connection from your Xbox One Dashboard to make sure it is working. To test the connection:
- From the Xbox One Dashboard, choose Settings
- Select Network
- Choose Test network connection
- Wait while the test runs. It will check your connection to make sure your console is communicating with your network.
- 'It's all good' should be displayed after the test is finished.
4. Forwarding ports, or opening ports, in your router points all traffic coming in on certain ports to a specific internal IP address. To get an Open NAT Type, you will want to forward the following ports to the IP address of your Xbox One:
- TCP: 53, 80, 3074
- UDP: 53, 88, 500, 3074, 3544, 4500
For help with port forwarding you can visit our router guides.
5. After you have assigned a permanent IP address to your Xbox One console and forwarded the correct ports in your router, you can test your network connection. To test the connection from the Xbox One Dashboard:
- Select Settings
- Select Network
- Choose Test network connection
- Wait while the test runs.
- The results of the test should tell you if your NAT Type is Open, Moderate, or Strict.
Your network connection should now have an Open NAT Type. If your network status is set to NAT Type: Open, congratulations to you! This a common networking problem that can be quite difficult to solve. Good job making it through the guide and optimizing your network. Now you should be able to enter into more matches and chat with all of your gaming buddies. Now, go enjoy your game!
If you are not able to get an Open NAT Type, check to see that you have entered in the correct information. Double check the data that you entered for the IP address and MAC address.
If you are still having difficulty getting an Open NAT Type check to see that your network is set up properly. You may have more than one router on your network. To determine if there is more than one router on your network you can run our free Router Detector software. It is important to only have one router on your network otherwise it is difficult to configure your network without running into problems.
Set up a Static IP address in your Xbox One Console
If you have a router that does not allow you to manually assign internal IP addresses, follow these instructions to set up a static IP address in your Xbox One console:
1. Find out what IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS settings your Xbox One console is currently using. To find this info:
- Go to the home screen and push the menu button on the controller
- Select Settings
- Select Network
- Select Advanced settings
- In the IP settings section, you should see the IP address,Subnet Mask,Gateway, Primary DNS, Secondary DNS, and MAC address listed. (See screenshot below.) Write all of these numbers down, you will need to enter them in later.
2. Next, login to your router (through your computer) and note the DHCP range your router uses. The DHCP range is the group of numbers that your router uses to assign internal IP addresses to devices on your network. For help logging in to your router visit our router guides and/or our guides on finding your router's IP address.
Here is a screenshot of a Linksys router. The DHCP range is circled in red.
3. You will need to pick a number between 2 and 254 that is outside of your router's DHCP range to assign to your Xbox One.
In the example above, this Linksys router uses the range 100-149 to assign IP addresses to devices on the internal network. I chose to assign my Xbox to 201. The IP address that I am going to assign to my Xbox is 192.168.1.201. (Be sure to use the first three numbers that are in your router's IP address, also known as gateway.) Here are a few more examples for you:
- If your router's DHCP range is 200-254 you could choose a number between 2 and 50 to try.
- If your router uses 50-200, you could try a number between 2 and 49.
4. To find out if this number is available ping the address using the Windows Command Prompt.
To open the Command Prompt:
- Click on the Windows Start menu
- Type cmd into the dialog box (in the Windows start menu)
- Then click on cmd.exe (which should be listed over the dialog box). A black window with white text should open.
To check whether or not the IP address is available for you to assign:
- Type ping
- Hit the space bar
- Then type in the IP address you want to check. Hit Enter.
If you ping an address and do not receive a reply, then the IP address is available for you to assign. (See example above.) If you do receive a reply then that IP address is in use and you will have to try a different one. Below is an example showing an address that is already in use.
5. Next, go to your Xbox One console to set the internal IP address to the number you have chosen.
- From the home menu, select Settings
- Select Network
- Select Advanced settings
- select IP settings
- Select Manual
- Type in the IP address you have chosen and select Enter
- Type in the subnet mask (usually 255.255.255.0). This should be one of the numbers that you wrote down at the beginning of this guide. Select Enter
- Type in your gateway which is your router's internal IP address and select Enter
- Go back to the advanced settings screen
- Choose DNS settings
- Type in the Primary DNS address (from the list that you made in step 1) then select Enter
- Type in the Secondary DNS address and select Enter
- On the Advanced settings screen choose Save
6. Test your network connection. In the Xbox One Dashboard:
- Go back to the Network settings screen, choose Test network connection
- The test will run and check your network connection status. Wait while the test runs.
- When the test is finished you should see the 'It's all good' message.
7. Forwarding ports, or opening ports, in your router points all traffic coming in on certain ports to a specific internal IP address. To get an Open NAT Type, you will want to forward the following ports (in your router) to the IP address of your Xbox One:
- TCP: 53, 80, 3074
- UDP: 53, 88, 500, 3074, 3544, 4500
For help with port forwarding you can visit our port forwarding guides.
8. After you have assigned a permanent IP address to your Xbox One console and forwarded the correct ports in your router, you can test your network connection. To test the connection from the Xbox One Dashboard:
- Select Settings
- Select Network
- Choose Test network connection
- Wait while the test runs.
- The results of the test should tell you if your NAT Type is Open, Moderate, or Strict.
Your network status should now be set to NAT Type: Open. If you have an Open NAT Type, congratulations to you! This a common networking problem that can be quite difficult to solve. Good job making it through the guide and optimizing your network. Now you should be able to enter into more matches and chat with all of your gaming buddies. Now, go enjoy your game!
If you are not able to get an Open NAT Type, check to see that you have entered in the correct information. Double check the data that you entered for the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS addresses.
If you are still having difficulty getting an Open NAT Type check to see that your network is set up properly. You may have more than one router on your network. To determine if there is more than one router on your network you can run our free Router Detector software. It is important to only have one router on your network otherwise it is difficult to configure your network without running into problems.
Whether you’re trying to no-scope that enemy on COD or score a last-minute slam-dunk on NBA, the touchpad just doesn’t do it.
To find the MAC address on your Xbox One follow these simple steps: 1. Navigate to the Settings page 2. Select Network 3. Select Advanced Settings 4. MAC address will be listed next to 'Wireless MAC' on the right hand side of the screen (this is also where the IP address and other information is located) 5. While we Mac users have long awaited Microsoft to give us an official Xbox app for MacOS (much like the Windows 10 version), I have been trying to find a way to emulate the Xbox app on Mac, for useful input into in-game text chat in games like Warframe when it. How to Connect Xbox One Controller to Mac via Micro USB Cable? If the wireless connection does not work with your games, find a micro USB cable and connect your gamepad to the Mac. The gamepad will vibrate, but Xbox logo won’t light up. That is fine, don’t worry. MacOS has no built-in driver for the wired connection, so we are going to help.
So, we thought we’d share the best tips on how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your Mac, to make them tense gaming moments a little easier.
Before you do: Clean up your Mac
BUT, before we get into all the juicy techy stuff, let’s remind you of how beneficial cleaning up your Mac can be.
Before installing any new hardware, it’s important to have an un-cluttered file space so the new software can run efficiently, and you can keep an eye on what’s where.
With CleanMyMac X, it’s easy. It’s one-click cleaning approach and powerful scanning means you can swiftly dispose of useless documents and apps which may be slowing your Mac down.
So, to get optimal controller connectivity, you should download CleanMyMac and tidy up your digital space – prior to any installations. Now, onto how to use an Xbox 360 controller on a Mac.
How to use the Xbox 360 controller on Mac
Not many of us know it, but there could be a handy use for all those old Xbox 360 or Xbox One controllers lying around. But, before you get set up, you need to have the correct hardware installed on your Mac to enable connectivity.
Here’s how.
First of all, you will need either a wired or wireless Xbox controller. Both work fine, but for all those passionate gamers with a tendency to erupt, a wireless device would be best to save any damages to wires (or opponents). These wireless receivers can be bought for around $20 on Amazon, and can handle up to 4 Xbox 360 controllers.
Free Drivers
Obviously, Macs don’t have an in-built driver for Xbox controllers as Apple are in no way affiliated with Microsoft. Similarly, Microsoft doesn’t supply drivers for Mac users for their hardware, which leaves us wanting users having to find our own way.
So back in 2006, it was music to gamer’s ears to hear that Tattie Bogle had developed their own driver free of charge to users across the gaming globe. However, this driver hasn’t been updated since 2012, and is therefore sticky when it comes to compatibility with MacOS X.
For a more streamlined approach to this conundrum, download GitHub’s free driver – it’s maintained and updated frequently and is free to all Mac users.
1. Install the driver
After opening the GitHub link, double click on the DMG file visible under ‘Assets’. This will start the installing process, where you will have to follow the appropriate instructions.
Remember though, as with any new program installation, it will reboot your Mac, so don’t panic. After the restart, you should be able to find ‘Xbox 360 Controllers’ in the system preferences.
2. Connect the Xbox 360 Controller to your Mac
Now you’ve installed the driver, the next step is to connect the controller, which is simple and only needs to be done once.
Firstly, you need to plug the USB receiver into a free USB port on your Mac. Once plugged in, the USB receiver’s light should start blinking
Press the big Xbox logo button on the controller so it lights up green
Press the button on the USB receiver
Press the connect button on the controller, which can be found at the top - in-between the left and right toggles
The top left quarter of the circle around the Xbox button should now light up, indicating you are the first controller connected
Now the controller and Mac are linked - so in the future if you want to connect again, all you need do is press the big Xbox logo button to get going. Told you it was simple!
3. Test the Controller
As with all things techy, there’s always loopholes. So, it’s important to test the connections to ensure the controller works before we embark upon a mobile-gaming-gallivant.
Go to ‘System Preferences’, ‘Xbox 360 Controllers’ and you’ll see a screen like below.
This is a control pad, which indicates whether all the buttons on the controller are working properly. That’s about all you can do on this, as well as shutting the controller down by clicking ‘power off’.
4. Configuring for multiple games on your Mac
Xbox Connect To Macbook
We all have different tastes in games - some of us like sports and some of us like military, there’s no right or wrong (asides from Half-Life, that’s just awesome and it’s not up for debate).
With these different games come different control configurations, which can get tedious when you only have one type of controller.
For full flexibility of use, there are many tools and apps available which allow you to play any game with any Mac compatible joystick or controller – even the ones that are not compatible with joysticks.
5. Use Joystick Mapper
Out of the many apps to choose from, Joystick Mapper is our pick. And at only $4.99 from the App Store, it’s real value for money – especially when considering the amount of effort it takes to develop such a complex tool.
Xbox Chat On Mac
Here’s how it works –
Once you download the Joystick Mapper app, you need to create a pre-set for your game preferences. To do this, open the app and click ‘Add new pre-set’.
Enter a name for future reference such as ‘My Game’, and for each joystick, click ‘Add a new joystick’.
Now that you’ve identified the joystick, you need to ‘bind’ joystick inputs to keyboard or mouse movements - which is easier than it sounds.
Click on ‘Add new bind’, and then ‘Scan’, and press the button of your game controller that you’d like to use. Next select a mouse or keyboard action, and that will ‘bind’ the chosen inputs.
Simply repeat this process until you’ve bound all the buttons you’d like to use.
If by chance you’re using a controller other than an Xbox 360 or Xbox One, you can replicate these actions and apply them to different controllers. To do this, simply click the ‘Clone’ icon in the top right corner. To put the pre-set into action, set a checkmark before the preferred pre-set/profile you’ve created for the game you’re about to play. Now, you’re good to go!
BUT – don’t close the Joystick Mapper app before starting the game, it needs to keep running to work. Simply select ‘cmd + H’ to hide the window.
Declutter your Mac to make more room for games
Remember, all of these processes won’t work as effectively if you have a messy Mac.
On average, there is a whopping 62GB of junk found on Macs, with jam-packed caches and folders full of useless documents cluttering the hard drive.
This considerably slows down the performance of your Mac, preventing quick and easy installations, and can even hinder the controller connectivity.
CleanMyMac X is an app dedicated to cleaning your Mac head-to-toe. It scans everything on the computer - even old folders that have been evading your wrath for years - identifying what needs to be removed.
The Mac is inspected rigorously, and with its smart one-click clean-up, CleanMyMac sweeps away the unwanted rubbish to organize folders and speed up performance.
Xbox Connect For Pc
Furthermore, CleanMyMac X is free to download. So, what are you waiting for? Download it for free here.
Xbox Connect For Mac Desktop
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Connect your wireless controller to play supported games from Apple Arcade or the App Store, navigate your Apple TV, and more.
See which wireless controllers are supported
Connect Xbox To Macbook
- Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth (Model 1708)
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
- Xbox Adaptive Controller
- PlayStation DualShock 4 Wireless Controller
- Other MFi (Made for iOS) Bluetooth controllers might be supported
Xbox Connect For Sale
Pair a controller with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac
Use the instructions that came with your wireless controller to put it into pairing mode. Then learn how to pair a controller with your iOS or iPadOS device, Apple TV, or Mac.
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Pairing mode steps, button controls, and button customization vary across game controllers. Check with your game controller manufacturer for details.
If your controller doesn't connect or work as expected
Xbox Connect For Mac Catalina
- Make sure that you have the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, or macOS.
- If you need to update the firmware on your controller, check with your game controller manufacturer.
- Check that you’re in range of your device and there isn’t interference in the area.
- If you still can't pair or connect, get help pairing your Bluetooth accessory to your iOS device.