Nintendo controllers and options¶

Documentation index · Compatibility · Profile Editor

Nintendo Options groups hardware-dependent features into cards. The controller must expose the relevant hardware; selecting a Nintendo virtual output does not add an optical sensor, motion sensor or headset port to a different physical pad.

Connect and pair¶

For Switch 2 Pro, use USB or Settings → Controllers Bluetooth discovery and association. Joy-Con 2 uses that Bluetooth setup. Hold the controller's sync button until its lights flash, refresh discovery, select it and choose Associate selected. Previously associated controllers can reconnect when woken; sync mode is for associating a new controller.

Use Link/Unlink on Controllers to join or separate Joy-Cons, or enable automatic pairing in Settings → Controllers. A pair requires a left and right controller of the same generation. A single Joy-Con can work on its own. Choose upright/sideways holding style on Controllers; that device choice takes priority over the profile's starting holding style.

Mouse on a desk¶

Joy-Con 2 optical mouse controls let you slide a controller on a surface to move the pointer. Enable Slide a Joy-Con to move the mouse, choose the sensor side and tune sensitivity. Place the sensor edge against a desk or mouse mat. Lift the controller to reposition without moving the pointer.

Use its stick for the configured scrolling actions. Optical stabilization and dampening options can steady movement while clicking. Original Joy-Cons do not have this optical hardware; gyro mouse aiming is a different feature.

Aim by tilting¶

Choose what tilting does, then configure When to aim and the selected mode's sensitivity. A button condition controls when aiming runs; it does not select which Joy-Con supplies motion.

Keep the controller still when calibrating motion. Use hold/toggle motion-lock buttons to pause aiming, steady-aim buttons to suppress unwanted movement during button presses, and slow-aim buttons for finer control. Start with basic aiming working before adding those conditions.

Dual Joy-Con aiming¶

For a joined pair, Aim with both Joy-Cons (DJG) controls how the two hands supply motion: configure lead hand, side switching and pause buttons in Choose how the two hands work together.

This does not pair controllers or enable mouse aiming. First configure Aim by tilting → When to aim, then choose the motion source behaviour. A separate aiming activation button remains an on/off control, not a hand selector.

Feel game feedback¶

Use the rumble controls to tune supported Nintendo feedback and conversion. Game-authored feedback needs a compatible virtual output and game. Nintendo HD-rumble translation adapts feedback to the physical motors; it is not identical to a physical DualSense and cannot add adaptive-trigger resistance. Keep game-to-controller feedback enabled under Advanced → Feedback when using it.

USB headset¶

For Switch 2 Pro, connect the controller by USB and attach a suitable headset. Choose Headphones (Switch 2 Pro Controller) for playback and the controller's Microphone endpoint for voice input in Windows or the application.

Bluetooth headset audio is unsupported. An AUX cable or headphones without a microphone cannot establish headset-microphone support. Verify playback and microphone separately before adding other audio processing.

Give buttons a second job¶

Enable the second-action mode, choose hold or toggle buttons, then choose a control and Edit second action…. The shortcut opens Shift Modifier with Switch 2 Mode Shift selected for a new assignment; existing shift triggers are kept. Assign the second action and save the profile.

Shift buttons are reserved for switching actions, so their normal game action is not sent. Optional automatic second actions can follow mouse aiming, stick aiming or steering; those choices do not enable aiming themselves.

Point, scroll or tap with a stick¶

Assign mouse, scroll or button actions in Button Mapping first. Then use this card to tune stick mouse speed, scrolling Tap/Hold behaviour and button-action response. These helpers tune assigned actions rather than replacing the mapping step. Use Axis Config for ordinary stick response.

Layout and battery¶

Choose Xbox or Nintendo face-button layout and a starting Joy-Con holding style that matches how you play. Review button assignments after changing layout. Battery options can disconnect after inactivity or after a set time, even while playing; use the latter only when that behaviour is intended.

Correct drift and stick range¶

Calibrate sticks… opens the guided Switch 2 calibration tool for an active Switch 2 Pro/Joy-Con 2. It corrects centres/range without rewriting factory settings. Original Joy-Cons use their built-in stick calibration; use profile dead zones and response settings to tune them.

Restart gyro calibration requires a stable surface: keep the controller still for at least five seconds. Calibrate drift correction uses the Switch 2 compass sensor; follow the figure-eight instructions while game input is paused. Original Joy-Cons have no compass sensor, so use gyro calibration for their motion drift. Cancel the guided correction if you need to stop it.

Vibrate when connected provides a short readiness confirmation where supported.

Technical contracts and hardware evidence are available through Technical reference and the protocol index.