Quick start
This guide takes you from a fresh OmniControl install to playing in about five minutes. Follow it in order the first time, then keep it as a reference for setting up each new game.
Overview
OmniControl sits between your controllers and your games. It reads any supported pad, remaps and tunes its inputs, and presents a virtual Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 to games through the ViGEmBus driver so a title that only accepts one kind of controller accepts yours. The fast path to your first session is five steps: connect a controller, choose an emulation output, map and tune your inputs, save a profile, and play.
Everything here works with a real controller. If you plan to drive a virtual pad with your keyboard and mouse instead, read the Keyboard & Mouse guide once you have finished this page, since that path has its own calibration.
How it works
OmniControl reads your physical controller, applies your remaps and tuning, then hands the result to a virtual Xbox 360 or DualShock 4 that it registers with Windows through the ViGEmBus driver. The game talks to that virtual pad at the driver level, the same layer as a physical controller on USB, so it reads your customized input as genuine controller data. Nothing is injected into the game. Emulation is the piece that carries your setup into a game, which is why it runs the whole time you play.
Before you start
You need OmniControl installed on Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit). The installer also sets up the ViGEmBus driver that Emulation depends on. If you have not installed yet, follow the installation guide first.
Emulation, the Studios, macros, the Recorder, and Game automation are Pro features. Pro is a one-time purchase of $29.99 with free updates and no subscription. You can complete every step below on the free tier for configuration and preview, but sending remaps and tuning into a game requires Emulation, which is Pro. See pricing for the full split.
Getting started
Connect a controller
Plug your pad in over USB, or pair it over Bluetooth. Supported devices include the DualSense, DualSense Edge, DualShock 4 and 3, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Xbox Elite Series 2, the Switch Pro Controller, and generic HID gamepads. OmniControl detects it and shows it as a live 3D model. Press a few buttons and move the sticks to confirm every input lights up in the Live Viewer. DualSense extras (adaptive triggers, gyro, touchpad, and lightbar) are available over USB only.
Pick an emulation output
Open the Emulation panel and choose the virtual pad your game expects. Virtual Xbox 360 (XInput) is the default and has the widest Windows support. Choose Virtual DualShock 4 for games that read PlayStation input or need DS4 extras like the touchpad and lightbar. Select your physical controller as the input source and start Emulation. The Emulation feature covers output targets and rumble passthrough in depth.
Map and tune your inputs
In the mapping panel, assign any button, stick, trigger, or paddle to any controller input, keyboard key, mouse action, or macro. Basic stick tuning (deadzone, sensitivity, travel, snap) and button remapping are free. Custom stick and trigger response curves live in the Stick Studio and Trigger Studio, which are Pro. Start with controller setup for the full workflow, then refine sticks in Sticks and triggers in Triggers.
Calibrate if your hardware drifts
If your sticks wander or a trigger does not reach full travel, run the guided calibration wizard. It measures stick and trigger drift and stores a snapshot that corrects the hardware underneath your tuning. Run it once per controller; it saves into your profile.
Save a profile
Save your remaps, tuning, calibration snapshot, and emulation output as a profile, then name it for the game you are setting up. Profiles are free and unlimited, one per game. On the free tier you switch the active profile with one click; automatic per-game switching (Game automation) is a Pro feature. Read more in the profiles guide.
Play
With Emulation running and your profile active, launch the game. It sees a genuine virtual controller and reads your remaps and tuning as if they came from a physical pad. Open the Overlay if you want a live input display while you play or stream.
Common use cases
- A PlayStation game that ignores your Xbox pad: set the output to Virtual DualShock 4 and start Emulation.
- A controller with stick drift: run calibration first, then layer your tuning on top.
- A game you play often: save a named profile so your setup loads in one click. Pro users can have it switch automatically on launch through Game automation.
- Playing a controller-only game with keyboard and mouse: finish this page, then set up Keyboard & Mouse and calibrate turn-match with F8.
Best practices
Set up one game at a time and save each as its own profile. Pick the output pad the game prefers rather than forcing a default. Run calibration before you tune, so your curves sit on clean hardware readings. Keep Emulation running while you play, since remaps and stick or trigger tuning reach the game through it.
Tips
Preview free, then upgrade
Free users can build and preview a full remap and tuning setup, including keyboard-and-mouse bindings. Those changes take effect in-game the moment Emulation is running, so you can plan your entire configuration before deciding on Pro.
Troubleshooting
If the game does not react, confirm Emulation is running and your controller is selected as the input source. If inputs feel wrong, check that the correct profile is active and that your output pad matches what the game expects. If the game does not see any controller at all, verify the ViGEmBus driver installed correctly during setup; the troubleshooting guide covers driver checks.
Anti-cheat boundary
OmniControl is built for single-player and controller-friendly games. It is not a tool for defeating anti-cheat, and kernel-level anti-cheat competitive shooters are out of scope by design. Emulation presents a genuine virtual device through ViGEmBus at the driver level, but that does not exempt any title's rules. If a game blocks virtual controllers, OmniControl does not bypass it, and that is intended. Never use OmniControl to evade anti-cheat.
FAQ
Do I need Pro to play?
You can configure and preview everything for free, but sending your controller into a game uses Emulation, which is Pro. Pro is a one-time $29.99 purchase with free updates.
Which output should I choose?
Start with Virtual Xbox 360 for the widest compatibility. Switch to Virtual DualShock 4 only when a game reads PlayStation input or you want DS4 extras like the touchpad and lightbar.
Why does my setup not reach the game?
Remaps and stick or trigger tuning travel to a game through Emulation. If Emulation is off, your changes stay in OmniControl. Turn it on and confirm the right profile is active.
Where do I go next?
Explore Emulation, profiles, and controller setup to deepen each step, or the Keyboard & Mouse guide to play controller-only games with mouse and keys.