With the release of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and tvOS 16, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs now include support for pairing Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and Pro controllers. Keep reading to learn how it's done.

nintendo joy cons
As many Apple Arcade games enthusiasts will know, Apple's mobile devices and Apple TV set-top box support some popular game controllers right out of the box. For example, these devices have supported PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers since April 2021.

While not well advertised by Apple, the release of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and tvOS 16 also added support for the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and Pro controllers, so now users can play better than they might otherwise be able to using on-screen touch controls or their ‌Apple TV‌ Remote.

What's more, the great thing about using Joy-Con controllers is that you can connect either a single Joy-Con or both Joy-Cons, and when you connect two Joy-Cons they will appear as a single unified MFi controller to your games.

It's even possible to dynamically switch between using the Joy-Cons individually or as one combined controller by holding the screenshot capture and home buttons for a few seconds.

How to Connect a Joy-Con to iPhone or iPad

The following the steps show you how to pair your Nintendo controller to your iPhone or iPad, and we'll be using a single Joy-Con in our example.

  1. Remove a Joy-Con from your Nintendo Switch.
  2. Press and hold the Sync button on the black edge of the controller.
    joy-con

  3. Wait for the lights alongside the Sync button to rove back and forth, indicating that the Joy-Con is in pairing mode.
    joy-con

  4. Launch the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.
  5. Tap Bluetooth.
  6. Wait for your Joy-Con to appear in the "Other Devices" section, then tap it to connect.
    settings

Your Joy-Con will appear in the "My Devices" list and the pairing lights on the controller will go out except for one, indicating that it has successfully connected and is ready to use.

How to Connect a Joy-Con to Apple TV

  1. Remove a Joy-Con from your Nintendo Switch.
  2. Press and hold the Sync button on the black edge of the controller.
    joy-con

  3. Wait for the lights alongside the Sync button to rove back and forth, indicating that the Joy-Con is in pairing mode.
    joy-con

  4. On your ‌Apple TV‌, select the Settings app.
  5. Select Remotes and Devices -> Bluetooth.
  6. Wait for your Joy-Con to appear in the "Other Devices" section, then tap it to connect.

You'll receive an onscreen notification on your ‌Apple TV‌ confirming that the Joy-Con has successfully paired and is ready to use.

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
maxresdefault

Apple to Launch New iPad Pro and iPad Air Models in May

Thursday March 28, 2024 11:07 am PDT by
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

Apple Releases Revised Versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Updated Build Number

Wednesday March 27, 2024 5:59 am PDT by
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS...
applephilschiller

Apple's Phil Schiller Works 80 Hours a Week Overseeing App Store

Wednesday March 27, 2024 2:03 pm PDT by
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to "Apple Fellow" in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working...