With the release of iOS 17.1, iPadOS 17.1, macOS Sonoma 14.1, and tvOS 17.1, iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs include support for pairing Nintendo Switch N64 controllers. Keep reading to learn how it's done.

Nintendo Switch N64 Controller 1
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.

With its latest round of software updates (October 2023), Apple has also added support for Nintendo Switch N64 controllers, so if you have one of these lying around then you can finally play better than you otherwise would using on-screen touch controls or your ‌Apple TV‌ Remote.

The following steps describe the process of pairing an N64 controller to your Apple device. If you haven't already, you'll need to update your ‌iPhone‌/‌iPad‌ to iOS 17.1/iPadOS 17.1 (Settings > General > Software Update), your Mac to ‌macOS Sonoma‌ 14.1 (System Settings -> General -> Software Update), or your ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ to tvOS 17.1 (Settings -> System -> Software Updates).

Pair Nintendo Switch N64 to iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV

  1. Open your Apple device's Settings and navigate to the Bluetooth menu.
  2. Press and hold down the SYNC Button for at least one second on the Nintendo 64 Controller you wish to pair.
  3. On your Apple device, under "Other Devices," tap the detected N64 controller to connect. If you're on ‌Apple TV‌, connection will be confirmed with a notification via tvOS.

The above steps should work for most wireless console controllers, including the PS5 DualSense Edge Controller, DualShock 4 Wireless controller, the Xbox Wireless controller, the Xbox Series X Controller, and the original PS5 DualSense Controller.

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
anker new xmas 1

Anker's Cyber Week Sale Enters Final Days With Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Friday December 1, 2023 12:05 pm PST by
Anker's Black Friday/Cyber Week event is entering its final days this weekend, and it's still offering up to 60 percent off sitewide. There are also a few "mystery boxes" that can include hundreds of dollars in savings, if you're willing to risk not knowing what you're buying ahead of time. All of these sales will end on December 3. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you...
iOS 17

28 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in December's iOS 17.2 Update

Friday December 1, 2023 2:57 am PST by
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we've seen three more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we've listed 28 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released this December. 1. Help...
top stories 2dec2023

Top Stories: iOS 17.1.2 Released, NameDrop Misinformation, and More

Saturday December 2, 2023 6:00 am PST by
Apple employees are back to work following a Thanksgiving break, and that means this week saw a number of new operating system updates for both public release and beta testing. This week also saw some misinformation about Apple's new NameDrop feature making the rounds, while Apple and Goldman Sachs appear to be on the verge of a break-up in their Apple Card and savings account partnership,...
General Apps Messages

Green Bubbles on iPhone to Gain These 7 New Features Next Year

Thursday November 30, 2023 9:00 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will finally support RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting later next year. This change will result in several improvements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices. RCS will become the new default standard for messaging between iPhones and Android devices, but these conversations will still have green bubbles like...
m2 macbook air green

Get Apple's M2 MacBook Air and M3 MacBook Pro for Record Low Prices

Friday December 1, 2023 6:59 am PST by
Best Buy is discounting a collection of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models to all-time low prices today. We're tracking these deals below in addition to great discounts on the Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 1. MacBook Air Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the...
iPhone 16 Mock Header Updated 1

iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup

Thursday November 30, 2023 4:08 pm PST by
The release of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max saw the introduction of an entirely new user-configurable button known as the Action button, and now, MacRumors has seen extensive evidence confirming Apple is planning to include the Action button on the entire iPhone 16 range. Designs and plans for the Action button date back to at least 2021, as the button was intended for release alongside hapt...