Logitech's F-series gamepads — the wired F310 and F510, and the wireless F710 — all work on a Mac, but there's one catch most people miss: the little X/D switch on the front. Set it to D (DirectInput) and macOS recognizes the controller as a standard HID gamepad. Here's the whole setup.
What You'll Need
Logitech Gamepad
F310, F510 (wired) or F710 (wireless)
Mac Computer
macOS 11 Big Sur or later
USB Port
For the cable, or the F710's nano receiver
Set the Switch to "D" First
On the front face of the controller there's a switch labeled X and D. X = XInput (a Windows-only API); D = DirectInput, which macOS understands. Slide it to D before connecting. If your buttons do nothing on Mac, this switch is almost always why.
F310 & F510 (Wired USB)
Set the Switch to D
Slide the front switch to D (DirectInput).
Plug Into USB
Connect the controller's USB cable to your Mac. On Apple Silicon Macs with only USB-C ports, use a USB-A adapter.
That's It
macOS recognizes it as a generic gamepad immediately — no drivers, no pairing.
F710 (Wireless Receiver)
Set the Switch to D
Slide the front switch to D.
Plug In the Nano Receiver
Insert the small Logitech 2.4GHz USB receiver into a USB port on your Mac. The F710 does not use Bluetooth — it needs this dongle.
Power On & Connect
Make sure the F710 has fresh AA batteries, then press the Logitech/MODE button. It links to the receiver automatically; the indicator light goes solid.
Troubleshooting
Buttons Do Nothing
- Check the X/D switch — it must be on D for macOS
- Re-plug the cable or receiver after flipping the switch
- Some charge-only USB cables don't carry data — try another cable
F710 Won't Connect
- Replace the AA batteries — low power stops it linking
- Re-seat the nano receiver in a different USB port
- Press the MODE button once it's powered on
Sticks or Triggers Misbehave
- DirectInput maps axes differently than XInput — ControllerKeys lets you re-bind any axis or button
- Calibrate stick dead zones in the app if drift appears
What Can You Do With a Logitech Gamepad on Mac?
The F-series is an inexpensive, comfortable pad — which makes it a great everyday Mac remote:
- Keyboard mapping — bind buttons to any key or shortcut
- Mouse control — move the cursor and scroll with the sticks
- Couch computing — browse and watch from the sofa
- Emulators & games — RetroArch, OpenEmu, Steam, and more
Make Your Logitech Pad Do More
ControllerKeys turns an F310/F510/F710 into a system-wide keyboard, mouse, and macro controller for macOS. Free 14-day trial.