[Bug] DualSense Touchpad not working on 1.2.3

[anthonymf]

Description

Touchpad on DualSense not working

Environment

• macOS Version: 26.2
• App Version: 1.2.3 (1)
• Controller Model: DualSense
• Connection Method: Bluetooth

Steps to Reproduce

1. Pair DualSense with mac
2. Open ControllerKeys
3. Try to use Touchpad
4. Nothing happens

Expected Behavior

Touchpad works like a trackpad on mac

Actual Behavior

No response

Screenshots / Screen Recording

N/A

Additional Context

I tried 2 different DualSense controllers

[NSEvent]

Interesting, I'm not able to reproduce this issue.

After you've paired your DualSense controller, does it show up in Settings on this page Game Controllers?

Can you try going to Bluetooth in Settings, and click Forget This Device... on the controller. Then try resyncing it and see if it works.

If that does not work, can you try plugging the controller in with a USB C cable to your Mac and see if the touchpad works then (make sure USB C cable has data, not just power)

[anthonymf]

Thanks for the reply. After re-pairing, the touchpad now supports a click action but no other gestures seem to trigger. I wonder if the other Touchpad settings could a factor?

And (stupid question) is it supposed to work as a trackpad, or is it just a big button?

[NSEvent]

Yes the touchpad is meant to work like a trackpad, just like a Mac trackpad. Not a stupid question--I don't know why other software hasn't used the PS5 Dualsense touchpad like a mouse trackpad for the computer, but it's not something I've seen before in other software.

It should allow you to move the mouse around with one finger, click by tapping or pressing the touchpad down like a button, and right click with two fingers tap or press.

You should also be able to do two finger pinch and pan gestures to zoom and pan respectively.

---

I have 3 questions for you to help me debug this:

1. In the Buttons tab, in the controller mini map UI, you should be able to see your touchpad and any fingers you are putting on it (1 or 2 fingers). Are you able to see your finger points in this virtual touchpad display? Like this

[I want to know if ControllerKeys is detecting your touches on the touchpad at all.]

2. Does your left joystick on your controller work to move the mouse?

[I want to know if ControllerKeys is able to control your mouse on your Mac at all.]

3. I know you said you have 2 DualSense controllers. Have you tested on both of them and seen the same issue regarding touchpad not moving the mouse? It's unlikely the cause if you have 2 controllers, but I'm wondering if there could be an issue with the touchpad hardware on your Dualsense controller. Does the touchpad function on this controller when using it in games on the PlayStation?

[I want to verify that you have functional touchpad hardware on your Dualsense controller.]

---

In Touchpad settings, you can try to set Deadzone setting to the minimum value and see if that helps your issue.

[NSEvent]

Hey @anthonymf, thanks for reporting this issue! I haven't heard back from you so I will assume your issue has been resolved?

Feel free to reopen wiht more details if you're still having issues.

[anthonymf]

I upgraded to ControllerKeys-1.4.2 before testing this today.

1. I don't see any finger points in the display, it looks like the below. The left click action is recognised on the touchpad but no other actions or movements.

2. Yes the left joystick moves the mouse.
3. I've tested my 2 controllers on my PS5, and the trackpad works fine on both of them, showing movement and taps in astro's playroom.
4. I tried setting deadzone 0 and it doesn't help. Here is a screenshot:

I don't have permission to re-open this issue, I wonder if this is a repo setting in github..?

[NSEvent]

Okay interesting, thank you for the extra details.

1. In your screenshot, there looks like there is a finger being detected on the trackpad at 0,0 (dot in top left of touchpad). It looks as if your trackpad is locked to 0,0.

2. So this is an issue specific to the touchpad, not a general mouse issue in ControllerKeys.

3. Okay thank you for confirming this. Just wanted to double check this! I actually don’t have a PS5 so it’s good to know there an app for testing this on PS5.

---

I’m still a bit lost on what’s going on.

Is your Dualsense controller a standard Dualsense controller? As in it is not a third party licensed controller? If it’s a third party licensed Dualsense, does it have rumble and haptic feedback on the controller? It might seem weird, but I have a hunch it could be related to this.

If you have product model numbers for your Dualsense controllers that you can provide from the backside of the controller, this may also help reveal something.

Which version of MacOS are you on?

[anthonymf]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it.
I agree, it does seem like the touchpad is locked at 0,0. There is also no battery indicator.

Yes I have 2 official Dualsense (model number CFI-ZCT1W) which I purchased in the UK from major retailers.

I have macos Tahoe 26.2.

But there is some good news - I have tried a wired connection and then I do see the battery indicator and the touchpad does work. So it seems like it's a limitation of the bluetooth connection, does that make sense now? I'm sorry if this was a known limitation, I didn't notice if it was.

[NSEvent]

I see. Thank you for the details! I'm glad you found that it works on USB-C.

The touchpad should function over a bluetooth connection as well. It looks like there is some bug causing this here, but I am unable to reproduce it myself.

I have a normal Dualsense (CFI-ZCT1W) and a Dualsense Edge (CFI-ZCP1) that I am testing this with and the touchpad to control mouse functionality is working fine on them.

Is there any chance you are using a custom Profile in Settings -> Bluetooth -> Select i on connected controller -> Game Controllers?

I will need to do some research and get back to you on this!