How to connect a gaming controller in iOS 13

While Android has long allowed mobile gamers to use video game controllers, Apple's first official 'adventure' into the arena has only begun this fall. The release of iOS 13 will help millions of iPads and iPhones around the world feel like traditional gaming systems.

According to official information, Apple's iOS products will support both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gaming controllers. This feature and Apple's upcoming Arcade service seem to be fueling the rapid rise of mobile gaming.

Here's how you can connect a gaming controller in iOS.

The basics

This is very simple, but, of course, the most important step is to install iOS 13. The iOS 13 operating system will be available later this month and updating the device is extremely easy. Go to Settings> General> Software Update . After finding the update, simply press the Install button. You can go enjoy a cup of coffee and come back in 20 minutes.

PlayStation 4 pairing mode

Once iOS 13 is set up, connecting the PS4 gaming controller will be fairly easy. Find the PlayStation button (small circle button in the image above). Next, locate the Share button (next to the red arrow above). Hold both buttons until you see the light bar on the gaming handle begin to blink. Once done, you'll find the Dual Dualshock 4 wireless gaming controller listed in the device's Bluetooth settings.

Xbox One pairing mode

Like the PlayStation 4, connecting the Xbox One gaming controller is simple and straightforward. However, to do this, you must ensure that you have a Bluetooth compatible Xbox One gaming controller. This is determined by making sure the model number of the gaming controller you own begins with 1708. After verifying that the appropriate gaming handle is available, you're ready to connect.

On the front of the gaming controller is the wireless connection button, press and hold this button. If everything goes smoothly, you should see 'Xbox Wireless Controller' appear in Bluetooth settings on your iOS device.

Connect on your device

Now that the devices are ready to connect, sync them with each other. Go to Settings> Bluetooth . After entering this section, you will see 'Dualshock 4 Wireless Controller' or 'Xbox Wireless Controller' under 'Other Devices' . Click on any one that is relevant and if the connection works, the device will be redirected to 'My Devices' . All operations are completed. You are now ready to play the game. If the gaming controller is off, the device will reconnect when turned on, as long as you are not connected to anything else in between. If not, you will have to reconnect.

Compatible games

Because the iOS 13 app update cycle is a long way off, so there are no doubt hundreds of games will be compatible. While this list of games continues to grow, you can search for any games compatible with MFi gaming controllers and make sure that the PS4 / Xbox gaming controller works with Bluetooth.

While games on the App Store are the main focus here, don't forget you can play back PS4 games with Sony's Remote Play app. You can connect directly to PS4 and stream from any WiFi network around the world. Microsoft is working on making its own streaming application and will come to iOS devices after its release. Third-party options for Microsoft still exist, but all have bugs, and it's best to wait for the official release.

Disconnect

Playing games with the controller on an iOS device is a dream come true with many mobile gamers. However, along with this good news there are also some warnings, most notably prompts to disconnect the gaming controller when not in use. You can do that by returning to the Bluetooth menu in Settings and clicking the i button next to the corresponding gaming controller name, then pressing the 'Disconnect' button . You can follow the same steps above to reconnect. Disconnecting saves battery power. Additionally, turning off gaming controllers can preserve battery life.

Apple's decision to allow gaming controller support will have a pervasive effect throughout the mobile gaming industry. Developers are undoubtedly working fast to add support, as this feature will likely increase exponential downloads for certain game formats.

Does adding a gaming controller make you more interested in playing mobile games? Why is that? Share your thoughts with the people in the comments below.

Hope you are succesful.