How to connect a mouse, keyboard or controller to an Android phone

Did you know Android supports mice, keyboards, and even game controllers? Many Android devices are compatible with USB peripherals, and almost all Android devices support Bluetooth accessories. Connecting these devices is a lot easier than you think.

This means you can connect a mouse to your Android phone or tablet and get a mouse pointer, or connect a Google Stadia controller and play games console style. You can even connect a keyboard and use keyboard shortcuts like Alt + Tab .

How to connect a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard or controller to Android

To connect a mouse, keyboard, or controller to an Android device with Bluetooth, go to Settings > Bluetooth/Connected Devices > Pair New Device . This guide will use a mouse connection as an example, but the operation is the same for a keyboard or gamepad.

First, swipe down once or twice from the top of the screen to expand the full Quick Settings panel, then tap the gear icon.

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Next, go to "Bluetooth", "Connections" or "Connected Devices". This will vary by device.

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Now, select "Pair New Device" . Your device may display available devices without this step.

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Make sure your device is in pairing mode (do a web search for [device name] Bluetooth pairing" if you don't know how) and select it from the list.

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You will be asked if you want to allow your device to access your contacts and call history. Click "Pair" to connect the device.

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It is done! In this case, the mouse is now connected and you can see the cursor on the screen of your Android device. The process is similar for a keyboard or game controller. In the case of controllers - such as Xbox or PS5 controllers - remember that not all Android games support controller input.

How to connect a USB mouse, keyboard or controller to Android

Connecting a USB mouse, keyboard, or gamepad to an Android device usually requires a USB adapter. You'll probably need a USB-C to USB-A adapter because most wired accessories still use the "old" USB-A connector and your Android phone has a USB-C port. If your phone doesn't have this adapter, you can buy a cheap USB-C-to-A adapter on e-commerce platforms.

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Just plug the adapter into your phone and plug your mouse, keyboard, or gamepad into the adapter. Of course, if the accessory has a USB-C connector at the end of the cable, you don't need an adapter (as shown below).

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That's really all there is to it. As explained above, Android supports the Human Interface Device (HID) protocol. The majority of USB accessories will work without any additional setup. However, in the case of game controllers, that doesn't mean every game works correctly with them.

Using accessories that typically come with PCs on Android devices isn't always easy. Thankfully, those days are over. This is especially useful for Android TV devices. Grab your favorite mouse, keyboard or gamepad and you're ready to use it on Android.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 15 April 2024