How To Use Keyboard As Controller For Dolphin

Hands holding a Nintendo GameCube controller. — Tinxi/Shutterstock.com

Emulation is a great manner to feel your favorite games, but without the original controller, it can feel inauthentic. Hither's how to set up up Nintendo's official peripherals in the Dolphin Wii and GameCube emulator for PC.

What You'll Need

To use a real Nintendo GameCube controller with Dolphin, here'southward what y'all'll need:

An official Nintendo GameCube Controller. While unofficial options work, they are much worse in build quality. Additionally, you might find that some controllers thatlook similar GC pads but are actually Switch Pro Controllers.
A USB GameCube Controller Adapter. We recommend either Nintendo's official adapter or the MayFlash Adapter for the best results. If the adapter is wired and works with the Switch or Wii U, chances are it'll work here, too.
Zadig. This is the application you'll need to get your Gamecube controller set upwards properly with Dolphin. Download it for gratis.
A Powered USB Hub (Optional). This isn't necessary if your laptop or desktop has free slots for both the USB cables, but is necessary if it doesn't. For vibration to piece of work properly and to ensure the best operation, make certain that both adapter cords are plugged in and take stable power.

To use an official Nintendo Wii Remote (Wiimote) with Dolphin, y'all'll need the following:

An official Nintendo Wii Remote, ideally with MotionPlus built-in. Third-political party options are non guaranteed to piece of work with Dolphin, fifty-fifty if they piece of work on the Wii.
A PC with a uniform Bluetooth adapter. Newer is ameliorate.
A powered Wii sensor bar. You can use your original sensor bar plugged into a running Wii, a battery-powered Wireless sensor bar, or a USB sensor bar.

How to Gear up Upwardly a Real GameCube Controller in Dolphin

Outset, if y'all're using a not-official Adapter that offers a toggle betwixt "Wii U" and "PC" modes, switch it to "Wii U." Dolphin has native support for the GameCube Controller Adapter once you accept installed the proper driver, so experience free to ignore the PC fashion unless y'all wish to use the controller in other applications. If you're using an official Switch or Wii U adapter, skip this step.

Plug in your adapter and open up Zadig. If you don't have two USB ports free or you don't treat vibration, y'all don't demand to plug in the white USB cable. It is solely for providing ability for vibration to the GameCube controllers.

Within Zadig, click the "Options" bill of fare and select "Listing All Devices."

Select "List All Devices" in Zadig's Options menu

Click the dropdown menu at the meridian of the window, find "WUP-028" in the listing, and select it. This is your adapter!

Look at the "USB ID" field below the Driver box. Verify the USB ID displayed hither is "0573 0337".

Warning: If the wrong USB ID is displayed here, exercise not continue. Your adapter volition not work and you might hazard damaging it by continuing.

If everything looks correct (like the screencap beneath), click the box to the right of the orangish pointer and select the "WinUSB" driver. Click the "Supercede Driver" push to install the commuter, and once that'southward washed, you lot can close Zadig!

Replacing a driver in Zadig

Now that you lot've installed the replacement driver, it'due south fourth dimension to try information technology out in Dolphin.

Go ahead and open Dolphin Emulator, and click the "Controllers" push button on the far right of Dolphin'south built-in toolbar.

Under the Port 1 dropdown box, click "GameCube Adapter For Wii U", and so click "Configure."

Note that Port 1 is the first port on the left side of the controller adapter. The port assignments in Dolphin stand for to the ones on the adapter.

Select the controller in the "Port 1" box

If you followed this guide properly, you lot should see the "Adapter Detected" window. Click"OK" to keep.

If it doesn't prove up, endeavour repeating the process with a different adapter or USB port.

Dolphin's Adapter Detected window

How to Set Up a Real Wiimote in Dolphin Emulator

Every bit long as your PC already has Bluetooth, setting up a Wii Remote is much simpler than using a GameCube controller. Just brand certain that your sensor bar is plugged in and your Wii Remote's batteries are charged. You should likewise ensure your PC's Bluetooth is turned on.

First, click the "Controllers" button on the far right of Dolphin's toolbar.

At present, click "Emulate the Wii's Bluetooth Adapter," if information technology is not already selected. Under the Dropdown for Wii Remote 1, also select "Real Wii Remote."

Select "Emulate the Wii's Bluetooth Adapter" and select the Wii Remote

Now, simultaneously press the one and 2 buttons on your Wii remote. Later on about 20 seconds or less, your Wii remote will connect to Dolphin. Once you've done this, close the "Controller Settings" window, and click the "Config" button.

Click the "Wii" tab within the Config window, then adapt "Sensor Bar" position in accordance with your Sensor Bar placement. IR Sensitivity, Speaker Volume, and Rumble tin also be adapted here, and work in the same way as they do on an actual Wii. You are at present ready to play your games!

Once you've finished playing, you will need to manually remove a bombardment from your Wii Remote to ability it off. Unlike with the proper Wii console, Dolphin is not able to automatically plough off your Remote, and if yous forget to do information technology yourself, it will continue using your battery until it runs dry.

Wii Remote Settings in Dolphin

What Virtually Passthrough or the DolphinBar?

In our testing, results with Dolphin's Bluetooth Passthrough solution and the DolphinBar are both finicky at best and require a corking bargain of actress tweaking for very little extra in return. For people who aren't already ability users, we do not recommend either of these solutions.

However, if you're interested in exploring Passthrough as an option, the Dolphin Wiki page provides instructions. It offers an extensive listing of tested USB Bluetooth Adapters and a setup guide. But, due to the complexity of the process and the higher likelihood that it just won't piece of work at all, we have not included that in this guide.