Keyboard and Mouse on PS5 and Xbox: Native, Adapters, Software
By IRONHIDE Software · Updated · 8 min read
PS5 accepts USB and Bluetooth keyboards and mice, and Xbox accepts USB ones, but they only work in a game if its developer added support, as in Final Fantasy XIV or Age of Empires IV. For other games you need something the console treats as a controller: a hardware adapter such as a XIM or a Titan Two, or the DigitalXIM plugin in IRONICS, which replaces the hardware adapter with software on a Windows PC.
Native keyboard and mouse support on PS5 and Xbox
Both console families accept a keyboard and mouse out of the box, but there are two layers to keep apart: the console (menus, text entry, apps) and the game, which only responds to a keyboard and mouse if its developer built that in.
PS5
Sony's support page says you can connect a USB or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to a PS5. The settings live under Settings → Accessories: you can set the keyboard language and the key-repeat delay and rate, switch the mouse between left- and right-handed use, and change its pointer speed. Bluetooth devices pair under Settings → Accessories → General → Bluetooth Accessories. Sony also warns that not every device works with the console, so check your keyboard or mouse maker's compatibility notes before you buy.
Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
Microsoft's support article describes wired USB mice and keyboards for navigation in select games and apps. When Microsoft announced the feature for Xbox One, it said most wired or wireless USB keyboards and mice would work, where wireless means a model with its own USB receiver. Microsoft's documentation does not list Bluetooth keyboards or mice, so plan on a USB connection.
Microsoft is explicit about the game layer: mouse and keyboard work in some games and apps, not all, and the game or app publisher must enable it. Support is added title by title.
Games that support it: verified examples
Neither Sony's nor Microsoft's pages above list every supported game, so check each game's own support page. Three examples confirmed by their publishers:
- Final Fantasy XIV: Square Enix's UI guide says any USB or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard that is compatible with the PS5, PS4 or Xbox Series X|S works with the game.
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition: supports keyboard and mouse on Xbox and PlayStation. Switch Input from Controller to Mouse/Keyboard under Options → Interface.
- Age of Empires IV: supports keyboard and mouse on Xbox and PlayStation. Change the Input Preset to Mouse/Keyboard under Options → Controls.
If a publisher doesn't mention keyboard and mouse support, assume the game expects a controller.
Hardware adapters: XIM-style devices and Titan Two
For games without native support, an adapter sits between your keyboard and mouse and the console. The console sees a controller; the adapter turns key presses into button presses and mouse movement into analog-stick movement. That's why adapters work in games that never added keyboard and mouse support.
XIM-style adapters
XIM Technologies makes the best-known dedicated adapters. Its current XIM MATRIX is listed for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4 and PC, and it accepts mice, keyboards and gyro controllers. You configure it through the XIM MATRIX Manager app, which needs iOS 13, Android 6, or Windows 10 x64 with Bluetooth LE. The product page lists a few extra requirements: a genuine first-party controller on Xbox and PS4, and a direct connection to your local network on PS5. XIM also publishes a supported-games list and per-game settings requirements, which are worth reading before you buy. The XIM store listed the XIM MATRIX at $124.99 in September 2026.
Titan Two with Input Translators
The Titan Two from ConsoleTuner is a programmable adapter rather than a dedicated keyboard-and-mouse box. ConsoleTuner says keyboards and mice connected directly to the Titan Two, or redirected from a computer through its Gtuner IV software, are fully supported. The conversion settings come from Input Translators, which you load into one of the device's memory slots and which are typically made for a specific game. On PS5, a Titan Two also needs a PS5 adapter such as the P5 General. For the full picture, read what a Titan Two is and how it works.
Once configured, a XIM or a Titan Two with a directly connected keyboard and mouse runs without a PC. The trade-offs are the purchase price, configuration per game, and, on some consoles, a controller that has to stay connected.
The software option: DigitalXIM in IRONICS
IRONICS is the Windows desktop launcher from IRONHIDE Software. It works with PS5, Xbox and PC, and it acts as a controller input translator: controller, keyboard and mouse input is translated for the target platform. The keyboard-and-mouse part of that is the DigitalXIM plugin, which sends native keyboard and mouse input from your PC to the console and replaces a hardware XIM adapter. Your keyboard and mouse stay plugged into the PC.
To reach the console, DigitalXIM uses one of the three output routes IRONICS supports:
- Titan Two: the hardware adapter, plus a PS5 adapter such as the P5 General on PS5.
- Makcu: a USB passthrough device, handled by IRONICS's built-in Virtual Titan.
- Remote Play: PS Remote Play or Xbox Remote Play on the PC, driven by the built-in Virtual Titan software controller, with no adapter hardware.
DigitalXIM runs completely standalone without computer vision, or together with IRONHIDE's other modules, and it accepts a configuration you bring yourself. Setup is covered in the setup guides on our Discord (discord.gg/ironaim). The guide What is DigitalXIM? explains the plugin in more depth, and the IRONICS page explains the launcher as a whole.
Native vs hardware adapter vs DigitalXIM
| Native support | Hardware adapter | DigitalXIM (IRONICS) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Only the keyboard and mouse | A one-time hardware purchase, e.g. an XIM MATRIX | Included with IRONICS access (subscription via our Discord), plus hardware for the Titan Two or Makcu route |
| What you need | A compatible keyboard and mouse and a game that supports them | The adapter; a first-party controller on some consoles; a PS5 adapter for a Titan Two on PS5 | A Windows PC with IRONICS and one route: Titan Two, Makcu or Remote Play |
| Setup | Plug in over USB, or pair over Bluetooth on PS5; adjust under Settings → Accessories on PS5 | Connect to the console, then configure through the maker's app or Gtuner IV | Follow the setup guides on our Discord for your output route |
| Games without native support | Not usable | Usable, because the console sees a controller | Usable; it replaces a hardware XIM adapter |
| Main limitations | Game by game; Xbox needs USB devices | Price, per-game configuration, extra hardware | A Windows PC must be running; the Remote Play route depends on your network |
Keyboard and mouse as an accessibility option
A standard gamepad asks for two thumbs on sticks, fingers on four shoulder buttons and a steady grip for long sessions. Not everyone can do that comfortably, whether because of limited hand mobility, pain in the thumbs or wrists, or simply because a desk setup suits their body better. A keyboard and mouse spread the same inputs across two hands and a flat surface. XIM Technologies, for one, names gamers with disabilities among the players its adapter is designed for.
- Start with native support. If your game supports keyboard and mouse, you need nothing extra. On PS5 you can switch the mouse to left-handed use under Settings → Accessories.
- Put buttons where you can reach them. Games with native support often let you remap keys, as Age of Empires IV does under its Keyboard And Mouse options, and hardware adapters let you choose which key triggers which controller button.
- Keep the layout compact. A mouse can cover camera movement plus several buttons, and on the keyboard you can keep the most-used keys in a small area around one resting hand position.
- Look at dedicated accessibility controllers too. Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive Controller is designed primarily for gamers with limited mobility and works with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PCs. Sony's Access controller is a customizable PS5 controller kit, developed with the accessibility community to help disabled players play more comfortably.
Which option should you pick?
- Your game supports keyboard and mouse natively: use native support. It costs nothing extra and needs no setup beyond plugging in.
- You want a device that works without a PC: a hardware adapter such as a XIM or a Titan Two. Check the maker's supported-games list first.
- You already have a Windows PC next to the console: DigitalXIM saves you from buying a dedicated keyboard-and-mouse adapter, and on the Remote Play route it needs no adapter hardware at all.
- You also use IRONHIDE's computer-vision modules: DigitalXIM runs alongside them in the same launcher. Those modules need a capture card; the three console-to-PC setups explain how video and input reach the PC.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a keyboard and mouse on PS5?
Yes. PS5 supports USB and Bluetooth keyboards and mice, set up under Settings → Accessories. Whether they work in gameplay depends on the game: titles such as Final Fantasy XIV and Age of Empires IV support them, many others don't.
Does Xbox Series X support keyboard and mouse?
Yes, with USB keyboards and mice, either wired or wireless with their own USB receiver. Microsoft notes that the game or app publisher has to enable support, so it doesn't work in every game.
Do Bluetooth keyboards work on Xbox?
Microsoft's support documentation describes USB keyboards and mice and does not list Bluetooth. Use a wired model or a wireless one that comes with its own USB receiver.
How does a keyboard and mouse adapter work?
The adapter connects to the console and presents itself as a controller. It turns key presses into button presses and mouse movement into analog-stick movement, so it works even in games without native keyboard and mouse support.
Is DigitalXIM the same as a XIM?
No. XIM adapters are hardware made by XIM Technologies. DigitalXIM is a software plugin in IRONICS that replaces a hardware XIM adapter and sends keyboard and mouse input from your Windows PC through a Titan Two, a Makcu or Remote Play. XIM is a trademark of its owner, and IRONHIDE Software is not affiliated with it.
Sources
- PlayStation: How to use a keyboard and mouse on PS5 consoles
- Xbox Support: Navigate with a mouse and keyboard
- Xbox Wire: Mouse and keyboard support for Xbox One developers (2018)
- Final Fantasy XIV UI Guide: Mouse and keyboard on PS5, PS4 and Xbox Series X|S
- Age of Empires Support: Age of Empires II: DE keyboard and mouse setup
- Age of Empires Support: Age of Empires IV keyboard and mouse setup
- XIM Technologies: XIM MATRIX
- ConsoleTuner: Titan Two
- Xbox: Xbox Adaptive Controller
- PlayStation: Access controller
Product names such as PlayStation, Xbox, Titan Two, XIM and Elgato are trademarks of their respective owners. IRONHIDE Software is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.