How to Use a Keyboard and Mouse on Xbox One GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Gaming > Consoles & PCs

How to a Use a Keyboard and Mouse on Xbox One

Make your Xbox One more like a PC

By Jordan Baranowski Jordan Baranowski Writer University of Kansas Avila University Jordan Baranowski is a former Lifewire writer and educator with experience writing for SVG, The Nerd Stash, and Feast Magazine. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 15, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section How to Set Up a Keyboard and Mouse on Xbox One Xbox Controls on a Keyboard How to Play Any Xbox One Game With a Keyboard and Mouse If you're a PC gamer and can't get used to the Xbox One controller, you can use a keyboard and mouse on Xbox One. Not every game is compatible by default. However, there's a third-party product that allows any game to interpret keyboard and mouse commands, regardless of who you purchase the accessories from. The 8 Best Xbox One Keyboards and Mice of 2022

How to Set Up a Keyboard and Mouse on Xbox One

Connecting a keyboard to the Xbox One is fairly straightforward. Simply configure the mouse with your controller to get it working. Information in this article applies to all Xbox One models, including the Xbox One X and Xbox One S. Plug in a compatible wired or wireless keyboard to an available USB port on the Xbox One. The keyboard should work automatically. If using a wireless device, make sure it's turned on and has charged batteries. Plug in a compatible wired or wireless mouse to an available USB port on the console. Press the Xbox button on the controller to open the side menu. Scroll over to the Profile & system tab, which has your user pic on it. Select Settings. Choose Devices & connections. Select Mouse. Configure your mouse using the Xbox One controller. If you don't see the mouse as a selectable option, restart the console. Load any game with mouse navigation enabled. Your USB mouse should now be operational. Only certain games or apps allow mouse navigation. Also, you can't use a mouse to navigate the Xbox One home screen.

Xbox Controls on a Keyboard

The keyboard doesn't need any additional configuration. Here are the Xbox One keyboard shortcuts for easier navigation: Function Xbox One Controller Input Keyboard Input Next Element N/A Tab Previous Element N/A Shift+Tab Guide Xbox button Windows Key Select A Space or Enter Back B Escape or Backspace Search Y Y Key Open Menu Menu button Windows Key+M Change View View button Windows Key+V Up D-pad or Joystick Up Arrow Down D-pad or Joystick Down Arrow Left D-pad or Joystick Left Arrow Right D-pad or Joystick Right Arrow

How to Play Any Xbox One Game With a Keyboard and Mouse

Only certain games on Xbox One are compatible with keyboard and mouse controls. However, you can buy a third-party product to get practically any game working with your Xbox One mouse and keyboard. The easiest way to do this is with the XIM Apex. Here's how to get it working: Download and run the XIM Apex firmware tool for your operating system on your computer. Check to make sure your keyboard and mouse are compatible with XIM Apex. Press and hold the button on your XIM device to turn it on, then insert it into an open USB port on your PC while still holding down the button. When the button flashes blue on the XIM, release the button, then select Update Firmware. After the firmware is updated, plug the XIM Apex device into an open port on your Xbox One, then connect the Apex Hub to the device. When the hub is connected, connect the keyboard, mouse, and Xbox One controller (using a USB cable) to the Apex Hub. Download the XIM Apex Manager app for Android or iOS to set up key configurations for specific Xbox One games. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Connect a Mouse and Keyboard to Steam Deck How to Add and Use an External Hard Drive with Xbox Series X or S How to Use External Controllers on Steam Deck How to Fix An Xbox One Mic That Isn't Working How to Fix an Xbox One Controller That Won't Turn On How to Fix It When an Xbox One Controller Headphone Jack Isn't Working How to Fix It When an Xbox One Controller Won't Recognize the Headset Using the XBox SmartGlass Controller How to Clear the Cache on Xbox One Consoles How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to a PC How to Use Nintendo Switch With a Keyboard and Mouse How to Set Up Xbox Game Streaming for Your Phone How to Uninstall a Game on Xbox One How to Fix It When Your Xbox One Headset Is Not Working How to Stream Xbox One to Your PC How to Connect PS4 or Xbox Controllers to Switch Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies