Turn your phone into a real Bluetooth gamepad — no receiver app, no dongle, no root
HUD (electric lime esports), Aurora (glass and cyan glow) and Industrial (keycaps and safety orange) — full looks, not just an accent colour.
Windows 10 and 11, macOS, Linux and Raspberry Pi, Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV and streaming boxes, smart TVs that accept a Bluetooth gamepad or keyboard, and other Android phones or tablets. Nothing needs to be installed on the host. On iPhone and iPad only the touchpad and keyboard work — iOS games do not accept gamepad input from JoyLink.
Each console blocks it in its own way. Xbox controllers use a proprietary 2.4 GHz radio rather than Bluetooth. PlayStation consoles verify an authentication chip inside the controller. Switch only accepts Nintendo's own protocol. No app can work around these, and JoyLink does not try to.
JoyLink is a standard generic (DirectInput) gamepad, not an Xbox (XInput) controller. Games that only support XInput need Steam in between: open Steam → Settings → Controller and enable Steam Input for generic controllers; for a game outside Steam, use “Add a Non-Steam Game” and launch it from there. Steam then presents it as a controller the game understands, and lets you remap any button.
Acting as a Bluetooth gamepad has been part of Android since version 9, but each manufacturer decides whether to switch it on, and some firmware leaves it off — no app can add it back. It is most common on older OnePlus and LG models, some regional firmware and custom ROMs. The free Bluetooth HID Profile Tester app checks exactly the same thing if you want a second opinion. After a system update, go back to the home screen and check again.
No — it is a one-time purchase that lasts forever. It unlocks the touchpad and keyboard, the TV remote, the racing wheel, custom layouts with multiple profiles, turbo and macros, and the Aurora and Industrial themes. The free version keeps connecting and the standard gamepad fully working, with no ads.
It is in the same range as a regular Bluetooth controller, which most games never show. To keep it steady: stay close to the host, disconnect Bluetooth devices you are not using, turn off battery saver on the phone, and enable Keep screen on so the system doesn't throttle the app.
Connecting, pairing and the standard gamepad are free — no time limit, no ads. Pro adds touchpad, TV remote, racing wheel, custom layouts, turbo & macros and two extra themes for a single one-time price, not a subscription. Try each Pro feature once before you buy.
JoyLink only asks for the Nearby devices (Bluetooth) permission plus a status notification. No account, no sign-in; your inputs go over Bluetooth to the host and nowhere else.
Something not working? A Play review gives us no way to ask for details or send a fix. Email feedback@dapplebyte.com instead (Settings → About → Send feedback attaches your phone model and app version) and we'll get back to you.
Available on Google Play for Android.
Windows and Xbox are trademarks of Microsoft; Mac, iPhone and iPad of Apple; PlayStation of Sony Interactive Entertainment; Nintendo Switch of Nintendo; Android, Android TV and Google TV of Google; Fire TV of Amazon; Steam of Valve; Raspberry Pi of Raspberry Pi Ltd. JoyLink is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Last updated October 15, 2026