Just in time for Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox controllers can now be remapped on iPhones

Gears 5 (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

iOS 14.5 brings several customization options for connected Xbox controllers.
Following the update, you can remap buttons on a per-app basis and adjust feedback settings.
Microsoft recently started testing Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS devices to invited Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members.

iOS 14.5 started rolling out earlier this week. The update brings several new features, including Face ID with Apple Watch, AirTag support, and updates to Siri. In addition to all of the headline features, the update brings some new customization options for connected Xbox controllers. You should be able to customize settings for other connected controllers as well, though we are still testing that out.

Once you update to iOS 14.5, you'll be able to remap the buttons of your Xbox controller on a per-app basis. You can also adjust feedback settings, disable screenshots, and disable video clips. These features were part of the iOS 14.5 public beta and have now made their way to everyone.

Our sister site iMore outlines these new options in its guide on how to use an Xbox One or Series X controller with iPhone or iPad.

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These new options come at a great time for gaming on iOS devices. Microsoft just started rolling out Xbox Cloud Gaming for iOS to some Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. Most people will have to wait until the end of the year to stream games to their iPhone through Xbox Cloud Gaming.

If you plan to stream games to your iPhone, you should check out the best Xbox Project xCloud game streaming accessories.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Select Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members have received an invite to test out Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS. With the iOS 14.5 update, people can remap Xbox controller buttons on a per-app basis and customize other controller settings.

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.