ParlorControllers and keyboards
Parlor is built for controllers. Pair one with the system, and Parlor recognizes it, hides the touch controls, and shows you exactly what each button does — labelled with the pad's own glyphs.
Supported controllers
Anything Apple's game-controller framework supports: PlayStation DualSense and DualShock 4, Xbox Wireless, Nintendo Switch Pro, 8BitDo, Backbone, and any MFi controller. Wired USB pads work on the Mac too.
Pairing
- Put the controller in pairing mode
Settings → Connect a controller has the button combination for each brand under Which controller do you have?
- Pair it in Settings → Bluetooth
The Open Bluetooth Settings button takes you straight there. Parlor can't pair on its own — this is a system step.
- Come back to Parlor
The header reads Controller connected and turns green. Press any button and the keymap opens with the matching chip lit.
Pair in Settings → Remotes and Devices → Bluetooth on the Apple TV. A controller is required to play; until one connects, a game shows Connect a controller to play.
Pair in System Settings → Bluetooth, or plug in a USB cable. Parlor's Connect a controller guide links to the right pane.
Pairing mode times out. Retry the button combo, then use Listen for controllers in pairing mode in Parlor's controller guide to nudge the system to look again.
Default mapping
| Controller | Parlor |
|---|---|
| A · B · X · Y | A · B · X · Y (X and Y matter for GBA and DS games) |
| L1 · R1 | L · R shoulders |
| Hold R2 | Fast forward |
| L3 (click left stick) | Quick save |
| R3 (click right stick) | Quick load |
| Menu | Start |
| Options | Select |
| Menu + Options together | Pause menu |
| D-pad or left stick | Movement (always) |
PlayStation, Xbox and Switch labels are shown as the pad prints them — ✕ ◯ □ △, A B X Y, or the Switch's swapped A/B and X/Y.
The live keymap and remapping
Open it from the green controller pill during a game, or from Settings → Connect a controller and tapping the connected pad.
- Press a button and its chip lights — the fastest way to check which physical button does what.
- Remap buttons turns each chip into a menu: A, B, X, Y, L, R, ZL, ZR, the four directions, Start, Select, Fast forward, Quick save, Quick load, Pause menu, or Nothing.
- Reset restores the defaults.
One mapping applies to every controller on this device. It's stored locally and doesn't sync.
Hardware keyboards (Mac and iPad)
With a keyboard attached the touch controls hide and a keyboard pill appears in the HUD. Defaults:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Movement |
| X / Z | A / B |
| S / A | X / Y |
| Q / W | L / R |
| E / R | ZL / ZR |
| Return / Right Shift | Start / Select |
| Hold Tab | Fast forward |
| Esc | Pause menu |
| F1 / F2 | Quick save / Quick load |
To rebind: open the keyboard keymap, tap an action, press the key you want. A key can only mean one thing, so assigning it moves it from wherever it was. Reset keyboard to defaults undoes everything.
While a game has focus, keys go to the game — including Escape. Sheets and the pause menu take the keyboard back while they're open.
Apple TV and the Siri Remote
The Siri Remote browses the library and toggles the pause menu with its back button, but gameplay needs a real gamepad. For DS games, the right stick moves a stylus cursor and the left trigger taps.