Steam Input

No phone app

5.7No. 22 of 37
in Game Leaderboard Software

Recognised40% of the score20
Phone app26% of the score0
Documented20% of the score85
Free plan14% of the score30

Free plan: No
Runs on: api, Linux, Mac, Windows

Summary

Steam Input is controller configuration software built into the Steam client. It lets players adjust supported controllers and route physical inputs to game actions or to keyboard, mouse, and gamepad inputs. Supported devices include Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Pro, PlayStation 3, and DirectInput gamepads. Players can make multiple custom configurations for a game and share them online, then open controller settings in the Steam desktop client or Big Picture mode. Games that use the Steam Input API can receive named actions and identify the physical controls assigned to them, which can help display matching on-screen glyphs. For games without API support, Legacy mode maps inputs to other inputs; this can cause glitches when a game expects mouse and gamepad activity to stay separate, and its glyphs may not reflect the configured inputs. The API is action-based, while Steamworks is a free suite of tools for developers. Steam Input is free and supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Who it is for

Steam Input suits players who want to customize supported controllers for games, including titles without native API support. Developers can use its action-based API to add controller support and define game actions.

What is good

Free to use.
Supports major console controller families.
Players can share custom game configurations.
Settings are available in desktop and Big Picture modes.
API supports named game actions.

What to know first

Legacy mode can cause input glitches in some games.
Legacy-mode glyphs may not match configured inputs.

Verdict

Steam Input provides controller mapping options for both API-enabled games and titles that use legacy bindings. Players should note the possible control conflicts and mismatched glyphs in Legacy mode.

Compared on game leaderboard software

Free plan: Yespartner.steamgames.com
Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linuxpartner.steamgames.com
Per-app profiles: Yespartner.steamgames.com
Profile switching: Yespartner.steamgames.com
Macro support: Yespartner.steamgames.com
Keyboard and mouse remap: Yespartner.steamgames.com
Virtual controller output: Yespartner.steamgames.com

Facts

Purpose: Steam Input is software for configuring input devices, including the Steam Controller and supported third-party devices.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Controller support: The configurator supports major controllers including Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Pro, PlayStation 3, and DirectInput gamepads.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
API: The Steam Input API is an action-based API that supports Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch Pro, and Steam Controllers.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Game actions: Developers can define in-game actions and action sets so players bind controller inputs to game actions instead of keys or buttons.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Legacy bindings: For games without native Steam Input API support, players can bind controller inputs to keyboard, mouse, or gamepad inputs.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Customization: Steam Input's developer guidance says games should allow players to customize controls and mix mouse, keyboard, and gamepad input simultaneously.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Community configurations: Players can publish controller configurations publicly, and developers can designate configurations as official for their games.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Configuration guidance: Steam no longer recommends Steam Workshop for managing official configurations in new titles and recommends bundling Action Manifest Files with game depots.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Player setup: Players can access controller settings through the Steam desktop client or Big Picture mode.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Support: The Steamworks documentation links to Steam Support for contacting support.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Intended users: The documentation describes Steam Input guidance for players configuring controllers and developers adding controller support to games.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Built-in configurator: The Steam Input Configurator is built into the Steam client and translates input from a device according to the player's settings before passing it to a game or application.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Legacy mode: Legacy mode maps physical inputs to other inputs for games that have not implemented the Steam Input API.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Legacy mode limitation: Legacy configurations can cause glitches in games that assume gamepad and mouse controls will not be active at the same time, and their on-screen controller glyphs may not match the configured inputs.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Native mode: In Native mode, games receive named actions from the configurator and can query which physical controls are bound to those actions to display suitable on-screen glyphs.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Custom mappings: Players can create multiple customized controller configurations for a game and share them online.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Supported devices: Steam Input covers the Steam Controller and third-party devices supported by the system.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Input types: Recognized physical input examples include buttons, joysticks, D-pads, triggers, trackballs, trackpads, and gyroscopes.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Configuration modes: Input source modes include mouse, joystick, scroll wheel, touch menu, mouse region, and radial menu modes.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Developer integration: The Steam Input API lets developers communicate directly with the Steam Input Configurator in Native mode; the API is not required for Legacy mode.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Free tools suite: Steamworks is described as a free suite of tools available to developers for games or software on Steam.partner.steamgames.com · 30 Sept 2026
Maker location: Valve says it makes its products collaboratively in Bellevue, Washington.valvesoftware.com · 30 Sept 2026