How to Connect a Gamepad to LaiCai

LaiCai forwards your computer-side gamepad input to a target phone — so you can play mobile games with a real controller. This guide walks you through detection, binding, and the two control modes.

📋

Before You Start

  • A wired (USB) or Bluetooth gamepad connected to your computer
  • At least one Android device already connected to LaiCai
  • On Windows, both XInput (Xbox-style) and DirectInput pads work
01

Step 1: Connect the Gamepad to Your Computer

  • USB gamepad — plug it into a USB port on your computer
  • Bluetooth gamepad — pair it once in your operating system Bluetooth settings
  • Most controllers (Xbox, PlayStation, 8BitDo, Beitong, etc.) are recognized automatically
02

Step 2: Open the Gamepad Manager in LaiCai

  1. In LaiCai's top toolbar, click Gamepad
  2. The dialog lists every detected gamepad
  3. If your controller is missing, click Refresh at the top right

When no controller is detected the list shows "No gamepad detected".

03

Step 3: Verify the Gamepad Works

Before binding, make sure the controller actually reports input.

  1. On the gamepad row, click Test
  2. An inspector window opens
  3. Press buttons or move sticks to test
  4. Each press / stick movement should appear as a row in the log
💡 If nothing shows up: try a different USB cable, re-pair Bluetooth, or click Refresh again.
04

Step 4: Bind the Gamepad to a Phone

  1. In the same row, open the device dropdown
  2. Pick the phone you want this controller to drive
  3. Choosing "No Device" unbinds the controller from any phone

One gamepad controls one phone. Bind it elsewhere and the previous binding is released automatically.

05

Step 5: Choose Control Mode

After binding, the mode dropdown becomes active. Two modes are available:

Native

Native — for games that support gamepads

  • The gamepad is forwarded to the phone as a standard Android gamepad. The game receives real controller events.
  • Best fit: Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, Asphalt, retro emulators, and any title that shows controller button hints in-game.
  • How to tell: open the game and look for gamepad icons in the UI, or a “Gamepad / Controller” option in settings.
  • Pros: precise sticks, native button bindings, near-console feel.
Mapped

Mapped — for games that don't support gamepads

  • Gamepad input is translated into virtual touches on the phone screen — the game still thinks fingers are tapping.
  • Best fit: PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, most MOBA / FPS / casual mobile titles.
  • Requires a Key Mapping profile that defines which screen position each button taps. Open it from the device's KM button.
  • Tip: design the layout once, save as a profile, reuse for similar games.
06

Step 6: Configure Key Mapping (optional)

  • If you chose Mapped mode, you need to configure key mappings for the game
  • Click the KM button at the top of the screen mirror to open the key mapping editor
  • See the "How to Configure Key Mapping" guide for detailed steps
✨

Extras

  • Click Rename to give the controller a friendly nickname (helpful with multiple pads).
  • Multiple gamepads + multiple phones: bind each controller to a different phone in the same dialog.
  • To release a binding, set the device dropdown to "No Device".