Find the best controller for Infinite Flight, compare gamepads and joysticks, choose useful mappings, and fix pairing, drift and axis problems.
The best all-round controller for Infinite Flight is a Bluetooth-capable Xbox Wireless Controller paired directly with a compatible iPhone, iPad or Android device. Its twin analogue sticks, triggers and buttons cover the essential flight controls without making a mobile setup cumbersome. For finer desk-based flying, a supported USB joystick is better.
Which Infinite Flight controller should you choose?
An Xbox Wireless Controller is our default recommendation because it is portable, widely recognised by mobile operating systems and comfortable during longer flights. Make sure the particular model supports Bluetooth; some older Xbox controllers require a proprietary wireless connection and cannot pair directly with a phone or tablet.
| Control option | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Wireless Controller | Best overall balance of compatibility, portability and analogue control | Older models may lack Bluetooth; the touchscreen is still needed |
| DualShock 4 or DualSense | Players who already own a compatible PlayStation controller | Button labels and available inputs can vary by device and operating system |
| USB joystick | More precise pitch, roll and rudder control at a desk | May require USB host support, an adapter or a powered hub |
| Tilt and touchscreen | Flying without extra hardware | Harder to reproduce small inputs consistently during approaches |
A PlayStation controller is a sound alternative if the phone or tablet already recognises it. Infinite Flight relies partly on the operating system's controller support, so a familiar brand name does not guarantee that every button, trigger or axis will be available inside the simulator.
How do you connect a controller to Infinite Flight?
Pair or connect the controller at operating-system level before assigning anything inside Infinite Flight.
- Connect the hardware. Pair a Bluetooth gamepad through the device's Bluetooth settings, or attach a wired joystick through a data-capable USB adapter.
- Confirm that the device recognises it. If the controller does not appear at system level, Infinite Flight will not be able to use it.
- Open Infinite Flight after connecting. This avoids a common detection problem in which the application was launched before the controller became available.
- Check the controller settings. Move each stick or axis and confirm that the corresponding input responds. Menu wording can differ between app releases.
- Calibrate and test on the ground. Check neutral positions, full travel and direction before take-off.
Once it is detected, use our practical Infinite Flight sensitivity and dead-zone recommendations to remove drift without making the aircraft feel unresponsive.
What controls should you assign to a gamepad?
Pitch and roll belong on the left analogue stick, while yaw can use the triggers or the other stick if Infinite Flight recognises that input as a usable axis.
- Left stick: elevator and aileron control.
- Triggers or right stick: rudder, depending on how the device exposes its axes.
- Buttons: prioritise brakes, trim, flaps, landing gear and view controls where those assignments are available.
- Touchscreen: retain it for throttle, autopilot, cockpit interaction and controls that do not need constant physical access.
Throttle is the awkward one. A self-centring gamepad stick returns to its neutral position, so it makes a poor conventional throttle unless the simulator treats it as an incremental control. The on-screen throttle is usually more dependable.
If the controller exposes several axes and buttons, our guide to assigning primary flight-control axes explains how to identify pitch, roll, yaw and throttle without creating conflicting inputs.
Why is the controller connected but not working properly?
Most Infinite Flight controller faults come from connection order, duplicated inputs or the way the operating system reports an axis.
- No response in the simulator: close Infinite Flight, confirm the controller is connected in the device settings, then reopen the application.
- Aircraft drifts with the controls released: recalibrate if that option is available and add only enough dead zone to stop the unwanted movement.
- Pitch or roll behaves unpredictably: check that tilt control is not acting alongside the external controller.
- Rudder moves in only one direction: the triggers may be reported as two separate axes rather than one combined rudder axis. Use a lateral stick axis instead.
- USB joystick is absent: verify that the adapter carries data, that the mobile device supports USB host operation and that the joystick is receiving enough power.
- Controls move backwards: reverse that individual axis rather than changing several assignments to compensate.
Is a joystick or HOTAS better than a gamepad?
A compatible joystick provides better fine control because its longer movement gives you more physical range for small corrections. A twist grip also offers a more natural rudder input than gamepad triggers, which helps during crosswind landings and taxiing.
We would not buy a large HOTAS or yoke solely for Infinite Flight without confirming compatibility first. Mobile USB support, available power and axis recognition vary by device, and many switches may remain unused. If you intend to run the simulator through an emulator, read what changes when playing Infinite Flight on a PC, because emulator controller handling introduces another compatibility layer.
For most pilots, the Xbox Wireless Controller remains the safest choice. Choose a USB joystick instead when precision matters more than portability and you have verified that your mobile device can recognise and power it.