Turn your iPhone into a controller for a hyperPad game on another screen. Your phone shows the game's touch controls while the game stays on the other screen.

This tutorial takes you through pairing and starting play. You can also follow it with an iPad as your controller.

Before you start

On your iPhone, open hyperPad Hub. On an iPad, you can use hyperPad or hyperPad Hub.
On the other device, open a game that supports phone controllers.
Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network for nearby pairing or a local QR code. Browser games use a QR code or online pairing code.

You'll switch between two screens below. Game screen means the device running the game. Your iPhone means the device you'll hold as a controller.

1. Game screen: open Add Phone Controller

Start the game. Open its menu and choose Add Phone Controller. If the game has its own menu, look for its phone-pairing option.

Keep the pairing screen open. It shows the code for this game session.

The native dark-mode Add Phone Controller screen, with Connect your phone, a QR code, and a six-digit pairing code.

Use the QR code on your game's screen. The codes in this tutorial are screenshot examples.

2. Your iPhone: open Controller Mode

Open hyperPad Hub and start from its main screen, outside a game. Tap the hamburger menu, then tap Controller Mode.

The dark-mode main menu with the Controller Mode row and its gamepad icon.

On an iPad, Controller Mode is also available from hyperPad's main menu.

3. Your iPhone: scan the game's QR code

In Controller Mode, tap Scan Pairing Code. Allow camera access if the app asks for it.

Point your camera at the QR code on the game screen. When the app reads it, the scanner closes and sends your pairing request.

Controller Mode on a phone, showing Join a game, the pairing code field, Pair with Game, and Scan Pairing Code.

Tap Scan Pairing Code to open the camera. You can also join through Nearby games or enter a code, as shown below.

Your phone shows Waiting for the game to accept…. Keep Controller Mode open while you approve the request on the game screen.

4. Game screen: accept your iPhone

Find your phone under Pairing requests. In the native pairing screen, tap its row labeled Tap to accept. The approval prompt asks Pair iPhone?. Tap Accept.

The device name in the prompt may differ. For example, an iPad request uses iPad.

In a browser game, choose Accept beside your phone's request.

A browser game's dark-mode Pairing requests list, showing an example iPhone with Accept and Decline buttons.

Browser example. The native screen opens an approval prompt when you tap the request.

The pairing screen closes after your phone connects. If you choose Decline by mistake, scan the code again to send another request.

5. Your iPhone: resume the game

If the game's built-in menu is still open, your phone shows the menu too. Tap Resume on your phone to continue the game and show the controller layout.

The connected phone showing the game's dark-mode testing menu, with Resume in the upper-left row.

This example comes from a game's testing menu, titled Debug. The available menu options depend on the game. Tap Resume to start playing.

If your phone already shows the controls, you're ready to play.

6. Your iPhone: start playing

Check the connection label at the top. Connected • Player 1 means your phone is connected as Player 1. Multiplayer games may give you a different player number.

Use the buttons and thumbsticks on your phone to control the game. Check the game's instructions to learn what each control does.

A connected phone in landscape with both thumbsticks, D-pad, face buttons, shoulder buttons, triggers, stick buttons, and menu buttons.

This example shows the full controller layout. Your game shows the controls it uses for your player.

You can play in landscape or portrait. Lift your fingers before rotating, then continue using the controls in the new layout. Your phone stays connected.

The connected phone controller in portrait, with shoulder buttons and triggers above the D-pad, face buttons, and thumbsticks.

The same controls rearrange to fit portrait mode.

Some games use vibration for hits, jumps, or button presses. A supported iPhone can give you that feedback while Controller Mode is open. The game chooses when to vibrate. Your controls still work if vibration is unavailable. An iPad can act as a controller but has no built-in haptics.

Keep Controller Mode open while you play. When the game ends, your phone closes the controller screen and returns to the app. During play, the controller has no close button. If you need to stop using your phone before the game ends, force quit hyperPad Hub.

Other ways to join

Choose a nearby game

Keep the game's pairing screen open. On your phone, look under Nearby games in Controller Mode. Tap the game's row labeled Tap to pair, then accept the request on the game screen.

If several games appear, choose the name shown by the game you want to join. Both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Allow Local Network access if the app asks for it.

Browser games do not appear in Nearby games. Use their QR code or online pairing code instead.

Enter an online pairing code

On the game screen, find the current six-digit pairing code. Enter it in your phone's Six-digit pairing code field, then tap Pair with Game. Accept your phone's request on the game screen.

A browser game's dark pairing screen, with its QR code and six-digit code.

Browser pairing example. Enter the code from the game you're joining.

Code entry needs the game's online pairing service to be available. If the screen tells you to choose a nearby game or scan its pairing code, use one of those options.

Play with friends

For a game that supports multiplayer, each friend opens Controller Mode on their own phone. Pair each phone and accept its request on the game screen.

Check the player number at the top of each phone. If the game offers a player-selection screen, use it to choose who controls each player.

Phone controllers can be used alongside physical controllers. The number of players depends on the game.

Change your controls

If the game provides a Controls screen, open it and choose the action you want to change. Start rebinding, then press the new control on your phone.

Your phone shows the full layout while it waits for your choice. Afterward, it returns to the controls the game uses. Check the game's Controls screen for your new binding.

If you get stuck

Nearby games is empty: Keep the game's pairing screen open. Check that both devices use the same Wi-Fi network. In your device's Settings, allow Local Network access for the app. Guest Wi-Fi can prevent devices from finding each other.
The scanner won't open: Allow camera access for the app in Settings, then try Scan Pairing Code again.
Your phone is waiting for approval: Accept its request on the game screen. If the request is no longer listed, join again.
The code has expired or is rejected: Reopen pairing in the game and use its current code.
Pair with Game cannot connect: Check your internet connection. If the game offers nearby pairing or a local QR code, try that with both devices on the same network.
You're connected but see no controls: Check your player number and the game's instructions. The game must have controls for your assigned player.
The connection stops after you leave the app or lock your phone: Return to Controller Mode. If it does not reconnect, reopen pairing in the game and join again.

When the game ends, its controller session ends too. Open pairing in the next game to join it.

Pair your iPhone to play a hyperPad game