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SPECIFICTION
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Keysticks

keysticks.net

Free plan Open source Windows
Visit keysticks.net
Spec score 8.1 #10 of 29 in Controller Mapping Software

What it is

Keysticks lets you control a Windows PC with a gamepad or joystick, including for web browsing, games, music and tasks normally handled with a keyboard and mouse. It supports correctly installed wired or wireless XInput and DirectInput controllers. For games that accept keyboard or mouse input, you can create custom layouts and mappings; configurable pointer controls and an on-screen keyboard with word prediction cover other computer tasks. The interface is English only, though the keyboard and word prediction support multiple languages. Sample profiles are included, and the Profile Browser lets you preview and download other users’ profiles. Sharing through the Download Area requires an account and sign-in. A profile can support up to four players, and the software supports per-app profiles and profile switching. Keysticks is free and open source under the Eclipse Public License v1.0. The listed release is v2.14 for Windows, with Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista suggested as minimum operating systems. Some games block emulated input, and administrator-level tasks require Keysticks to run with administrator privileges.

Spec sheet

What it does
Keysticks maps game-controller input to mouse, keyboard and application actions for PC use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Purpose
Keysticks lets users control a Windows PC with a gamepad or joystick to browse the web, play games and music, and use the computer in place of a keyboard and mouse.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Support
The maker provides online help and an FAQ and invites users to contact Tim, the creator, through a contact form.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Maker
The contact page identifies Tim Brogden as the creator of Keysticks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Accessibility use
The maker says Keysticks is designed to make computing more comfortable and describes using a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Account security
The members page says account names and email addresses are stored for login and profile sharing, while remembered passwords are stored locally in encrypted form.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Actions
Actions include key presses, pointer control, window activation, program launching, profile loading and media or browser commands.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
AlternativeTo listing
AlternativeTo lists Keysticks as a free Windows application developed by T C Brogden Limited and written in C#.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
API and SDKs
The repository documents internal use of the OpenAdaptxt API for word suggestions and the SlimDX API for gamepad input, without describing a public Keysticks API or SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Build requirements
The repository documentation names the SlimDX SDK for .NET 4 x86, NSIS and Visual Studio Community 2019 as build prerequisites.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Controller compatibility
Supported controllers are correctly installed gamepads or joysticks using XInput or DirectInput.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Current release
The site lists version 2.14 for Windows, dated 6 July 2024, with a 9.51 MB installer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Developer source
The public repository is a C# .NET WPF application with installer projects, a C++ WordPredictor COM wrapper and CHM help sources.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation
The official help area covers installation, profiles, controls, keyboard features, options, Profile Designer tabs, advanced editing and action types.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Editorial review on Softpedia
4.5 out of 5 from the Softpedia reviewer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Game controls
Users can create controls for games that accept keyboard or mouse input, including custom layouts and input mappings.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Gaming
Users can create controller mappings for games that only accept keyboard or mouse input.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Independent domain check
Scam Detector reports an 86.5/100 authenticity score for keysticks.net and says the domain was registered on 23 April 2012.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scam-detector.com
Independent safety check
Gridinsoft reports a 79/100 trust score for keysticks.net with no malware or phishing detections in its scan.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gridinsoft.com
Installer dependency
The installer may request the SlimDX Runtime before installing Keysticks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Language
The user interface is English only, while the on-screen keyboard and word prediction support multiple languages.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Licence
The maker states that Keysticks is open source under the Eclipse Public License 1.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
License and source
Keysticks is free and open source software released under the Eclipse Public License v1.0, and the maker links to its source code on GitHub.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Limit: account migration
The 2.14 release required users who wanted profile sharing to create or re-register accounts because old accounts could not be migrated.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Limit: blocked games
The FAQ warns that games requiring physical hardware or overriding emulated cursor input may not work with Keysticks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Limit: configuration effort
Softpedia says configuring presets for every application or game can take considerable time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Limit: elevation
Keysticks actions do not work in administrator-level tasks unless Keysticks is also run with administrator privileges.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Limit: language
The user interface is English only, although the screen keyboard and word prediction support multiple languages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Limit: profile storage
Profiles stored under Documents can encounter Windows security restrictions and may need to be moved elsewhere.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Maker structure
The FAQ says Tim maintains Keysticks as a personal project after previously releasing it as shareware.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Mouse and typing
The software includes configurable mouse pointer controls and an on-screen keyboard with word prediction.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Notable limits
The maker says some games block emulated input and controls do not work with administrator-level tasks unless Keysticks also runs with administrator privileges.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Operating system
The current listed release is Keysticks v2.14 for Windows; the download page lists Windows 10, 8, 7, or Vista as suggested minimum operating systems.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Other uses
The maker describes using a wireless controller to control music, browse the web on a TV-connected computer, and change PowerPoint slides.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Player limit
A profile can support up to four players.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Praise: AlternativeTo users
AlternativeTo commenters praise Keysticks as free, open source, comparable to Xpadder and useful from a couch or TV setup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Praise: Softpedia profiles
Softpedia highlights ready-made VLC, PowerPoint and Minecraft profiles plus community-downloadable profiles.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Praise: Softpedia setup
Softpedia describes setup as relatively easy and praises the extensive controller, keyboard and mouse customization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Profile Designer
The Profile Designer provides custom controller layouts, mappings, backgrounds, templates, drag-and-drop editing and up to four players.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Profile sharing
Users can share profiles through the Download Area after creating an account and logging in.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Profile sharing requirement
Downloading shared profiles requires no account, but publishing profiles requires registering and logging in.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Profiles
Sample Windows profiles are included, and users can download or share additional profiles through the Profile Browser.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Rating on AlternativeTo
5 out of 5 from 2 user comments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Rating on Softpedia
4.3 out of 5 from 6 votes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Rating on Uptodown
Not specified out of an unspecified scale from 0 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.en.uptodown.com
Release news
Version 2.14 updated the Download Area connection after the website was redeveloped, and old accounts had to be re-registered.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Release status
The site lists v2.14 dated 6 July 2024 and says users need this version to continue using the in-app Download Area.Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
System requirements
The published minimum is Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista with at least 30 MB of free disk space.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Uptodown usage
Uptodown lists 643 downloads for version 2.1.4.0 and describes configurable macros or scripts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.en.uptodown.com
Virtual keyboard
The software includes an on-screen keyboard with word prediction and selectable layouts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Wireless control
Wireless controllers can operate music players, browse a TV-connected PC and control PowerPoint slides.Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net

Plans and prices

Free Free Windows only · XInput or DirectInput controller · 30 MB disk space minimum Read 15 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net
Keysticks Free Free software; no registration required Windows · EPL v1.0 · no time limitation stated Read 8 Oct 2026 · keysticks.net

Every Keysticks plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports wired and wireless XInput and DirectInput controllers.
  • Custom layouts and mappings for compatible games.
  • On-screen keyboard includes multilingual word prediction.
  • Free and open source under EPL v1.0.
  • Profiles support up to four players.

Limits

  • Interface is English only.
  • Some games block emulated input.
  • Administrator-level tasks require matching privileges.
  • Sharing profiles requires an account and sign-in.

Who it suits

Keysticks suits Windows users who want to operate a PC with a gamepad or joystick, including for games, browsing, music or more comfortable computing. It may also suit users who want custom game layouts or profiles for up to four players.

Verdict

Keysticks offers a free way to use supported controllers for both games and everyday Windows tasks. Check the game-input and administrator requirements, and note that profile sharing requires an account.

Where Specifiction places it

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