Mayflash Magic NS2 Adapter: Using Controllers Across Consoles
By 8BitMods - Retro and modern console games and accessories | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: How-to Guides
Step-by-step Mayflash Magic NS2 setup for Switch, PC, and retro minis. Pair PS4, Xbox, or Switch Pro controllers and avoid common pairing mistakes.
Quick answer
Plug the Magic NS2 into your console or PC, set the mode switch to the correct position, then put your controller into pairing mode. The adapter handles the translation, so a DualSense or Xbox controller can act like a Switch Pro controller. If nothing connects, the mode switch is almost always the culprit.
What the Magic NS2 actually does
The Magic NS2 is a translator, not a hub. It receives a Bluetooth controller signal and re-sends it in the format your system expects, which is why one adapter can cover PS4, PS3, Switch, macOS, Windows, Raspberry Pi, NEOGEO mini, PS Classic Mini, SEGA Genesis Mini, Mega Drive Mini, and Sega Astro City Mini. Supported Bluetooth controllers include DualSense, DualShock 4, DualShock 3, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One Bluetooth controllers, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, and Switch Pro. If your controller is not on that list, the adapter cannot invent support for it.
One adapter, several very different modes
The mode switch is the part most people skip. On Switch you want the adapter presenting itself as a wired Pro controller, so the console treats it as a first-party pad. On PC you are usually choosing between X-Input and D-Input, and the correct one depends on whether the game expects an Xbox-style pad or a generic DirectInput device. On the retro minis the adapter is emulating a specific wired controller for that mini, so the same physical switch position that works on Switch will not work there. Check the printed mode table before you plug anything in, and change one thing at a time.
Pairing order matters more than you think
Pair the controller to the adapter, not to the console. If your PS4 pad is still paired to the PlayStation, it will keep waking that console instead of the adapter, and you will assume the Magic NS2 is broken. On Switch, go into Change Grip/Order and hold the controller's pairing buttons until the player LED settles. On PC, the adapter shows up as a game controller in the OS, so test it in the system's controller panel before blaming a game. Bluetooth interference from a nearby dock, TV, or USB 3.0 drive is a real cause of dropped inputs, so keep the adapter out from behind the console.
Magic NS2 setup steps
- 1. Pick the right mode before plugging in: Move the mode switch to the position for your target system: Switch, PC (X-Input or D-Input), or the specific retro mini. Then connect the adapter to a free USB port. Checkpoint: the adapter's LED should light or blink to show it has power. No light means the port or cable is the problem, not pairing.
- 2. Put the controller into pairing mode: On a DualShock 4 or DualSense, hold the PS button and Share/Create together until the light bar double-flashes. On an Xbox One or Series controller, hold the pairing button on the top edge until the logo flashes quickly. On a Switch Pro controller, hold the small sync button on the top. Common mistake: tapping the PS button once only wakes the controller and reconnects it to the last device it knew.
- 3. Let the adapter and controller find each other: Keep the controller within a meter of the adapter and wait for the LED to go solid. Give it a full 10 to 15 seconds before trying again; the first connection is slower than later ones. Checkpoint: a solid LED means paired. A fast blink that never stops usually means the controller is still bound to another console.
- 4. Verify input in the system menu, not in a game: On Switch, open System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Test Input Buttons. On PC, open the OS game controller panel and press every button, stick, and trigger. On retro minis, use the mini's own controller test screen if it has one. Common mistake: testing inside a game first. Games often remap or ignore inputs, which hides whether the adapter is working.
- 5. Fix a dropped or doubled connection: If inputs lag or the controller disconnects, unplug the adapter, forget the controller on the original console, and re-pair. Move the adapter to a front USB port away from metal, Wi-Fi routers, and USB 3.0 drives. Next step: once it is stable, leave the mode switch alone. Changing modes mid-session forces a re-pair.
Adapter facts worth knowing
- Mayflash Magic NS2 Wireless Bluetooth Adapter for Switch / PC: Works with PS4, Switch, macOS, Windows, Raspberry Pi, PS3, NEOGEO mini, SNK NEOGEO Arcade Stick PRO, PS Classic Mini, SEGA Genesis Mini, SEGA Mega Drive Mini, and Sega Astro City Mini. One adapter can cover a modern console, a PC, and several retro minis instead of buying a separate dongle for each.
- Mayflash Magic NS2 Wireless Bluetooth Adapter for Switch / PC: Bluetooth controller support includes DualSense, DualShock 4, DualShock 3, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One Bluetooth controllers, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, and Switch Pro. You can keep using the controller you already own, but only if it is a Bluetooth model; older wired-only pads are not covered.
- Retro-Bit Tribute64 V2 2.4G Wireless Controller for N64/Switch/USB - Atomic Purple: The Retro-Bit Tribute64 V2 is a 2.4GHz wireless controller designed for N64 and USB-enabled devices. It is a 2.4GHz dongle-based pad, not a Bluetooth controller, so it pairs directly with its own receiver rather than through the Magic NS2.
- KMD Chromatic LED Wireless Controller - Switch: The KMD Chromatic LED Wireless Controller for Switch has an 800mAh rechargeable battery, a 1m Type-C cable, X and D-Input support over wired connection, adjustable vibration, and turbo and auto button functions. It already speaks Switch and PC input standards natively, so it is a straightforward alternative when you want one controller for both without an adapter in the chain.
