Manage Profiles and Choose a Template
A profile is a saved control setup: it contains the mappings that connect your inputs to gamepad, keyboard, mouse, or PlayAbility actions. This guide will help you choose a starting template, activate the profile you want to use, and keep your profile list organized.
Create a profile from a template
- Open Profiles from the sidebar.
- Select Add a new profile. If you do not have any profiles yet, select Create your first profile instead.
- On Select a base template, browse the available templates.
- If needed, use Filter by output to show templates that produce gamepad, keyboard, mouse, or other output types.
- Select the template that best matches how you want to play.
- Select Use this template.
PlayAbility creates the profile, makes it current, and opens it in Mapping. You can use the included mappings as they are or customize them.
Choose Starter when you want an empty profile. Other templates provide working examples such as head and face control, mouse control, keyboard remapping, racing controls, or a complete gamepad layout.
If you select a template whose name is already in use, PlayAbility gives the new profile a distinct copy name.
Load a different profile
- Open Profiles.
- Find the profile you want.
- Select its Load this profile button.
The selected card changes to Current profile, and PlayAbility opens that profile in Mapping.
Changing profiles replaces the current profile's mappings. The special Global profile is different: its mappings run alongside every regular profile. Global is useful for controls you always need, such as profile-switching shortcuts or an emergency Release All action.
Rename, duplicate, reorder, or delete a profile
- Load the profile you want to manage.
- Open Mapping.
- Select more beside the profile name.
- Choose the operation you need:
- Rename Profile changes the profile name. This is not available for the Global profile.
- Duplicate Profile creates a separate copy of the profile and its mappings.
- Reorder Mappings shows drag handles and move-up or move-down controls beside the mappings.
- Remove Empty Mappings deletes every action row that does not yet have a trigger.
- Delete Profile permanently removes the profile after confirmation.
- Follow the confirmation prompt when one appears.
Renaming and duplicating profiles require PlayAbility Pro Edition. If a profile is marked Read-Only, its mappings and management controls cannot be changed; follow the Read-Only Profile banner to review the available upgrade option.
Before deleting a profile you may want later, export a profile backup or share the profile first.
Verify the profile
- Open Profiles and confirm the intended card says Current profile.
- Open Mapping and review the actions and triggers in that profile.
- Activate one of its triggers.
- Confirm the corresponding mapping responds and the expected output is produced.
When testing a regular profile, remember that active Global mappings also run.
Troubleshooting and limitations
The template list is empty after filtering
Select Reset filters to show every template again.
Creating a profile shows a profile-limit prompt
Follow the prompt carefully. Depending on your account, creating another editable profile may require replacing your current editable profile or upgrading to Pro Edition. Replacing a profile removes the existing one, so make a backup first if you need to preserve it.
The profile is Read-Only
Only editable profiles can be changed. Load an editable profile or use the upgrade option shown in the Read-Only Profile banner.
Rename or Duplicate Profile is disabled
These operations require Pro Edition. The Global profile also cannot be renamed.
A profile switch does not seem to change the controls
Confirm the selected card says Current profile, then check Mapping. Global mappings remain active with regular profiles and may be producing the control you still see.
A deleted profile is needed again
Deletion has no undo command. Import a previously exported backup or re-import a shared copy if one is available.
Updated on: 29/07/2026