Articles on: Triggers - Inputs
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Use Mouse and Keyboard Inputs or Remap Keys

In a PlayAbility mapping, the action is what PlayAbility produces and the trigger is the physical input you use. A keyboard key can therefore produce another key, a mouse click, or a gamepad action; a mouse button or movement can do the same where that output is compatible.


Use a physical keyboard key as a trigger


  1. Open the current profile in Mapping.
  2. Add the gamepad, keyboard, mouse, or PlayAbility action you want to produce.
  3. On the action row, select Select a trigger.
  4. Select Create a new trigger +.
  5. Under How do you want to control it?, select Keyboard.
  6. Select the input field, then press the physical key you want to use.
  7. Confirm the captured key, choose an Action Mode if needed, and select Save.


To remap one key to another, add the destination key under Add actions > Keyboard, then use the original physical key as its Keyboard trigger. For example, make the physical F key produce R.


For WASD-style gamepad movement, add the four directional stick actions and give each one its corresponding keyboard trigger. This produces digital directional control rather than a continuously variable axis.


Use a physical mouse button or wheel as a trigger


  1. Add the action you want to produce.
  2. Select Select a trigger and then Create a new trigger +.
  3. Select Mouse Button.
  4. Choose Left Click, Right Click, Middle Click, Side Button 1, Side Button 2, Scroll Up, or Scroll Down.
  5. Choose an Action Mode when needed, then select Save.


For example, a physical left click can produce the gamepad A Button, or a side button can produce a keyboard key.


Use physical mouse movement as a gamepad stick


  1. In Mapping, select Add actions.
  2. Under Gamepad, add the horizontal and vertical axes of the stick you want to control.
  3. On the horizontal axis, create a Mouse Motion trigger.
  4. Under Which mouse axis?, select the horizontal mouse axis.
  5. Invert the direction if needed, then select Save.
  6. On the vertical stick axis, create another Mouse Motion trigger and select the vertical mouse axis.
  7. Invert that direction if needed, then select Save.
  8. Tune the Global Mouse Settings shown in the trigger editor:
    • With Auto Centering on, mouse movement behaves like a self-centering joystick. Adjust Auto Centering Sensitivity to control how quickly it returns.
    • With Auto Centering off, the stick follows the mouse position relative to the screen center. Adjust Sensitivity to set the distance required for full stick movement.
    • With Lock on Edge enabled, reaching a screen edge can hold full movement in that direction.


Global Mouse Settings affect all mouse-motion mappings, so retest every profile that uses mouse movement after changing them.


Use a mouse movement direction as a trigger


  1. Add a compatible button, key, click, scroll, stick-direction, or other discrete action.
  2. Create a Mouse Motion trigger.
  3. Select Mouse Move Up, Mouse Move Down, Mouse Move Left, or Mouse Move Right.
  4. Set the Sensitivity Threshold so ordinary small movements do not activate it accidentally.
  5. Choose an Action Mode and select Save.


This directional setup is different from mapping the horizontal or vertical mouse axis to an analog gamepad stick.


Verify the mappings


  1. Confirm the intended profile says Current profile.
  2. Make sure Main Output is enabled.
  3. Press each key or mouse button and watch PlayAbility's live feedback.
  4. Move the mouse slowly and quickly to test thresholds, direction, and centering.
  5. Confirm the target game or app receives the intended output.
  6. Check that the original physical input still behaves as expected.


Troubleshooting and limitations


A key is not captured


Select the keyboard input field before pressing the key. If it still is not captured, close software that globally intercepts the key and try another key to isolate the issue.


A mouse side button does not respond


Confirm the device sends Side Button 1 or Side Button 2 to Windows. Mouse-vendor software may remap or suppress those buttons before PlayAbility receives them.


The mouse-controlled stick drifts or does not return to center


Enable Auto Centering and adjust Auto Centering Sensitivity. If Auto Centering is off, return the pointer toward the screen center or increase the pixel Sensitivity range.


A directional mouse trigger fires too often


Raise its threshold. Small normal pointer corrections can cross a low threshold, especially at high mouse sensitivity.


Both the original and mapped input occur


Keyboard and mouse triggers do not suppress their normal Windows input by default. If you need suppression, configure the separate Windows-only Mute input feature under Settings > Advanced and mark only the mappings whose physical inputs should be muted.


Mute input causes an unexpected lockout


Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+F12 to turn input muting off everywhere. Input suppression is a Windows-only opt-in feature and can conflict with security, anti-cheat, remote-desktop, or accessibility software.


The target app ignores the mapped output


Confirm Main Output is enabled and that PlayAbility's live feedback changes. Some games read input only while focused, only detect controllers at launch, or block virtual input.

Updated on: 29/07/2026