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First look: Android 17 may finally let you remap buttons on your game controller

by | Dec 9, 2025 | Android 17, Android Canary, Authority Insights, Gaming, Gaming Controller, News

TL;DR

  • A new menu found in the latest Android Canary build reveals the UI for a game controller remapping feature likely coming in Android 17.
  • Found under Bluetooth settings, the “Game Controller settings” page allows users to customize inputs for both buttons (“Keys”) and directional sticks (“Axes”).
  • The feature likely works by changing which internal key codes and axis values are transmitted to games.

Last month, I shared evidence that Google is working on new gaming features for Android 17. These include support for remapping buttons on gaming controllers and potentially a virtual gamepad. At the time, I wasn’t able to show off any of these features as the menus were incomplete. Thanks to a recent Canary release, however, I’m now able to demo what the UI for Android’s game controller remapping feature looks like.

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Hidden in the Settings app of the latest Android Canary 2512 update is a new “Game Controller settings” menu that will appear on the Bluetooth device details page for compatible gamepads, such as Sony’s DualSense controller. This menu doesn’t currently show up, though, so we had to force it to appear.