Does Apex Legends Mobile have controller support on Android?

Apex Legends Mobile Octane
(Image credit: Electronic Arts)

Does Apex Legends Mobile have controller support on Android?

Best answer: Yes, Apex Legends Mobile does support controllers on Android, however Respawn has not optimized the controls in time for launch. As of right now, it's best to use a controller in tandem with some of the touchscreen prompts. Apex Legends Mobile was developed specifically with touch controls in mind. 

What is Apex Legends Mobile?

As its name suggests, Apex Legends Mobile is a mobile version of the popular battle royale. Starring hero characters called Legends, teams of two to three players dive onto a map and compete to be the last ones standing. Each hero character has their own unique abilities that can turn the tides of a match and help you win.

What's unique about Apex Legends Mobile compared to its console and PC counterpart is that it also features a 6v6 Team Deathmatch mode, with the first team to 30 kills taking home the win. 

Does Apex Legends Mobile have controller support on Android?

According to Game Director Chad Grenier, Apex Legends Mobile is "specially designed for touchscreens, with streamlined controls and thoughtful optimizations that result in the most advanced battle royale combat available on a phone."

That said, it does feature controller support for those who prefer that setup, the only caveat being that its not entirely optimized at launch. I played several hours of Apex Legends Mobile and still found the controller support to be more than adequate, but it's best to use it alongside some of the touchscreen prompts for the best possible experience. 

Respawn will be fully optimizing controller support sometime down the road. 

Controller support vs. touch controls: Which is better?

This is a matter of opinion, but by and large, you'll find most people say controller support is better, much like how the keyboard and mouse on a PC are superior to controller support. It's easier to use and offers greater control and accuracy. Touch controls can be difficult to get right and usually obscure parts of the screen. If you're used to playing with them, then you shouldn't have too much of a problem.

Some of the best mobile controllers do wonders for helping people win more matches, so it's definitely something you should look into.


Designed for mobile

Everything about Apex Legends Mobile is built first and foremost with touchscreen controls in mind. But that doesn't mean they're perfect for everyone. Those hopping into Apex Legends Mobile will find a fun — if a little different — experience compared to console and PC, and tweaking the controller settings just a bit can help tremendously. 

Apex Legends Mobile

Apex Legends Mobile

Your favorite Legends are coming to Android mobile devices very soon. We don't know for sure if it will support controllers at this time, but you can rest easy knowing that it will at the very least be optimized for touch controls.

Download from: Google Play Store

Jennifer Locke
Games Editor - PlayStation, Android, VR

Jennifer Locke has been playing video games nearly her entire life. You can find her posting pictures of her dog and obsessing over PlayStation and Xbox, Star Wars, and other geeky things.