How to use the Official GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U in Dolphin

As of, Dolphin has built in support for the Nintendo GameCube controller Adapter for Wii U, the only official USB GameCube adapter available. With Dolphin's implementation, the GameCube controller is auto-configured and calibrated, with full rumble support. Wireless controllers and bongos are supported.

Although this is for the official adapter, the clones that mimic the official adapter may be eligible. For instance, if using Mayflash's GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U and PC USB, set it to Wii U mode before following these instructions.

= Installation =

Linux
Linux support does not require any special drivers. However, a udev rule must be created to allow access to the device.

Paste the following in the /etc/udev/rules.d/51-gcadapter.rules file (/lib/udev/rules.d/51-gcadapter.rules if making a package):

Reload udev rules with:

Then re-insert the adapter. Dolphin should now detect it in the controller settings (refer to below).

If you want to change the rule, links for instructions are available on the libusb FAQ.

OS X
Due to the nature of Apple's HID implementation, all HID devices (including non-standard ones) are intercepted by IOKit's HID driver. Since the adapter does not supply a valid report descriptor, this makes the IOKit driver useless for direct communication.

Instead, IOKit's behavior may be manipulated via a codeless .kext to simply ignore the adapter and permit a lower-level connection (like the one Dolphin makes):

Easy Install
Installer Package

Terminal Install
Standalone Kext sudo cp -r ~/Downloads/SmashEnabler.kext /Library/Extensions/SmashEnabler.kext sudo chown -R root:wheel /Library/Extensions/SmashEnabler.kext sudo touch /Library/Extensions sudo reboot

Once installed, Dolphin should be able to recognize that the adapter has been plugged in. You do not need to configure the controllers manually within Dolphin's controller settings but any controllers plugged into the adapter should work immediately.

For questions on any of these OS X connection techniques, please see the forum thread.

Windows
On Windows, the GameCube controller adapter will need a certain driver to let Dolphin detect it and use it.

Driver Installation with Zadig
Plug in the GameCube controller adapter if it hasn't been already. Download and launch Zadig.

1. From the "Options" menu in Zadig, select "List All Devices"

2. In the pulldown menu, select "WUP-028". Ensure that its USB ID is "057E 0337".
 * If it does not appear in the list then try inserting the adapter (specifically its black USB cord) into another USB port.

3. On the right column, select "WinUSB" then click "Replace Driver". Select "Yes" to modify the system driver.

When it said the driver is installed successfully then you can close the Zadig setup and continue to below.

Problem with Zadig?
If there is a problem in the installation process, you can completely restart Zadig by following these instructions.

Reverting the adapter's driver back to vanilla state
 * Open Device Manager (or simply run "devmgmt.msc"), look for the "WUP-028" device which is usually under the "Universal Serial Bus devices". Open its context menu (right-click) and select Properties. Click "Uninstall" under the "Driver" tab. Check box "Delete the driver software for this device" then proceed. Then re-insert the adapter. The steps for driver installation can now be followed.

Delete temporary setup files (Fixes "Driver installation failed")
 * Kill installer_x64.exe or installer_x86.exe from the Task Manager then delete %userprofile%\usb_driver\ and run Zadig again.

= Dolphin Setup =

Before Dolphin 4.0-8601
With any necessary installation complete, run Dolphin, and check Direct Connect under GameCube Adapter in the Controller Settings, then restart Dolphin. Set GameCube ports to Standard Controller corresponding to each port on the adapter that is plugged in with the actual GameCube controller. The setup for the adapter is now completed. To test, simply start a game that uses GameCube controllers.
 * DK Bongo controllers are supported. With DK Bongo controllers plugged in, select "TaruKonga (Bongos)" in the Controller Settings.
 * Dolphin supports hot-plug, so the pads can be unplugged and plugged into other ports. If a pad is unplugged from the adapter, Dolphin will use what is configured (PC keyboard/mouse, PC gamepad etc).
 * The left slot on the adapter (while engraved "Wii U" facing up) is the first port, and so on, so don't mistake it for being the other way around!

Dolphin 4.0-8601 and Newer
With any necessary installation complete, run Dolphin and click the GameCube controller dropdown. Select GameCube Adapter for Wii U on any slot that you wish to use the adapter for. Hitting Configure when this is selected allows you to turn rumble off/on per controller, as well as a toggle for using the DK Bongos.

Adapter Not Detected
It's worth noting that only the first instance of Dolphin Emulator will detect the adapter. Another instance will detect the second one if inserted, and so on. If the Dolphin Emulator couldn't detect the adapter, it's possible that you already have another one running.

Dolphin might not show the correct status of the adapter if Direct Connect is unchecked. Check that then restart Dolphin.

If the adapter is not detected at all, then it may only be a matter of changing USB ports and restarting Dolphin, or its driver/setup might have recently been changed/overridden. You should follow the instruction again from one of the sections for your system.