Compatibility

What your Android needs to be compatible with JoyCon Droid.

🔷 Android 9 (Pie) or greater

You may need to try multiple custom ROMs until finding a compatible one.

Custom ROMs (LineageOS, crDroid, etc.) for some devices such as OnePlus work better on Android 9 and 10.

Android 13 and greater must use SwitchControllerCOD instead of Bluetooth++

🔷 Support for Bluetooth HID Profiles. Check with the Tester app

Some devices do not have support for Bluetooth HID Profiles by default. A few known manufacturers with this issue are OnePlus, Motorola, Huawei, LG, Sony, and Xiaomi. You can still try installing the Bluetooth HID Enabler - Magisk Module for those devices if the Tester app fails.

🔷 Root with Magisk to change Bluetooth Device Class with the Bluetooth++ or SwitchControllerCOD module

The guide for that can be found here. Alternatively, you can use root to change your Android's Bluetooth MAC address to a real JoyCon that you have already paired with the Switch. Find information about rooting and flashing custom ROMs to your phone here. Note: You do not necessarily need to be rooted with Magisk. You can be rooted with SuperSU for example, however you will just need to install or edit some files on your device manually. KernelSU can also install Magisk modules. The JoyCon Droid app itself does not need root, but the workarounds to get paired with the Switch need root.

Bluetooth++ only works with devices using the AOSP Bluetooth stack. Newer devices using the Qualcomm (QTI) Bluetooth Stack are not yet able to change the Device Class. Downgrading to Android 9 or 10 may help for some devices.

Bluetooth++ supports only Android 9 to 12. If you have Android 13 or higher, use SwitchControllerCOD instead.

🔶 Samsung device or custom ROM with Bluetooth HID_DEV_MTU_SIZE 512 (to use amiibos)

LineageOS 16.0 or higher based custom ROMs built after 7th of September 2020 are likely to have Bluetooth HID_DEV_MTU_SIZE 512. There is not a way to view this on your device yet. You would have to look at your custom ROM sources. For example. [The Patch introduced on 7th of September 2020 is only for the AOSP Bluetooth Stack. If an Android device uses the Qualcomm Bluetooth Stack, HID_DEV_MTU_SIZE is still set to 64.]

Some devices known to have issues connecting to the Switch:

Samsung Galaxy A50/A51

A custom ROM or different software version is likely to help.

Bluetooth++ does not work with devices using the QTI Bluetooth stack. More information can be found here.