Everything you need to know about setting up and using PersonalConsole.
A Windows shell replacement you drive with a game controller.
It replaces the Windows desktop with a full-screen, controller-first console interface: a tile desktop with tabs, an on-screen keyboard with word prediction, radial menus, a file browser and a system panel — all navigable without ever reaching for a mouse.
• OS: Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or newer, 64-bit.
• Privileges: Administrator. Windows asks for your permission at every launch, and the application will not start without it.
Why Administrator? Windows silently discards simulated input sent from an ordinary program into a window that belongs to a program running as administrator. Without it, your controller would stop working in some applications with no error to explain why.
• Xbox & Compatible: Works natively. Just plug it in.
• Third-party pads (8BitDo, GameSir, etc.): Put the pad in XInput mode.
• DInput pads: Read directly, but lack force feedback.
• PlayStation & Switch: Use a bridge like DS4Windows or Steam Input.
• Generic USB gamepads: Usually work on the DInput path if Windows detects them.
Installation:
Download the Installer (.exe) from the Releases page, run it, and accept the Windows permission prompt. (A portable ZIP is also available).
Removal:
Close the application, then uninstall it from Settings → Apps. Uninstalling never deletes your settings.
Settings are kept in Documents\PersonalConsole:
• Shared folder: Profiles, themes, layouts, dictionaries (safe to copy to another PC).
• PC Name folder: Desktop layout, tabs, pinned folders (tied to your specific PC).
Saved passwords are encrypted using Windows DPAPI in %LOCALAPPDATA%\PersonalConsole and cannot be decrypted on another machine.
Yes. It asks for administrator rights strictly for input simulation. It connects to the network exactly once to api.github.com at startup (and when you press update) to check for new versions. No telemetry or automatic downloads occur. All your data is stored locally in plain files, and passwords are encrypted to your Windows account.
Go to Preferences → Update → Check for updates. The application also checks once at startup. If a newer release is out, a small dot appears on the Preferences entry. It downloads and installs nothing automatically; opening the download page is your decision.
• No force feedback on DInput pads.
• Extra paddles (L4/R4) cannot be bound directly (map them in the controller's own software first).
• Force-closing the application from Task Manager while the Console Desktop is open leaves the desktop hidden. Restarting and closing the application normally fixes this.
If PersonalConsole is useful to you, you can support development by donating on Patreon.
Bug reports and feature requests are welcome on our Feedback page or GitHub Issues. Please include your Windows version and controller model.