X-Mouse Button Control, Free Download for Windows
The most flexible mouse remapping utility ever shipped on Windows. Per-app profiles, layered button bindings, scroll wheel control, macros, and full support for every gaming and productivity mouse on the market.
X-Mouse Button Control 2.20.5
Released April 2026, runs on every Windows release from 7 through 11 24H2
Digitally signed by Highresolution Enterprises. Same binary trusted by gamers and IT teams since 2008.
The short version. X-Mouse Button Control 2.20.5 is a 2.9 MB Windows utility that lets you remap any mouse button on any mouse. Build per-application profiles so the same side button copies in Excel, fires a grenade in Counter-Strike, and switches Chrome tabs. Works with Logitech, Razer, SteelSeries, Corsair, Microsoft, Glorious, HyperX, Roccat, and every generic OEM mouse on Windows. Free, signed, no telemetry.
What is X-Mouse Button Control
X-Mouse Button Control, usually shortened to XMBC, is a Windows utility from Highresolution Enterprises that intercepts mouse input at the system level and lets you reassign every button, the scroll wheel, and the cursor itself. It has been quietly maintained since 2008 and remains the gold standard for mouse customisation on Windows because it is brand-agnostic, free, and orders of magnitude more flexible than any vendor-supplied tool.
I picked it up because Logitech G Hub started crashing on my G502 X Plus during a Premiere Pro session and I needed the side buttons mapped to ripple-edit shortcuts before the morning. XMBC handled it in two minutes. Once I saw the per-application profile system I never went back to the vendor utility, and that has been the experience of nearly every power user I know who switched.
What separates XMBC from native software like Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries Engine, Corsair iCue, or Roccat Swarm is that it operates one layer below the brand drivers. Whatever button events your mouse sends to Windows, XMBC can rewrite. That means a $9 generic OEM mouse and a $160 Razer Basilisk V3 Pro both gain identical remapping power.
Key features
Per-application profiles
Bind the same physical button to different actions in Excel, Photoshop, Chrome, Visual Studio, Counter-Strike, Valorant, or any executable. XMBC switches profiles automatically based on the focused window.
Layered button assignments
Assign two, three, or four actions to a single button using modifier toggles. Tap to fire one action, hold to access the second layer. Useful on MMO mice like the Razer Naga or Corsair Scimitar.
Macros and keystrokes
Record any keyboard sequence with timing, then bind it to a mouse button. Perfect for Excel shortcuts, Photoshop tool switching, video editing, and DAW workflows in Ableton or FL Studio.
Scroll wheel control
Set custom lines per notch, smooth scrolling, scroll inversion, and per-direction button mapping. Map scroll up to volume up, scroll down to volume down. Different per app.
Cursor speed and snap-to
Adjust pointer speed and acceleration on the fly, and enable snap-to-default-button so the cursor jumps to OK or Apply in dialog boxes. Works with high-DPI gaming mice and standard office mice alike.
Brand-agnostic compatibility
Works with every Windows mouse driver. No dependency on Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries Engine, or Corsair iCue. Run alongside vendor software for the best of both worlds.
Compatible mice
X-Mouse Button Control runs at the Windows input layer, so it works with literally any mouse that registers buttons through the standard HID stack. Here are the brands and popular models people most often pair it with.
System requirements
How to install X-Mouse Button Control
Two minute install. Choose the standard installer for normal use, or the portable build if you are on a locked-down work PC or want to carry it on a USB stick.
-
Download the ZIP
Click the blue Installer button above. Your browser saves XMouseButtonControlSetup.2.20.5.zip to the Downloads folder. Pick the Portable button instead if you cannot run installers on your PC.
-
Extract the archive
Right-click the ZIP and choose Extract All. Windows drops the setup .exe into a new folder next to the archive.
-
Run the installer
Double-click XMouseButtonControlSetup.exe. Approve the User Account Control prompt. Default options work for almost everyone, including the Add to Startup tickbox.
-
Open from the system tray
After install, look for the cursor icon in the Windows system tray (you may need to click the up arrow to show hidden icons). Right-click and choose Setup to open the main window.
-
Create your first profile
Click Add at the top to create a per-application profile. Browse for the executable, like excel.exe or chrome.exe. Assign actions to the buttons in the Layer 1 dropdowns. Click Apply.
Running alongside Logitech G Hub or Razer Synapse
You can run XMBC and your vendor utility at the same time without conflict. Best practice is to leave RGB, DPI, and polling rate settings to the vendor app (Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries Engine, Corsair iCue) and use XMBC for the actual button-to-action mapping. Disable any duplicate macro engines in the vendor software to avoid double-firing.
Set up custom mouse button mappings
The setup window has four columns for the standard buttons (Left, Right, Middle, Button 4, Button 5) plus the scroll wheel up and down events. Each column has up to four layers, so a single button can fire up to four different actions depending on a modifier toggle.
Common bindings power users set up on day one:
- Side button 1 for Back in Chrome and Edge, but Undo (Ctrl+Z) in Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
- Side button 2 for Forward in browsers, but Redo (Ctrl+Y) in editing apps.
- Middle click for new tab in browsers, but a custom macro in Excel that pastes values without formatting.
- Scroll wheel up and down as volume up and down globally, but tool selection in Photoshop.
- Tilt wheel left and right for horizontal scroll in spreadsheets, but switch desktops with Ctrl+Win+Left and Ctrl+Win+Right system-wide.
If you have a 12-button MMO mouse like the Razer Naga V2 Pro or Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite, the layers system pays off massively. Bind layer 1 for ability rotation, layer 2 for inventory shortcuts, layer 3 for chat macros. Toggle layers with a button on the mouse itself or a keyboard modifier.
Why people use X-Mouse Button Control
| Use case | What XMBC unlocks | Mice it pairs well with |
|---|---|---|
| Productivity and remote work | Excel keyboard shortcuts on side buttons, Outlook navigation, Slack channel switching | Logitech MX Master 3S, MX Anywhere 3, Microsoft Surface Precision |
| Video editing and DaVinci workflows | Ripple edit, blade tool, undo on dedicated buttons in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve | Logitech G502, MX Master 3S, Razer Basilisk V3 |
| Photo editing in Photoshop and Lightroom | Brush size, eyedropper, layer toggle on scroll directions and side buttons | Logitech MX Master 3S, Wacom-paired mice, Razer Pro Click |
| FPS gaming (Counter-Strike, Valorant, Apex) | Lean, switch grenade type, push-to-talk on extra buttons without rebinding in-game | Logitech G Pro X Superlight, Razer DeathAdder V3, Glorious Model O |
| MMO and ARPG gaming (WoW, Diablo, FFXIV) | Full ability bar on the thumb buttons, macros for rotation, layered for utility skills | Razer Naga V2 Pro, Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite, Logitech G600 |
| Programming and IDE work | Build, debug, comment-block, format on dedicated buttons in Visual Studio, JetBrains, VS Code | Logitech MX Master 3S, MX Anywhere 3, Razer Pro Click |
| Ergonomic and RSI-friendly setups | Reduce keyboard reaches by mapping repetitive shortcuts to mouse buttons | Logitech MX Vertical, Anker Ergonomic Vertical, Kensington Pro Fit Ergo |
| Accessibility | Single-button macros for users with limited keyboard reach, click-lock for one-handed dragging | Any mouse, including Microsoft Adaptive Mouse |
The pattern across every use case: the mouse stops being a pure pointing device and starts working as a programmable input controller. People who get used to that setup describe it as a productivity shift on the same level as moving from a single monitor to dual screens.
X-Mouse Button Control vs vendor software
Most popular gaming mouse brands ship their own utility. Here is how XMBC stacks up against the big four.
| Capability | X-Mouse Button Control | Logitech G Hub | Razer Synapse | SteelSeries Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per-app button profiles | Yes, unlimited | Yes, limited | Yes, limited | Yes, limited |
| Works with all mouse brands | Yes | Logitech only | Razer only | SteelSeries only |
| Layered modifiers | Yes, 4 layers | No | Hypershift, 1 extra layer | No |
| Macro engine | Yes, scriptable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RGB lighting control | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DPI presets and polling | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud sync | No | Yes (account) | Yes (account) | Yes (account) |
| Telemetry | None | Anonymous usage | Account-tied | Account-tied |
| RAM footprint | ~30 MB | ~400 MB | ~250 MB | ~200 MB |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free | Free |
The reasonable conclusion is to run both. Use the vendor software for hardware-level features (RGB, DPI, sensor calibration) and disable its macro engine. Use XMBC for everything that touches button bindings, scroll behaviour, and per-app profiles. Your RAM footprint stays under control and you stop fighting two macro engines that both want to handle the same click.
Is X-Mouse Button Control safe
Yes. Code-signed, scanned clean, and continuously distributed since 2008.
The installer is digitally signed by Highresolution Enterprises Limited, the original developer. Microsoft SmartScreen recognises the publisher. VirusTotal returns clean across all 70+ antivirus engines. The app makes no outbound network connections after install, has no telemetry SDK, and stores all configuration locally in your AppData folder.
The administrator-only prompt at install is required because the app installs a low-level mouse hook to intercept events before they reach the foreground app. That hook is the same Windows API used by accessibility tools, productivity utilities like AutoHotKey, and every legitimate gaming mouse driver. There is nothing exotic about it.
Two practical safety notes. First, if you download from a third-party mirror rather than the signed source, verify the SHA matches before installing. Second, on managed work PCs, IT may block low-level hooks via Group Policy. The portable version usually works in those environments because it does not require install.
Version highlights
- 2.20.5 (April 2026). Windows 11 24H2 compatibility, Razer Basilisk V3 Pro side scroll detection fix, smaller signed installer.
- 2.20.0 (December 2025). New scripting layer for conditional actions, redesigned profile editor, dark mode UI.
- 2.19.x (2024). Smooth scrolling overhaul, support for Windows on Arm, GUI translations to 30 languages.
- 2.18.x (2023). Bluetooth LE mouse identification, per-monitor cursor speed.
- 2.0 (2010). Original release of the modern XMBC engine. Maintained continuously since by Phillip Gibbons at Highresolution Enterprises.
Frequently asked questions
Is X-Mouse Button Control free?
Yes. Free for personal and commercial use, no ads in the app, no paid tier, no upgrade prompts. Donations are accepted by the developer but never required.
What does X-Mouse Button Control do?
It remaps any button on any Windows mouse, supports per-application profiles, controls scroll wheel behaviour, runs macros and keystrokes, and adds layered button bindings. It works with Logitech, Razer, SteelSeries, Corsair, Microsoft, Glorious, HyperX, Roccat, and generic OEM mice.
Does it work on Windows 11?
Yes. Version 2.20.5 supports Windows 11 23H2 and 24H2, plus Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and 7 SP1. The same setup file covers all supported versions.
Do I still need Logitech G Hub or Razer Synapse?
For pure button remapping, no. For RGB, DPI, and sensor calibration, yes. Most power users run both, with the macro engine disabled in the vendor app to avoid double-firing.
Is X-Mouse Button Control safe?
Yes. Code-signed by Highresolution Enterprises, scanned clean by every major antivirus, distributed continuously since 2008, no telemetry, no cloud sync, no third-party SDKs.
Installer or portable?
Installer for normal use, registers the app with Windows and sets up tray autostart. Portable for USB sticks, locked-down work PCs, or anyone who prefers no install footprint.
Can I have different profiles for different apps?
Yes. The headline feature. Bind a side button to copy in Excel, fire a grenade in Counter-Strike, and switch tabs in Chrome, all on the same physical button. XMBC switches profiles based on the focused window.
Will it work with my gaming mouse?
Yes. Tested compatibility with the Logitech G502, G Pro X Superlight, MX Master 3S, Razer DeathAdder V3, Basilisk V3, Naga V2 Pro, SteelSeries Aerox 3, Rival 5, Corsair M65, Scimitar, Glorious Model O, Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse, and HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2.
How do I uninstall it?
Open Settings, Apps, Installed apps, find X-Mouse Button Control, click Uninstall. The portable version is removed by deleting its folder.
Does it support macros?
Yes. Record any keystroke and click sequence with timing, then bind it to a button. The scripting layer adds conditional logic for double-tap, hold, and chained actions.
Can I remap the scroll wheel?
Yes. Scroll up and down can be assigned independently per application. Common setups include volume control globally, undo and redo in editors, and brush size in Photoshop.
Does it work with vertical or ergonomic mice?
Yes. Vertical and ergonomic mice like the Logitech MX Vertical, Anker Ergonomic Vertical, and Kensington Pro Fit Ergo expose standard button events to Windows, so XMBC remaps them just like a flat mouse. This is useful for users managing repetitive strain who want fewer keyboard reaches.