Most emulators require you to manually configure the inputs, unlike PC games. Here are some steps for setting up your emulator.
These emulators are (usually) easy to set up and don't require manual mapping, just require you to select the correct controller for each slot in the emulator. Click an arrow below for the emulator you want to configure.
These emulators are more involved and would usually require that each player manually map every single button. To work around that, here are some files that are pre-mapped.
<aside> ⚠️ These files are really only useful if the host themselves are playing using an Xbox/Xinput controller, because the files are made with that assumption. If the host doesn't have that type of controller or is not using some sort of converter like DS4Windows or BetterJoy, their own controller will not work in-game.
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Click to download, extract the zip and follow the instructions from the included readme text file.
DuckStation (up to 2 players).zip
Project64 (up to 4 players).zip
Confirm that the guests’ controllers work in gamepad-tester.com, and if it doesn’t, check if it isn’t recognized in the guest’s own Parsec settings either. The steps for that are in the controller isn’t working article.
If the guest’s controllers work in the site, it should be working in the emulator and either the steps were done wrong, or the emulator is just borked. If the host has ever changed Parsec’s settings > Host > Virtual Gamepad Type to Dualshock 4, revert that change and restart Parsec from the tray bar. Most of the files and instructions provided here assume Parsec is making xbox controllers.