X-Mouse Button Control

What is X-Mouse Button Control?

X-Mouse Button Control (XMBC) is a free Windows utility that remaps mouse buttons and adds functionality to standard and gaming mice beyond their default capabilities. Developed by Phillip Gibbons (Highresolution Enterprises), this software allows users to customize what each mouse button does in different applications or system-wide, creating application-specific profiles that automatically switch when programs launch. Users can remap buttons to keyboard combinations, launch applications, execute macros, adjust volume, switch virtual desktops, copy/paste, or perform complex multi-step actions—transforming basic three-button mice into productivity powerhouses or enhancing gaming mice with software-level customization beyond manufacturer utilities. X-Mouse Button Control supports unlimited mouse buttons including standard left/right/middle clicks, side buttons, scroll wheel directions, tilt wheel, and additional gaming mouse buttons. The software runs lightweight in the system tray, consuming minimal resources while providing extensive customization that adapts the mouse to individual workflow needs rather than forcing users to adapt to mouse limitations.

Key Features

Button Remapping: Reassign any mouse button to perform different actions including simulating keystrokes, launching applications, opening folders/URLs, system commands, or executing custom scripts.

Application-Specific Profiles: Create unique button configurations for different applications that activate automatically when applications gain focus, enabling context-sensitive mouse behavior tailored to specific programs.

Layer System: Define up to 10 layers per profile accessible via modifier keys (Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Windows key), exponentially expanding button functionality—one button performs different actions depending on active layer.

Scroll Wheel Customization: Remap scroll wheel up/down, horizontal scroll (tilt wheel), and combine with modifier keys for multiple scroll-based actions.

Advanced Actions: Execute complex macros, adjust system volume, switch virtual desktops (Windows 10/11), send specific window messages, simulate button holds, create timed sequences.

Simulated Keystrokes: Send any keyboard combination including special keys (F1-F12, media keys, shortcuts) enabling mouse to trigger keyboard-dependent actions without keyboard access.

Profile Manager: Export and import profiles for backup or sharing, quickly switch between profiles manually, organize profiles for different workflows or game categories.

Lightweight Performance: Minimal system resource usage (typically under 10MB RAM), negligible CPU impact, starts with Windows automatically for always-available functionality.

What’s New in Version 2.20+

Windows 11 Support: Full compatibility with Windows 11 including virtual desktop integration, new task view features, and modern UI element support.

Enhanced Scripting: Improved VBScript and JScript support for advanced automation, better error handling, and expanded API access for complex macros.

DPI Awareness: Better handling of high-DPI displays ensuring cursor positioning and button detection work correctly on 4K and scaling configurations.

Performance Improvements: Reduced memory footprint and faster profile switching, optimized for systems with many application-specific profiles.

Expanded Button Support: Recognition of additional gaming mouse buttons beyond standard configurations, supporting mice with 10+ programmable buttons.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP (32-bit and 64-bit editions).

Hardware: Any mouse with additional buttons beyond standard left/right/middle (works with basic mice but maximizes value with 5+ button mice), minimal CPU and RAM requirements (runs on any Windows-capable system).

Software: No dependencies; standalone executable. Optional .NET Framework for certain advanced scripting features.

Download and Installation

Step 1: Visit highrez.co.uk/downloads/xmousebuttoncontrol.htm, click Download link for latest version (installer or portable), download XMBCSetup.exe (approximately 2-3MB).

Step 2: Run installer, click Yes for UAC prompt, accept license agreement, choose installation location, select “Start with Windows” option for automatic startup.

Step 3: Complete installation (under 1 minute), launch X-Mouse Button Control from Start menu or system tray icon, main configuration window displays detected mouse and available buttons.

Step 4: Select application in “Applications” tab to create profile (or use {Default} for system-wide), click buttons to configure actions, choose action type (simulated keystrokes, launch application, etc.), save configuration.

Step 5: Test button mappings in target application, refine as needed, configure additional profiles for other applications.

X-Mouse Button Control vs Alternatives

vs Manufacturer Software (Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse): Manufacturer software offers hardware integration and onboard memory but locks users to specific brands. XMBC works with any mouse, more lightweight, no account/cloud requirements, but lacks hardware-specific features like RGB control or DPI switching.

vs AutoHotkey: AutoHotkey provides unlimited scripting power but requires programming knowledge and manual script creation. XMBC offers user-friendly GUI with most common use cases pre-configured, better for non-programmers but less flexible than AutoHotkey scripting.

vs SteerMouse (Mac): SteerMouse serves similar purpose on macOS. XMBC is Windows-only but free versus SteerMouse’s $20 license. Both offer comparable button remapping and profile features.

vs Windows Settings: Windows allows basic button role swapping but no advanced customization, macros, or application profiles. XMBC provides comprehensive configuration Windows lacks entirely.

Pros and Cons

Advantages: Completely free with no limitations, works with any mouse from any manufacturer, application-specific profiles auto-switch intelligently, layer system provides exponential functionality expansion, minimal resource usage, portable version available, active development with regular updates, extensive community-shared profiles, simple GUI for common tasks with advanced options available, supports unlimited buttons, can resurrect old mice with new capabilities.

Disadvantages: Cannot modify mouse DPI or hardware settings (software-level only), slightly dated interface aesthetics, learning curve for advanced features like scripting, potential conflicts with some games’ anti-cheat systems (rare), manufacturer software may override XMBC settings if both run simultaneously, button detection doesn’t work with all obscure mouse models, some applications with exclusive mouse handling may ignore remapping.

Who Should Use X-Mouse Button Control?

Productivity Power Users: Professionals using multiple applications benefit from context-aware mouse buttons triggering frequent actions (copy/paste, undo, save) without keyboard.

Gaming Enthusiasts: Gamers with non-gaming mice or those wanting software-level customization beyond manufacturer utilities can create game-specific profiles with macros and shortcuts.

Creative Professionals: Designers, video editors, and content creators map frequently-used tool shortcuts to mouse buttons for faster workflow in Photoshop, Premiere, Blender, etc.

Accessibility Users: Individuals with limited keyboard access or mobility issues can perform keyboard-dependent actions entirely via mouse buttons.

Multi-Application Users: Anyone frequently switching between programs with different workflows benefits from automatic profile switching adapting mouse behavior contextually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will X-Mouse Button Control work with my mouse?
A: XMBC works with virtually all mice including basic office mice, gaming mice from any manufacturer, and trackballs. If Windows can detect button presses, XMBC can remap them. Mice with only left/right buttons won’t benefit significantly.

Q: Can I use XMBC alongside my gaming mouse software?
A: Yes, but potential conflicts exist if both try to control same buttons. Typical solution: use manufacturer software for hardware features (DPI, RGB lighting) and XMBC for button remapping, or choose one exclusively for button configuration.

Q: Will this get me banned from online games?
A: Basic button remapping typically safe, but complex macros might violate terms of service for competitive games. Simple actions (mapping button to keyboard key) generally accepted; automation macros (rapid-fire, complex sequences) may trigger anti-cheat. Use conservatively in competitive gaming.

Q: Does XMBC work in full-screen games?
A: Yes, generally works in full-screen applications including games. Some games with exclusive mouse control may ignore remapping. Compatibility varies by game engine and anti-cheat implementation.

Q: Can I share my profiles with others?
A: Yes, profiles are stored in XML files easily exported and shared. Community members share optimized profiles for popular applications (Photoshop, Excel, games) at XMBC forums.

Final Verdict

X-Mouse Button Control represents essential software for anyone with a multi-button mouse seeking to maximize productivity, gaming efficiency, or accessibility. The ability to transform simple side buttons into context-aware productivity accelerators—automatically adapting to each application—provides workflow improvements that accumulate into substantial time savings over months and years of use. For users trapped by manufacturer software lock-in or those with basic mice lacking any customization, XMBC democratizes advanced mouse functionality without hardware purchases.

The software’s true strength lies in its application-specific profiles combined with the layer system. A single side button becomes five different functions when combined with Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and Windows modifiers, and those functions change automatically when switching from Excel to Photoshop to Chrome. This context-aware adaptability mirrors how professionals naturally think—different tools for different tasks—rather than forcing memorization of global button assignments that make sense nowhere and everywhere simultaneously.

While manufacturer software provides tighter hardware integration and flashier features, X-Mouse Button Control wins on universality, simplicity, and resource efficiency. It doesn’t demand accounts, cloud synchronization, or background services consuming hundreds of megabytes. For users prioritizing function over flash, compatibility over brand loyalty, and efficiency over bloat, X-Mouse Button Control delivers exactly what’s needed: reliable, lightweight, comprehensive mouse button control that just works. The fact that this professional-grade capability costs nothing makes it an automatic recommendation for anyone with more than three mouse buttons looking to work smarter rather than harder.