Just Dance: Decades of Hits Smartphone Controller Guide

Can You Play Just Dance: Decades of Hits With a Phone?

Your next dance night can start with the phone you already carry: the Just Dance: Decades of Hits smartphone controller uses the free Just Dance Controller app. On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, that app is required to track your moves, making phone compatibility part of getting ready to play. The Just Dance: Decades of Hits smartphone controller also works with the Nintendo Switch family, with the app required for Camera Controller mode on Switch.

The important distinction is that the app accompanies the console game. You still need a compatible console and access to Just Dance: Decades of Hits. Downloading the controller app puts the mobile control component on your phone; the dance game itself runs on your console.

Released October 13, 2026, Decades of Hits brings together music from the 1970s through the 2020s. Its phone controls let you join that dance floor without buying an additional tracking accessory on PlayStation or Xbox.

Console	Smartphone controller support	Platform requirement
PlayStation 5	Supported through Just Dance Controller	Smartphone app required to track moves
Xbox Series X|S	Supported through Just Dance Controller	Smartphone app required to track moves
Nintendo Switch	Supported through Just Dance Controller	App required for Camera Controller mode
Nintendo Switch 2	Supported through Just Dance Controller	Included in the current app’s compatible console lineup

Start your Just Dance: Decades of Hits smartphone controller checklist with the console you own, the phone you intend to use, and the correct app. Sorting those out before choosing songs keeps the practical preparation focused.

For PlayStation and Xbox players, check your phone before buying the game. The controller app is part of the required equipment, even though the download itself is free.

Choose the Correct App and Check Your Phone

Download Just Dance Controller, published by Ubisoft. The current app supports Just Dance 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 Editions, along with Just Dance: Decades of Hits.

That compatibility range matters if you already have a Just Dance app installed. The series has used different controller apps and edition branding over time. Choose the current app that includes Decades of Hits in its supported games.

Use these direct downloads:

• Download Just Dance Controller for iPhone.
• Download Just Dance Controller for Android.

The Just Dance: Decades of Hits smartphone controller requirements deserve a closer look on older phones. The current iPhone app requires iOS 15.0 or later. Android’s stated game requirement is Android 9 or later.

Phone requirement	iPhone	Android
Operating system	iOS 15.0 or later for the current app	Android 9 or later
App	Just Dance Controller	Just Dance Controller
Publisher	Ubisoft	Ubisoft
Download price	Free	Free

For an iPhone, use the current app’s iOS 15.0 minimum when checking compatibility. Older launch information mentioning iOS 14.4 does not match the current app requirement.

Check whether the app can be installed on the actual phone you intend to use. An operating system number helps narrow things down, but completing that compatibility check before a party is more useful than assuming an older spare phone will work.

Update an existing installation before preparing for Decades of Hits. The iPhone app’s 27.0.1 version includes Nintendo Switch 2 in its supported console lineup, alongside Switch, Switch Lite, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.

Also keep the app’s role in mind when budgeting. Its free download covers the controller software. Access to the console game and any additional paid music remains separate.

Understand Smartphone Tracking and Camera Controller Mode

“Use your phone as a controller” and “use Camera Controller mode” belong to the same conversation, but they describe different parts of the controls.

On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the free phone app is required for movement tracking. On Nintendo Switch, the app is required when using Camera Controller mode. That platform distinction is worth remembering when you move between consoles or help someone else prepare their setup.

Control feature	What it does or requires
Smartphone controller	Uses the free Just Dance Controller companion app
PlayStation and Xbox tracking	Requires a smartphone with the app
Camera Controller mode on Switch	Requires the app
Additional tracking accessories on PlayStation and Xbox	No additional accessories required

The Just Dance: Decades of Hits smartphone controller handles the mobile side of your setup. During a song, your attention belongs on the choreography: follow the dancer on screen and use the upcoming move icons to anticipate what comes next.

Start with an easy-to-follow routine while you get comfortable with that rhythm. The tracklist includes both approachable choreography and more challenging dances, so you can build familiarity before taking on a routine that demands more attention.

Watch the coach and the move icons together. The icons preview the next movement, while the dancer gives you the fuller picture of how to perform it. Trying to follow only one can make an unfamiliar routine harder to read.

Keep dancing through mistakes. Songs continue when you perform poorly, giving you room to find the beat again and improve during the same routine.

Before starting, clear space for the choreography and charge your phone. For a group session, give everyone room to move without crowding the screen. Those simple preparations matter more once the music starts and everyone is concentrating on the next move.

Prepare for Local Multiplayer and Different Game Modes

Just Dance: Decades of Hits supports up to six players locally. That makes the game suitable for gathering friends and family around the same console, with music spanning several generations.

Prepare your Just Dance: Decades of Hits smartphone controller setup before inviting everyone to pick a song. Check each participating phone’s app compatibility in advance, especially when guests bring older devices.

The game also includes a multiple dancer card system, allowing players to customize their own profiles. Set aside time for that personalization before moving into a longer session.

Mode or feature	What it includes
Local multiplayer	Up to six players dancing together locally
Party Mode	Unexpected twists, with rules changing between rounds
Workout Mode	Calorie tracking for each dance
Adventure Mode	Lyra’s journey through six decade-inspired worlds
Multiple dancer cards	Customizable player profiles

Plan a Party Around Familiar Songs

Choose songs your group recognizes. The game’s decades theme gives you options such as “Mamma Mia” by ABBA, “Wannabe” by The Spice Girls, “Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC, and “NUEVAYoL” by Bad Bunny.

Mix those eras rather than keeping the whole evening in one musical lane. Let different players choose familiar tracks, then introduce something outside their usual playlist.

Use Party Mode when your group wants the changing rules to become part of the entertainment. Keep the initial song choices approachable while everyone learns to follow the on-screen choreography.

Give Solo Sessions Some Direction

For an activity-focused session, choose Workout Mode to track calories during your dances. Pick routines you enjoy enough to repeat, and use the calorie tracking as part of the game’s workout experience.

For a story-focused session, Adventure Mode follows Lyra through six themed worlds as she works to rescue Dr. Gigavolt. It combines dances with activities and exclusive rewards, giving you another way to explore the decades theme.

Create a playlist when you want several songs in a row, or choose one of the staff-created playlists. That lets the music selection support the kind of session you want to have.

Separate Controller Costs From Your Song Library

The Just Dance: Decades of Hits smartphone controller app is free. The console game has a suggested retail price of $34.99 and features 35 songs across six decades.

Those are separate purchases and downloads to keep straight. The phone app supplies the controller component, while the game supplies the Decades of Hits experience.

You can explore the game and its supported platforms on the Just Dance: Decades of Hits official website.

If you own Decades of Hits and earlier Just Dance Editions from 2023 through 2026, you can access their songs together on the same console. Purchased music packs also belong to that shared experience, alongside songs available through an active Just Dance+ subscription.

Keep those access types separate when choosing what to buy:

• Owned editions: Songs associated with the compatible games you own.
• Purchased music packs: Additional music obtained through pack purchases.
• Just Dance+: Additional songs accessed through the paid streaming subscription.

The controller app does not require a Just Dance+ subscription simply because it is free to download. Just Dance+ is the additional music service, with its own account, internet, and payment requirements.

That service requires a Ubisoft Account, a console account, and persistent internet access. Age and territorial restrictions apply, and membership automatically renews unless canceled.

Check the subscription terms before paying, especially if you only want to dance to the songs included with Decades of Hits. Choose the music access that matches what you intend to play.

Returning players should also remember the edition boundary: the current controller app supports the 2023–2026 Editions and Decades of Hits. Just Dance 2022 and older games belong outside that supported lineup.

Once your phone and app are ready, focus on the songs you want to learn. Familiar music, readable choreography, and enough room to move give your session a clear starting point.

FAQ

Is the Just Dance: Decades of Hits smartphone controller app free?

Yes. Just Dance Controller is free to download for iPhone and Android. You still need a compatible console and access to the console game. The game purchase, music packs, and Just Dance+ subscription are separate from the controller app.

What operating system does my phone need?

The current iPhone app requires iOS 15.0 or later. Android’s stated game requirement is Android 9 or later. Check app compatibility on the phone you intend to use before preparing a session, particularly if it is an older device.

Do PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S require the phone app?

Yes. Both platforms require a smartphone with Just Dance Controller to track your moves. No additional tracking accessories are required. On Nintendo Switch, the app is required to use Camera Controller mode.

Can six people play together, and does the app support older games?

Decades of Hits supports up to six players locally. The current controller app works with Decades of Hits and Just Dance 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 Editions. It does not support Just Dance 2022 or earlier editions.