Just Dance 2016-22 Controller (formerly known as Just Dance 2015 Motion Controller from launch until July 2015 and as Just Dance Controller from July 2015 to January 2025) is a free app by Ubisoft where players can use a smartphone as a controller to play Just Dance 2016 through Just Dance 2022 on 8th-generation and newer consoles, as well as PC on Just Dance 2017. The app was originally launched for use with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Just Dance 2015, but this compatibility has since shut down. The app was later updated to be compatible with the 8th-generation, PC, and newer consoles’ versions of subsequent games as they came out, excluding the Wii U and Nintendo Switch versions of Just Dance 2019. A similar feature is available for 舞力全开, but it is a WeChat Mini Program rather than an app.[1] Starting with Just Dance 2023 Edition, a separate app is required to play.
This app is only compatible with the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch versions of Just Dance 2016, Just Dance 2017, Just Dance 2018, Just Dance 2019, Just Dance 2020, Just Dance 2021, and Just Dance 2022 (the PC and Nintendo Switch versions of the game are compatible with the app for 2017 onward). However, on Just Dance 2015 and Just Dance 2019, the app is only usable with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of the game.
舞力全开 Mini Program requires a WeChat account to use.
With the use of the app, the phone can be used as a controller to count the player’s moves. The phone will work similar to that of a Wii/PlayStation Move/Joy-Con remote. The app also allows song selection through the phone. It also makes a sound when the player achieves a star or performs a Gold Move correctly. 舞力全开 also has leaderboards.
As mentioned before, this app was an update for the Just Dance 2015Motion Controller app, as it works with Just Dance 2015 as well, but only on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, just like the Just Dance 2015Motion Controller app. Further updates added support for the Wii U, PC, Nintendo Switch and Stadia versions for later Just Dance games.
On Just Dance 2015, an update for the game is required in order for the app to work with the game.
The app mainly is used by Xbox One players without a Kinect, PlayStation 4 players without a Move or Camera, Wii U players without a Wii Remote, and Nintendo Switch players without a Joy-Con.
The game can be played without the app. When that option is selected, players will not be able to score. However, there is an option to connect the phone to the game.
On the coach selection screen, it shows a warning that no phones are connected and scoring is not possible. The star bar is also removed during gameplay.
Version 2.0.0 of the app added compatibility with Just Dance 2016.
On Just Dance 2016, if the game fails to register moves correctly and counts them as multiple Xs, the game will disconnect the phone in order to refresh it and calibrate the phone for more accurate tracking.
Version 2.1.1 added the Ubisoft logo animation when opening the app, but it mistakenly had the logo music from Just Dance 2015.
This was later fixed in version 2.3.2.
Version 3.0.0 of the app added compatibility with Just Dance 2017 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Wii U.
A manual pairing option via the IP address of the console was added.
Version 3.2.1 added compatibility with Just Dance 2017 on PC, introduced a photo booth feature and the option to log in with an Ubisoft account, enabling access to Just Dance TV and allowing to edit the player's Dancer Card outside of the game.
Version 3.2.4 added compatibility with Just Dance 2017 on Nintendo Switch.
Version 4.0.1 of the app added compatibility with Just Dance 2018.
The previously introduced photo booth feature was removed.
The previously introduced Ubisoft logo animation when opening the app was replaced with a static image featuring the new design revealed in the UbiBlog on May 31st, 2017.[3]
Version 5.0.0 of the app added compatibility with Just Dance 2019 but removed compatibility with Just Dance 2015.
This is due to the shutdown announcement of the online servers for Just Dance 2015 on November 19, 2018.
Options to disable app sounds and vibration were added (previous versions had both always enabled).
An option to invert the motion axis was added (improves scoring accuracy in some phones).
The option to use the app on Nintendo Switch and Wii U is not available for Just Dance 2019.
The option to edit the player's Dancer Card outside of the game and access to Just Dance TV will only appear in the app if Just Dance 2016, Just Dance 2017 or Just Dance 2018 is selected when opening it for the first time, or after connecting the app with one of those games at least once.
Version 5.1.0 has a glitch that makes only the avatar background of the player's Dancer Card visible in the main menu of the app.
This glitch is also present on app versions 5.1.1 and 5.1.2.
Version 6.1.1 of the app added compatibility with Just Dance 2020.
The option to use the app on Nintendo Switch is added again, after being absent from Just Dance 2019.
The option to use the app in Google Stadia is also added.
The option to edit the player's Dancer Card outside of the game and access to Just Dance TV were entirely removed.
The previously available manual pairing option via IP address was replaced with a simplified pairing process that uses numeric room codes instead.
Since March 2020 many users have reported that when opening the app it disconnects, does not recognize the console and closes on its own, so far Ubisoft has not said anything about it.
This was fixed in an Update in May 2020.
Version 7.0.2 of the app added compatibility with Just Dance 2021.
Version 8.0.0 of the app added compatibility with Just Dance 2022.
Version 8.0.2 renamed the app to "Just Dance 2016-22 Controller". The promotional images for the app were updated to show a new menu but this menu does not actually appear in the app. Additionally, a button was added to redirect players to the new controller app if they are playing Just Dance 2023 Edition or newer.