How do I connect a Ps4 controller to a PC? Pretty simple actually, turn on the controller then hold the PS button and the 'Share' button at the same time till the light on the controller starts blinking, then go on your computer and find the device and you're good to go! Connect a PS4 controller to PC using Bluetooth and a wireless adapter © Provided by GamesRadar For a plug-and-play solution, grabbing yourself the official Sony Wireless Adaptor is the best way.
Learn how to connect PlayStation DUALSHOCK 4 controller to PC via USB cable, Bluetooth, and third-party software.
Gaming on PC is always a fun part. You got more freedom to tweak around with your game settings and squeeze out more performance for better gameplay. However, we can’t deny the fact that Consoles are bad all the way – Especially in some games, the controller is a must requirement.
Thankfully, Sony allows you to connect your PS4 controller to a PC. You can play Fifa with your friends on a bigger screen or perhaps a racing game – It all depends on the game support. However, there’s one downside to this. According to the official PS4 webpage, you can’t use the touchpad, change the light bar, and the jack audio connection will not work with PC.
Don’t worry, in this post, we have shared a comprehensive guide on how you can connect your PS4 DUALSHOCK Controller to a PC by using 3 simple steps. Follow these to enjoy the freedom of playing AAA titles with a good quality controller.
DUALSHOCK 4 Wireless Controller Compatibility
First of all, check the compatibility of the game and your system before you get started. Make sure your system hardware has Bluetooth connectivity for wireless connection. Alternatively, you can use the wired Micro USB connection. DUALSHOCK 4 controllers can be also connected with the Apple macOS system.
Connect PS4 Controller via USB
This is a relatively simple step, for this, you need a Micro-USB cable and a PS4 controller. Plug one side into your computer USB-A port and the other side to the controller itself. The DUALSHOCK 4 controller will automatically connect itself with your system.
Some people might experience charging problem like when they connect the controller with the PC, it only just charges. It is mainly because the cable itself is not bi-directional. You need a Micro-USB cable that performs a 2-way connection. If you’re an Android user, you can use your charging cable that comes with the phone.
Connect PS4 Controller via Bluetooth
This is another great way to connect your PlayStation 4 DUALSHOCK controller with a PC. For this, the only requirement is to have a Bluetooth connection. Most laptops come pre-loaded with Bluetooth hardware. If you’re using a desktop PC, you might have to check your motherboard manufacturing site.
- Press PS and Share button until you see the blinking light on the controller
- The flashing light bar means that the pairing mode is activated
- Open Bluetooth connection on your PC and search for nearby devices
- Choose ‘Wireless controller’ from the Bluetooth setting
- The PC and controller will automatically connect via Bluetooth connection
- Once the controller is connected, the flashing light will stop
Activate Ps4 Controller On Pc
Set Configuration for PS4 controller on PC
All hail to PC Master race – you can configure the controller on PC as well. For this, you need a Steam game launcher.
- Open settings and go to Big Picture Mode
- Go to Settings > Controller Settings and select ‘PS4 Configuration Support‘
- Identify the new controller on the setting
- Here you can change the key mapping and light of the controller
- To change the light, Click on Preferences
- Set the controller Light Color, Brightness, Saturation and select Submit
Connect PS4 Controller via Third-party Software
Use Ps4 Remote On Laptop
If so far, you’re unlucky to connect your DUALSHOCK 4 controller to PC, you use the third party software called DS4 Windows. The following software basically fools your system into thinking that you’re using the Xbox 360 controller instead of PS4. Don’t worry, the key mapping will not be changed.
- Download DS4 Windows on your PC
- Locate the Download file and extract it on your PC
- Double-click the file ‘DS4Windows.exe‘ to initialize the configuration
- Use the default ‘Appdata’ settings that the Software Wizard shows
- Now go ahead and ‘Install the DS4 Drivers‘ on your PC
- If you’re using Windows 7 then download ‘Install 360 Driver‘
- Go ahead and connect your controller with the PC via a Micro-USB cable
- The connector will automatically itself to the PC
- For Bluetooth connection, Press the PS and Share button, and the rest is the same
DUALSHOCK 4 Controller Troubleshooting
- Most people complain that the controller won’t connect with the PC and only charge the battery. It is because you’re using a 1-way charging cable. Use a bi-directional cable that is used for data transferring.
- The personalization and configuration options are only limited to Steam games
- Most of the compatible games are only available on Steam
- To play games outside of Steam, use the ‘DS4 Windows’ software
- If the software asks for a pairing code, enter ‘0000’ in the required field
- To connect 2 or more controllers, you have to use the Micro-USB cable
- Only one Bluetooth connection goes with one controller
Conclusion
Now that the controller is successfully connected with your PC, you can enjoy playing games with your controller attached. Invite some friends to your place and play a Mortal Kombat or FIFA match. Share it with your friends and let them know how simple this is.
Windows 10 computers do not support PS4 controller by default although some Steam games may allow it if you connect via USB cable. If it’s your first time to use a PS4 controller on your PC and it’s not working, there’s no need to worry right away. The cause of the issue may be minor, like a simple misconfiguration that can be fixed by going over your controller settings.
At other times, the PS4 controller may fail to work on a Windows 10 machine because of things like corrupted or old drivers.
In this article, we’ll explain to you the reasons why you may be having a problem with your PS4 controller when connected to your computer, and what you can do to fix it.
Does Windows 10 PC support the PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 controller?
Windows 10 does not support third party controllers like the DualShock 4 controller as Microsoft encourages users to use their own Xbox controllers. However, this does not mean that it’s particularly impossible to use a PS4 controller on your computer. The opposite is, in fact, true as it’s very easy to connect a PS4 controller on Windows 10. Learn how to use a PS4 controller on PC in this article.
Causes why your computer is not recognizing your PS4 controller?
If you’re having difficulty connecting your PS4 controller on your Windows 10 computer, one of the following items below must be the reason for it.
PS4 controller is off or low on battery.
If your computer can’t seem to find or detect that you are trying to connect your PS4 controller wirelessly, make sure that the controller is not off. If it’s on but it’s not showing on your Windows Bluetooth settings, it may be due to low battery level.
Try charging the controller for at least 30 minutes before attempting to connect again. If that works, then the issue is likely due to low battery and there’s no need to worry about having a bad PC or controller.
PC has drivers issues.
Some gamers may also encounter problems connecting if they use a PS4 controller with their PC due to outdated or incompatible driver. Make sure that your Windows Operating System is fully updated as well as your USB ports.
If necessary, try to manually check for updates for your USB functionality by opening the Device Manager and right clicking on each items under Human Interface Devices.
By default, your USB controllers should already be running the compatible driver for your PS4 controller but just in case there’s a software glitch, you can try to manually check at this time.
Bluetooth signal interference.
One of the weaknesses of wireless technology is signal interference. If you are using a wireless PS4 controller, make sure that there are no other Bluetooth devices around that may affect the signal.
If your PS4 console is nearby and you forget to disconnect your wireless controller from it, it may be causing syncing problems at this time. Try to unplug the PS4 from the power source before connecting the wireless controller to the PC again.
USB cable or port is bad.
If you are using a wired setup, it’s possible that the reason why the PS4 controller is not working on your PC may be a bad USB cable or a damaged USB port.
Try to see if your controller works normally when using another USB cable or a different USB port on your Windows 10 computer.
How to fix PS4 controller not working on PC
There are several possible solutions that you can try if you’re having an issue connecting your PS4 controller to your PC. Let’s see each of them below.
Fix #1: Charge your wireless PS4 controller.
If you are connecting your PS4 controller via Bluetooth, the first thing that you must do is to ensure that it’s powered on. Some players may not realize that the controller has already died after hours of use.
If the controller is on but is low on battery, it may be too weak to maintain a solid Bluetooth connection. Try topping it up for several minutes and see if that will fix the issue.
Fix #2: Keep your PC drivers updated.
One of the reasons why many players encounter PS4 connection issues on their Windows 10 computer is their drivers. A driver is like a mini-operating system for a specific hardware component, like USB port. If the driver or drivers of your USB port is outdated, corrupted, or incompatible, it may cause connection problems when you use it.
Unlike other sensitive components such as graphics cards which require regular updates in order to work properly, the USB port on most computers can start working without needing any update for months or years.
However, it’s still recommended that you check manually if updating can help you fix your issue right now.
To do that, just open Device Manager, go to Human Interface Devices, right click on each of the items in the list, and select Update driver.
You also want to ensure that the Bluetooth items are updated as well so go back to the main screen of Device Manager and this time, click on Bluetooth section. Then, again, right click on each of the shown items in the list and try to update all of them.
Your computer will then search the web for the most recent updates for your devices. Once you get the prompt to install, simply follow the steps to begin updating.
Fix #3: Disconnect the PS4 controller from Windows Bluetooth settings.
Another simple solution that you can try in this case, is by disconnecting your PS4 controller from the Windows Bluetooth settings. To do that, just go to your computer’s Settings menu and open the Bluetooth & other devices. Then, find your PS4 controller in the list and disconnect it.
This suggestion obviously works if you are using a wireless setup. If you are connecting your PS4 controller via a USB cable, then just skip this step.
Fix #4: Use DS4Windows.
Some computer games may not support the PS4 controller on Windows 10 so you’ll need to fool the system so it thinks that you’re using an Xbox controller. To do that, you’ll need to use a third party software called DS4Windows.
How To Use Ps4 Controller On Laptop Windows 7
Learn how to download, install, and set up DS4Windows.
Fix #5: Try using a different USB cable.
If you connect your PS4 controller via USB, make sure that the cable you’re using is working fine. 3do emulator pc. If you have another micro USB cable, which is often used to charge many mobile phones these days, try that and see if that will fix the problem.
Replace your controller.
Connect Ps4 To Laptop
If none of the solutions in this guide has helped fixed the problem and your PS4 controller is still not working on your PC, it may mean that there may be a problem with the controller itself. Try to connect another PS4 controller to check. If the second controller works just fine, you should consider having the first one repaired or replaced.
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