How To Sync A Ps4 Controller To A Ps4
To sync a controller with the system, especially for the first time, you’ll need a USB cable any USB 2.0 Micro-B cable can connect the DualShock 4 to the console, and although there are only two USB ports on the system, you can sync up to four controllers per player account.
Before turning on your PS4, plug the small end of your USB cable into the port on top of the controller plug the other end into one of the USB ports on the front of the console.
Turn on your PS4 by pressing the console’s power button. It should automatically detect your connected controller and assign it to the first available player slot.
Press the PS button in the center of the controller and youll see the login screen where you can choose a player account or create one.
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From now on, pressing the PS button on the controller will automatically turn on the console so long as it has a charge.
Use A Wireless Usb Adapter
Another alternative would be to use a wireless USB adapter. These adapters allow you to connect your controllers to a computer without plugging anything into a USB port. They usually come in pairs one connects to the console, and the other connects to the computer.
Wireless USB adapters work best when theyre within range of the computer. When they arent close enough to the computer, you might not always connect to it wirelessly.
However, some newer laptops dont even include a USB port anymore, which means you wont connect your controllers via USB in those cases.
You can connect your controller wirelessly via Bluetooth instead.
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How To Connect A Ps4 Controller To Steam
This article was written by Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 53,259 times.
This wikiHow will teach you how to connect a PlayStation 4 controller to your computer so you can use it to play Steam games. You can connect your controller wirelessly with Bluetooth or by using a USB cable.
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How To Pair Your Playstation 4 Controller With Bluetooth
If you can’t get your hands on one of the official DS4 wireless adapters, you can always give Bluetooth a shot. Fair warning, the connection might not always work depending on your PC’s hardware, but it’s at least worth a shot if you don’t want to snake a long cable to the controller.
Make sure the controller isn’t paired with a PS4 a good way to start is to pair the controller with your PC using the wired method before proceeding.
Drivers should now be automatically installed. Like with the wired connection, hitting the PS button with Steam running will launch Big Picture mode.
How To Connect A Ps4 Controller To A Pc The Steam Method
- Log into Steam and then click the Steam tab to the far left of the toolbar. In the drop-down menu, select Settings.
- In this menu, tick the Playstation configuration support box.
- Now plug the DualShock 4 into your PC using a USB cable and Steam should detect it. The controller will pop up in that General Controller Settings window under the Detected controllers label.
Note that to make use of the PS4 controller in your PC games youll need to enter Steams Big Picture Mode. This just takes a click, though: youll find the icon up top on the main screen, just to the right of your Steam username. It looks like a box with two arrows inside.
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If The Ps4 Controller Is Displayed As An Xbox Controller On Steam
Using a PS4 controller on Windows has its perks and some issues. In some games, you will notice that your PS4 controller has an Xbox controller layout. This is because your PS4 controller has to rely on Steams emulation of the connected controller.
Do not worry. All you need to do is get familiar with the Xbox button layout.
How To Connect A Dualshock 4 Using Ds4windows
This solution requires a bit of setup, but its still the best way to get your PC and DualShock 4 controllers talking without any major headaches. You can connect your DualShock 4 controller to your PC using DS4Windows, a third-party application, in either wired or wireless mode . Unless you buy the adapter, this is the best option if you plan to play games through Origin, Ubisoft Connect, GoG, or other PC gaming portals.
DS4Windows essentially tricks your system into believing its using an Xbox 360 controller, but youll still have access to motion controls and even the touchpad for many games.
Step 1: Download the latest version of DS4Windows, which can be found on the applications official website.
Step 2: Extract it using an archive manager such as WinRAR or 7Zip. You will then have two files: DS4Windows and DS4Update.
Step 3: Double-click DS4Windows to run the installer, which will prompt the following dialogue box:
Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions, beginning with driver installation. The installation is quick, so you wont have to wait long. Click on Install 360 Driver if youre running Windows 7 or older the driver comes preloaded on Windows 8 and 10 machines.
Step 6: Simultaneously hold the PS Button and on your DualShock 4 for three seconds, or until the light bar begins to flash.
Step 7: Open the Bluetooth settings on your PC.
Step 8: Connect to Wireless Controller.
Step 9: If prompted to input a pairing code, enter 0000.
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How To Connect An Xbox 360 Controller To A Pc
In case youre wondering how to connect an Xbox 360 controller to your PC, follow these steps:
Step 1: Plug the controller into the port labeled XBOX360 on the back of the console.
Step 2: Open Windows Explorer
Step 3: Navigate to C:\Users\ \AppData\Local\Microsoft\Xbox Live
Step 4: Look for a folder named xboxlive. It may look something like this:
Step 5: Copy all files inside the folder xboxlive to your desktop, leaving only one file, xboxlive.xml.
Step 7: At the command prompt, type:< path\filename> This will extract the contents of the xboxlive folder onto your desktop.
Step 8: Launch the exe file you copied and run through the instructions.
Step 9: Enjoy!
How To Use Dualshock 4 Wireless Controllers With Pc Mac Android And Ios
If you’d like to use your DUALSHOCK®4 wireless controller with compatible games and applications away from your console, you can connect via Bluetooth® or USB in a few steps.
DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller compatible devices
Devices using the operating systems listed below or later support DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller Bluetooth and USB connections. Once connected, you can use your wireless controller to control compatible games and applications.
You can connect a DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller to a Windows PC using a DUALSHOCK®4 USB wireless adaptor or a compatible micro USB cable.
How to pair a DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller with a supported device
To pair your wireless controller with a supported device using Bluetooth for the first time, turn on pairing mode.
Make sure the player indicator on the controller is off.If the player indicator is on, press and hold the PS button until it turns off. If a USB is connected to the controller, disconnect it.
While pressing and holding the SHARE button, press and hold the PS Button until the light bar flashes.
Enable Bluetooth on your device, and then select the controller from the list of Bluetooth devices. When pairing is complete, the light bar blinks, and then the player indicator lights up.
DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller compatible games and applications
You can use your wireless controller to play games streamed from your PS5 console or PS4 console to your compatible device using the PS Remote Play app.
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Install An Xbox 360 Controller Driver
NOTE: This step is only for users on Windows 7 or below. If you are using Windows 10, please skip this step and go directly to Step 3.
You are not able to use your PS4 controller on PC if you just physically connect it to your computer. Games on Windows cannot recognize your PS4 controller directly. You need a third-party application to emulate an Xbox 360 controller with your PS4 controller. In order for these applications to work fine, you should install an Xbox 360 controller software on your computer.
If you havent installed the software on your computer , you should go to Microsoft to download the software:
1) Go to the Xbox 360 controller for Windows page.
2) Click . Then select your operating system and language. After that, click the file that appears below to download it.
3) Open the file you have just downloaded and install it on your computer.
4) Restart your computer. Then go to Step 3.
If you have used an Xbox 360 controller or installed its driver on your computer previously, you may still need to update the driver as it may be out of date. You can still do this automatically with Driver Easy:
1) Run Driver Easy and hit the Scan Now button.
2) Click the Update button next to the controller to download the latest and correct driver for it.
3)Restart your computer.
The latest driver is installed. Now you can take the next step.
How To Use Your Playstation Controller On Pc
– If you’re the proud owner of a PlayStation 5, or you’re still using a PS4, you might have clocked the fact that both consoles have really excellent controllers. The PS5’s DualSense in particular feels like a step forward thanks to its smart triggers and evolved haptic feedback.
The PS4’s DualShock 4 is also a faithful option, with great ergonomics and reliable build quality. Say you want to use them on your PC, though – how do you connect controllers intended for a PlayStation to your computer? We’ve got the steps you need to follow, right here.
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Connect Ps4 Controller To Pc In 3 Simple Steps
Read our post on how to play your PS4 on a Mac or PC.
Maybe you think since the controller is specifically designed for PlayStation 4, it wont work with your PC.
Truth to be told: It will. And you can count on us to show how to connect it with a Windows computer.
Whats more, the whole process is quite easy. Just follow these three simple steps and youll be able to enjoy your favorite Windows games with PS4.
How To Connect Your Dualshock 4 Controller To Pc
If you’re using a DualShock 4 controller, the steps are really similar to connect it to your PC. This time, the cabled option will require a MicroUSB cable, since the controller doesn’t have a USB-C port.
It’s worth clarifying that the controller works really well with games on Steam, but can be a lot more patchy if you’re not using Valve’s platform – for other games you might need to download a program called DS4Windows, which is free but takes a little setup.
To connect the controller by Bluetooth, follow the below instructions:
Once you’ve connected it this way, you can head to Steam and add the controller through the settings menus, which will also let you calibrate its joysticks. It should work perfectly with Steam games from that point onward.
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How To Connect Your Playstation 5 Dualsense Controller To Pc
Connecting your DualSense to PC is fairly straightforward. The first option is to use a USB-C cable to connect it and play with a wired connection, which is ideal if you don’t have Bluetooth on your computer. If you do, though, follow these steps:
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This should be it, and your controller should be paired and working wirelessly. While most games on PC haven’t been updated to let you take advantage of the pad’s adaptive triggers, it’s still a brilliant controller.
PlayStation has recently released an app for Windows which allows users to update DualSense controller’s firmware without the need for a console. Now you can do it directly from your PC. Download this app, connect via a cable to your PC and you can update the controller.
How To Customize Your Ps4 Controller On Pc
It turns out, its really easy. Open up your DS4Windows program with your controller attached, and check out some of the custom features.
Not only can you turn on and off the rumble features for your controller, but you can also assign custom keybindings, assign macros to your controller, turn on and off the light bar and even set up a custom flashing on your lightbar to help you realize when you are running low on battery super helpful if you are playing wirelessly, as your PC wont automatically warn you when you are running low.
You can even combine all of these different elements together into a singular profile that you can switch in and out of at a moments notice thanks to the DS4Windows program being capable of saving multiple profiles at a time.
Want to set up a controller profile where you can assign a macro dedicated to giving you the ability to pull off a jump shot without taking your hand off of the sticks? Go for it. At the same time, do you want a controller profile set up to save battery, with no rumble or lights for extended play sessions? Easily done.
This level of customization is really useful, and a great boon to PC players when they choose to game on the PC with a PlayStation controller.
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How To Connect Your Ps4 Controller To Your Pc
When it comes to gaming some folks prefer the handling of a controller over that of a mouse and keyboard and thats ok, we mustnt judge them.
It turns out that its actually really simple to connect a controller to a PC especially if you are looking to connect a PS4 controller to your PC. All you really need to accomplish this is a USB cable compatible with your controller, or a USB Bluetooth dongle that is capable of pairing with your controller.
In fact, even the gaming clients themselves make it incredibly easy to patch in a PS4 controller. Steam itself allows for the use of a PS4 controller and even has built-in functionality that helps you configure your controller on the PC including the light bar.
So, let us run through a few different ways you can connect your PS4 controller to your PC, and how to get gaming as soon as possible!
How To Emulate A Steam Controller With A Ps4 Controller
Valve now offers official support for the PlayStation 4s DualShock 4 controller. It will function similarly to a Steam Controller, with support for the controllers touchpad and other features. Games that support the Steam Controller will work with the PS4 controller, and you can also create profiles to emulate keyboard and mouse events with the PS4 controller in various games that dont offer official support for the controller. In other words, it works just like the Steam Controller.
To enable this feature, open Big Picture Mode in Steam by clicking the controller-shaped Big Picture Mode icon at the top-right corner of the Steam window.
Head to Settings > Controller Settings in Big Picture Mode and enable the PS4 Configuration Support option.
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Reconnect any connected PS4 controllers and theyll appear here. You can select them and configure them in the same way youd configure a Steam Controller.
For example, you can select a game in Big Picture mode and select Manage Game > Controller Configuration to configure how your PS4 controller behaves in the game. This screen provides a lot of options for remapping what your controllers buttons do in a game.
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Install The Ds4 Driver
Click on Step 1: Install the DS4 Driver button to install the needed PS4 drivers on your Windows 8.1 OS and later computer.
Click on Step 2: If on Windows 7 or below, Install 360 Driver button only if you have a Windows 7 or older OS since this OS doesnt come with the 360 drivers needed to run the DS4 drivers correctly by default. Otherwise, skip it and proceed to the next step below.
What Type Of Cord Does Ps4 Controller Use
The PS4 controller uses a standard micro-USB cable to connect to the console.
This type of cord is also used for many other devices, including cell phones and digital cameras.
The micro-USB connector is small and rectangular, with two thin metal strips on one side.
The PS4 controller can also be charged using a special dock that plugs into the console.
This dock has a built-in battery, so it can charge the controller even when the console is turned off.
The dock is not required for use, but it can be helpful if you want to keep your controller charged and ready to go.
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