Connect The Ps4 Controller To Your Pc Via Bluetooth
One of the best things about using the PS4 DualShock 4 controller on your PC is that you can use it wirelessly, giving you far more flexibility when gaming.
The PS4 DualShock 4 controller uses Bluetooth, so you’ll need to make sure your PC or laptop has a Bluetooth receiver built in. If it doesn’t, you can buy a Bluetooth USB dongle – check out our guide to the best wireless adaptors for inspiration.
To connect the PS4 controller via Bluetooth, press and hold the central PS Button and the Share button for three seconds until the lightbar at the top of the controller begins to flash.
Next open up the Bluetooth settings on your PC. In Windows 10, click on the speech bubble icon in the Taskbar at the bottom-right corner of your screen. This opens up the Action Center from there click ‘Bluetooth’ and then select ‘Wireless Controller’.
You may be asked to enter a pair code if so type in 0000. The PS4 DualShock controller will now be connected wirelessly to your PC.
Image credits: TechRadar
Why Use A Playstation Controller On A Pc
Why not?
Game controllers are pretty convenient, and their small footprint means that you can literally sit back and relax while playing your favorite games on a PC.
For Apex Legends, using a PlayStation controller might seem counterintuitive since Apex Legends is a highly competitive battle royale game that requires quick reactions and speedy inputs to play competitively.
To be completely fair, there are quite a few Apex Legends pros who can be just as competitive on a game controller. Its all just practice and getting used to your gear.
On the other hand, some gamers just want to chill and play their favorite games with their chairs reclined ever so slightly its not always about ranks and stats.
With that said, move on to the next section where we show you how to use a PlayStation Controller on PC for Apex Legends.
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How To Connect A Ps4 Controller To A Pc
You can connect the controller to your computer with the included USB-to-micro-USB cablethe same one you use with your PS4and use it as a wired controller. It will just work without any additional setup.
If you want to connect your controller wirelessly, Sony recommends you purchase the official DualShock 4 USB Wireless Adapter .
To wirelessly connect your PlayStation 4 controller with a PC without any additional hardware, youll need to put it in Bluetooth pairing mode. Many people report the controllers Bluetooth connection can be a bit flaky on PC, depending on your Bluetooth chipset and drivers, so you may want to use a wired connection or an official wireless adapter if you experience problems.
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Heres how to pair your controller wirelessly over Bluetooth, if you prefer: First, turn off the controller if its already on. If its on and paired with a PlayStation 4, hold down the PlayStation button and then select the Log Out of PS4 or Enter Rest Mode option in the menu that appears on your TV. The controller will turn off.
Next, put the controller into pairing mode. Press the PlayStation button and the Share button on the controller at the same time, and hold them down. The light bar on the controller will start flashing. This indicates the controller is in Bluetooth pairing mode.
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Play Steam Games With A Ps4 Controller
Since Steam added native DualShock 4 support , this method is another nice and easy solution for playing the contents of your Steam library with your PS4 controller without a whole lot of faff. Boot up Steam, make sure its up to date, plug your PS4 controller into your PC and youre away. Youll be able to use the controller in Big Picture Mode, and games in your library will display DualShock 4 inputs.
If you have any issues with specific titles using this solution, you should try out method number three which should resolve any problems.
How To Use The Ps4 Dualshock Controller In Steam
Steam, the popular storefront and game launcher, released an update that allows you to use the PS4 DualShock 4 controller on a PC when running the application.
It’s easy for you to plug in the Dualshock 4 controller and control your PC games. You can control the TV-friendly Big Picture Mode of Steam using the DualShock 4, and your games will now display PS4 button prompts in-game.
To use the PS4 DualShock controller on your PC in Steam, load up Steam and check for updates, then once the latest update has installed, plug in your DualShock 4 and you’ll be good to go!
Unfortunately, this solution doesnt work very well for everyone, so to find out how to use a PS4 DualShock controller on your PC without using Steam, read on below.
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How To Connect A Ps4 Controller To Your Pc
Some games are better with a controller.
Some players prefer playing PC games with a controller rather than a mouse and keyboard. In some cases, its because theyre used to playing on a console and want to keep the same controls for all of their games. Other players feel its more intuitive to use a controller for certain types of games like racing sims because the pressure-sensitive triggers mimic the feel of acceleration and braking in a real car.
PlayStation 4 owners dont have to worry about buying a new controller to play on PC. The PS4s DualShock 4 controller works on PC but not as easily as an Xbox controller. Unlike Xbox controllers that are more or less plug and play, the DualShock 4 may require additional software and drivers to work outside of Steam.
Here are several ways to connect a PS4 controller to your PC.
How To Use A Ps4 Controller On Pc
Some games are better played with a controller than with a keyboard or mouse. I personally find it convenient to enjoy genres similar to Cyberpunk 2077 with a controller, especially when im driving around the map. If you are a PC gamer and wanting to use your PS4 controller when playing, this article should help.
Below, well explain what are the things that you need to make it happen as well as the exact steps to connect the DualShock 4 controller to your PC.
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How To Pair Your Playstation 4 Controller With A Wireless Connection
Sony has an official USB-A wireless adapter meant to bridge the gap between the DS4 controller and any PCs without Bluetooth capabilities. Unfortunately, it seems like the product has been discontinued, making it much harder to track down.
This Japanese version which by all means should work no matter where you are located costs about $60 , making it the most expensive route. If your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth capabilities and you don’t want a long cable running between your PC and controller, though, it becomes quite attractive.
To use this adapter, just plug it into your PC and let the drivers install automatically. From there, the DS4 should operate just as though you have a wired or Bluetooth connection.
How To Customize Your Setup
The primary DS4Windows interface allows players to adjust almost every facet of the controller, right down to the color of the LED light bar. The default controller profile should work for most recent PC games, especially if theyre designed to work with the Xbox controller already.
For games that arent easily adaptable to controllers, users can select specific pre-made profiles or create their own, assigning more or less any keystroke to any of the DualShocks buttons. Touchpad sensitivity, macros, and game-specific profiles are supported just look around to see what works best for you.
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How Do I Use My Ps4 Controller To Control Games
History Of The Ps4 Controller
The main PS4 controller is the DualShock 4 that has a mostly identical design to its predecessors but it includes a few new features and a refined appearance. DualShock controllers have vibrational feedback that Sony designed specifically for PlayStation gaming consoles. The DualShock controller dropped in North America exactly two decades ago as an add-on rather than a primary controller. This add-on quickly gained primary status when Sony stopped manufacturing the Dual Analog Controller that was originally included with the PlayStation console.
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What Makes The Dualshock 4 A Good Controller
The DualShock 4 is the fourth iteration of the DualShock line of controllers, and the first since the original to change up the design, while still holding onto what makes the controller recognizable to gamers everywhere. Sony released the original PlayStation in 1994, bundled with the PlayStation Controller, complete with four directional buttons and four face buttons, but was missing the dual-analog sticks that are now commonplace on every gaming controller from the DualShock 4 to the Xbox Elite controller to the Switchs Pro Controller. In 1997, three years later, Sony released the Dual Analog Controller, but was pulled off the market by 1998 in favor of a refined version.
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How To Connect An Xbox Controller To A Pc
Good news! The new Xbox Series X|S controller, the Xbox One controller, and the Xbox 360 controller all work on PC without needing to install any additional programs. Simply connect the wired or Bluetooth controller to your PC. We recommend using the built in configuration button on the Xbox controller. That said, you may have your personal preferences which you can edit in the options section. The method used to connect an Xbox controller to the PC is the same as the above generic controller.
The Windows operating system does not support PlayStation controllers natively, but don’t worry, you can connect the PlayStations’s various DualShock controllers to your PC and play GTA V by following these steps.
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Connect A Ps4 Controller To Pc Using Bluetooth And A Wireless Adapter
For a plug-and-play solution, grabbing yourself the official Sony Wireless Adaptor is the best way forward. Simply plug the adaptor into a USB port in your PC and turn on your DualShock 4 controller by pressing the home button. The two devices will detect one another after a few seconds and youll be good to go.
How To Set Up Your Dualshock 4 With Your Pc
Now that we understand why the DualShock 4 is a great choice for using with your gaming PC, its time to set up your controller with your PC. Theres three distinct ways to do this in 2018, though wed bet most gamers will want to pay attention to the first two. Youll also need to decide if you want to use your controller in a wired or wireless mode. Wired is far easier, more stable, and doesnt drain your controllers battery, but it does require a fair share of patience.
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How To Connect Ps4 Controller To Pc
Wondering how to connect a PS4 controller to your PC? We’ve got you covered.
While the initial process forconnecting an Xbox Controller to your PC isn’t too strenuous, connecting a PS4 controller isn’t as intuitive. Luckily, it’s simpler than you might think. Once connected, the PS4 controller is incredibly easy to use on PC you can even configure the trackpad as a workable mouse!
The DualShock 4 can also be used for a wide array of games across many launchers, such Steam, Origin, Epic Store, and more.
Here is what you’ll need to get started:
- A PS4 Dualshock controller
- Dualshock 4 USB Wireless Adapter
- If your PC doesn’t support Bluetooth
Pair Dualshock4 Wireless Controller With Pc Mac Android And Ios Devices
If you would like to use your DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller with compatible games and applications away from your PS4 console, you can connect via Bluetooth® in a few steps.
DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller Bluetooth compatible devices
Devices using the operating systems listed below or later support DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller Bluetooth connections. Once connected, you can use your wireless controller to control compatible games and applications via Bluetooth.
- Android 10
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.
Step 1: turn on DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller pairing mode
To use a controller on a device for the first time, turn on pairing mode:
Step 2: connect DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller via Bluetooth
A controller can be paired with only one device at a time. Each time you change devices you must pair the controller with the new device.
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How To Connect The Dualshock 4 With Steam
Steam, the most popular PC gaming portal, offers native controller support for the DualShock 4. Its incredibly easy to use your DualShock 4 to play games on Steam.
Step 1: Make sure your Steam client is updated.
Step 2: Plug your controller into your PC.
Step 3: Done! Well, almost. Even if Steam is up-to-date, you may encounter a few hiccups while setting up your controller. Steam supports the DS4 as a platform, but that doesnt mean every PC game works with the controller automatically. If you fire up Dark Souls III, youll see what we mean. Steam detects the controller, but Dark Souls III doesnt. If you find yourself in that boat, or just want to use your controller wirelessly without using Steam, youre not out of luck. DS4Windows might be the solution for you.
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.
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How To Use A Wireless Ps4 Dualshock 4 Controller On Pc
If your computer does not have a built-in Bluetooth, you can buy any cheap Bluetooth adapter that plugs into any USB port in your PC. Alternatively, you can opt to use an expensive official Sony Bluetooth dongle for the same job.
Once you have the Bluetooth adapter connected, here are the steps that you must do to start using your wireless PS4 controller on your PC:
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Download the DS4Windows driver . By downloading the DS4Windows driver, your PC will think that the controller you are connecting is an Xbox 360 controller instead. To install it, you just have to follow the usual steps: locate the compressed file containing the installation package in the downloads folder, run the installer file and follow the process indicated by the PC. The alternative to installing this driver is to buy a wireless USB adapter from Sony.
Tip: When you install DS4Windows for the first time, you will have to choose where to save your settings and profiles. We recommend using the default option . Also, if you use Windows 7, remember that you will have to click on ‘Install Driver 360’.
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Connecting To Steam Via Wired Connection
This is perhaps your easiest and most efficient method for connecting your PS4 controller to your PC.
Ensure your Steam App is up to date to the latest client. Once this is done, simply plug your PS4 controller to the PC via micro-USB and you’re good to go.
It’s as easy as that. Just ensure that the games you’re wanting to play are compatible with controller support. You can see if a game has controller support by going to the game’s Steam page and looking at the panel on the far-right side of the page, just to the right of the game’s pricing.
Playing with Steam’s Big Picture Mode is also advised, as it makes the application easier to use with a controller. It’s not necessary, but it helps for a smoother experience.
If you’re finding that the PS4 controller isn’t working with compatible games, then that’s because it can be a bit hit and miss. Unfortunately other game clients such as Epic Games and Origin aren’t quite as user-intuitive as Steam and will require the use of DS4Windows or require you add the game into Steam as a non-Steam game.