How To Pair Ps4 Controller To Pc Windows 10

How to use a DualShock iv PS4 controller on PC

How to employ a DualShock 4 PS4 controller on PC (Image credit: Sony)

Using the DualShock iv PS4 controller on PC isn't to everyone's sense of taste. We commend you for choosing to alive the counterpart life, rather than submit to the convoluted hand placement of a keyboard gamer.

Of all the options out there, the PS4 controller has become one of the team's favourite PC gaming controllers (opens in new tab), not least because it feels cracking in your easily. The blueprint retains the classic shape of the DualShock controller, but includes joysticks and triggers improve suited to modern shooters and action games than its predecessor—though not as sensationally exciting as the PS5'due south DualSense controller (opens in new tab).

Unfortunately, the DualShock 4'due south utilise of generic DirectInput drivers—as opposed to XInput that the Xbox controllers use—means using a PS4 controller on PC isn't quite as easy as plugging in an Xbox gamepad. It takes a little bit more work to become the DualShock 4 working on PC, but things are fabricated easier thanks to Steam, the PC gaming community, and an official (optional) Bluetooth dongle. In fact, if Steam is your go-to, native Steam back up makes information technology but as plug-and-play as an Xbox gamepad.

To beginning we'll walk you through getting your PS4 controller working with Steam. If you desire to play games that aren't on Steam with your DualShock 4, DS4Windows is the tool for you.

Setup

What you need

Hardware

Dualshock 4 PS4 controller
A micro-USB cable
(Optional) Dualshock 4 USB wireless Bluetooth adapter

Software

Steam
Or Microsoft .Internet Framework 4.v (opens in new tab)
Xbox 360 controller commuter (opens in new tab) (simply for Windows vii users)
and DS4Windows (opens in new tab)

Working with Steam

PlayStation controller configuration ticked on in Steam controller settings menu

Using a PS4 controller in Steam

Open up Steam
Get to Settings in superlative left dropdown
Open Controller tab
Click General Controller Settings
Register device to your account
Change preferences
Calibrate joysticks
Tick PlayStation Configuration Back up
Remap from Settings Controller tab/in game

Cheers to official Steam support, there'southward most no setup involved in getting your PS4 controller working in Steam. Just be certain to pair or plug in your controller before opening Steam or any Steam games, otherwise your controller may not be recognized.

If you lot run into whatever connection bug, closing and reopening Steam should do the trick. Otherwise, attempt using a USB 2.0 port instead of a USB 3.0 port. DualShock 4s are weird similar that.

Once connected, navigate to Steam'south settings menu—under the top left dropdown—to become everything running smoothly. Under the Controller tab, open General Controller Settings; y'all should see your controller listed nether Detected Controllers. From here you lot can register it to your account, so it will remember the settings on whatsoever PC y'all log into.

Personalize your controller menu in Steam — (Image credit: Valve)

Click Preferences to rename, or change rumble and lighting settings. You lot can also click Calibrate to fine-tune the joysticks and gyro if y'all experience the need. One important tip: click the check box next to PlayStation Configuration Support if y'all want to exist able to practise extra configuration of the controller on a per-game basis.

Back in the Controller tab of the Settings menu, you tin can configure your controller for Large Picture and Desktop usage, as well, and even set up Guide Button Chord Configuration.

Installing DS4Windows

How to install DS4Windows for non-steam gaming

Download Microsoft .NET Framework (opens in new tab)
For Windows 7, go Xbox 360 controller commuter (opens in new tab)
Plug controller or Bluetooth dongle in
Download DS4Windows (opens in new tab) and excerpt
Open DS4Windows
Check connection in the Controllers tab
In Settings tab Hide DS4 Controller
Gear up Use Xinput Ports to one
Edit/Create a profile and remap

If you're just playing Steam games , y'all don't need to install annihilation else.

First, Download the newest Microsoft .NET Framework. If you're still stuck running Windows vii, install the Xbox 360 controller driver next. This driver is included with Windows viii and 10.

Before you lot practise anything else, plug in your PS4 controller with a micro-USB directly to your PC, or pair information technology (opens in new tab) through the Bluetooth menu, or with a USB wireless adapter.

Download and extract newest DS4Windows .zip file next, and open information technology up. You lot can ignore the DS4Updater if you already take the newest version.

Whatever controllers you lot've connected will exist displayed under the Controllers tab. If not, close DS4Windows, reconnect your controller, then re-open the software. Don't worry virtually your controller's ID number, we won't exist needing it.

Next, open up the Settings tab in DS4Windows to configure a few things. Make certain the Hide DS4 Controller box is checked. This will prevent DS4Windows from conflicting with any game's default controller settings. For the same reason, make certain Apply Xinput Ports is set to one.

DS4 Windows configuration menu screenshot

From the Settings tab, y'all can besides set DS4Windows to run at startup, or remain active in the background. You can as well update DS4Windows directly from this tab by clicking Check for Update Now at the bottom left. Above that, yous'll see Controller/Driver Setup. If you come across any issues, open this setup and follow the prompts to install any missing drivers.

DS4Windows works past reading your DualShock 4 equally though information technology were an Xbox 360 controller. That means you won't get the right Square/10/Triangle/Circle button icons by default in near games. Some games will requite yous the choice to change, but either way, information technology'll now work with any game that has Xinput support—i.e. most every modernistic PC game that supports gamepads.

You lot don't have to remap anything, simply if yous want to modify some buttons or suit sensitivity outside of in-game menus, but open the Profiles tab in DS4Windows. If you're feeling confident, click New to showtime a new profile, though this is easier said than done. Otherwise, select the DualShock 4 profile and click Edit.

Let's say you desire to swap your bumpers and triggers. First, find L1/R1 and L2/R2 in the scroll wheel in the Controls section, or merely click them on the virtual controller. Y'all desire to swap L1 with L2 and R1 with R2, so start by clicking L2.

And then, just click the button you want L2 to act as—in this example, L1. Voila, your left trigger will at present act as your left bumper. Repeat this process with the other triggers and bumpers to complete the change and prevent redundancy. You tin relieve this button setup equally a dissever profile and swap between profiles in the Controllers tab.

Connect via Bluetooth

PlayStation official bluetooth dongle, front and side angle, on a grey background — (Epitome credit: Sony)

How to connect your PS4 controller via Bluetooth

Hold controller's Share and PS button until information technology flashes
Push dongle push button until it starts flashing
Or, add together your controller in your PC's Bluetooth menu
Pairing should happen automatically
Don't unplug the adapter, it'll save the last connection

To connect your PS4 controller via Bluetooth, only hold the small Share button and the key round button simultaneously until the controller's backlight starts flashing, then push on the end of the adapter until information technology starts flashing. Once both are flashing, they will automatically pair afterwards a few seconds.

For a PC with Bluetooth built-in, only navigate to the Bluetooth bill of fare and select your controller from the Add Bluetooth devices list once information technology'southward started flashing.

Luckily, you don't have to pair your controller every time you desire to use it. As long as you don't unplug the adapter, it will relieve its last connection, so you can just tap your controller'south central PlayStation push to reconnect it.

The official Sony DualShock four USB wireless adapter is the simplest Bluetooth selection. You may have to hunt for it or spend a little more than you would on a standard Bluetooth dongle, but it'due south worth it for its out-of-the-box functionality.

Spiral sports, Katie would rather watch Intel, AMD and Nvidia go at it. She can frequently be found admiring AI advancements, sighing over semiconductors, or gawping at the latest GPU upgrades. She's been obsessed with computers and graphics since she was minor, and took Game Art and Design upward to Masters level at uni. Her thirst for absurd Raspberry Pi projects will never exist sated, and she will finish at nothing to spread net safety sensation—downward with the hackers.