Can You Use Ps4 Controller On Pc

How to utilize a DualShock 4 PS4 controller on PC

How to use a DualShock 4 PS4 controller on PC (Paradigm credit: Sony)

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

Of all the options out in that location, the PS4 controller has become one of the team's favourite PC gaming controllers (opens in new tab), non to the lowest degree because it feels not bad in your easily. The design retains the classic shape of the DualShock controller, but includes joysticks and triggers better suited to modern shooters and action games than its predecessor—though not every bit sensationally exciting as the PS5's DualSense controller (opens in new tab).

Unfortunately, the DualShock 4's employ 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 chip more work to get the DualShock 4 working on PC, simply things are made easier cheers 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 it just as plug-and-play as an Xbox gamepad.

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

Setup

What you lot demand

Hardware

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

Software

Steam
Or Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 (opens in new tab)
Xbox 360 controller driver (opens in new tab) (merely for Windows 7 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 Steam
Get to Settings in top left dropdown
Open up Controller tab
Click Full general Controller Settings
Register device to your account
Change preferences
Calibrate joysticks
Tick PlayStation Configuration Support
Remap from Settings Controller tab/in game

Thanks to official Steam support, at that place's almost no setup involved in getting your PS4 controller working in Steam. Only be sure to pair or plug in your controller earlier opening Steam or whatsoever Steam games, otherwise your controller may not be recognized.

If y'all encounter whatever connection issues, closing and reopening Steam should practice the play tricks. Otherwise, endeavour using a USB 2.0 port instead of a USB 3.0 port. DualShock 4s are weird similar that.

In one case continued, navigate to Steam'southward settings menu—under the summit left dropdown—to get everything running smoothly. Nether the Controller tab, open General Controller Settings; you should see your controller listed under Detected Controllers. From here yous can annals information technology to your account, then it volition recollect the settings on any PC y'all log into.

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

Click Preferences to rename, or change rumble and lighting settings. Y'all tin can also click Calibrate to fine-tune the joysticks and gyro if you feel the demand. Ane important tip: click the check box next to PlayStation Configuration Support if y'all want to be able to do extra configuration of the controller on a per-game basis.

Back in the Controller tab of the Settings bill of fare, you can configure your controller for Large Moving-picture show and Desktop usage, every bit well, and even ready 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 vii, get Xbox 360 controller driver (opens in new tab)
Plug controller or Bluetooth dongle in
Download DS4Windows (opens in new tab) and extract
Open DS4Windows
Check connectedness in the Controllers tab
In Settings tab Hibernate DS4 Controller
Prepare Use Xinput Ports to one
Edit/Create a profile and remap

If y'all're but playing Steam games , you don't demand to install anything else.

First, Download the newest Microsoft .Internet Framework. If you're still stuck running Windows 7, install the Xbox 360 controller driver next. This driver is included with Windows 8 and 10.

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

Download and extract newest DS4Windows .null file adjacent, and open it up. You can ignore the DS4Updater if yous already take the newest version.

Any controllers yous've connected volition exist displayed nether the Controllers tab. If non, close DS4Windows, reconnect your controller, and so re-open the software. Don't worry about your controller's ID number, we won't be needing information technology.

Side by side, open the Settings tab in DS4Windows to configure a few things. Make sure the Hide DS4 Controller box is checked. This will forbid DS4Windows from alien with whatsoever game'southward default controller settings. For the same reason, brand sure Use Xinput Ports is fix to ane.

DS4 Windows configuration menu screenshot

From the Settings tab, you can also set DS4Windows to run at startup, or remain active in the background. You tin too update DS4Windows directly from this tab past clicking Check for Update At present at the bottom left. Above that, yous'll encounter Controller/Driver Setup. If you run into any issues, open this setup and follow the prompts to install any missing drivers.

DS4Windows works by reading your DualShock 4 equally though it were an Xbox 360 controller. That means you lot won't go the correct Foursquare/X/Triangle/Circle push icons past default in near games. Some games volition give you the option to modify, merely either manner, it'll at present piece of work with any game that has Xinput support—i.due east. almost every modern PC game that supports gamepads.

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

Let's say you want to swap your bumpers and triggers. Offset, find L1/R1 and L2/R2 in the scroll bike in the Controls department, or just click them on the virtual controller. You want to swap L1 with L2 and R1 with R2, so start by clicking L2.

And so, just click the push button you lot want L2 to human activity as—in this case, L1. Voila, your left trigger will now act as your left bumper. Repeat this procedure with the other triggers and bumpers to complete the change and forestall redundancy. You can save this push setup as a separate contour and swap between profiles in the Controllers tab.

Connect via Bluetooth

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

How to connect your PS4 controller via Bluetooth

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

To connect your PS4 controller via Bluetooth, simply hold the small Share push button and the central circular push simultaneously until the controller's backlight starts flashing, then button on the stop of the adapter until it starts flashing. In one case both are flashing, they will automatically pair later on a few seconds.

For a PC with Bluetooth congenital-in, just navigate to the Bluetooth menu and select your controller from the Add Bluetooth devices list once it'southward started flashing.

Luckily, you don't take to pair your controller every fourth dimension you lot want to use information technology. As long as you don't unplug the adapter, it will save its final connection, so you tin can just tap your controller'southward primal PlayStation push button to reconnect it.

The official Sony DualShock 4 USB wireless adapter is the simplest Bluetooth option. You lot may have to hunt for it or spend a fiddling more than you lot would on a standard Bluetooth dongle, only it'due south worth it for its out-of-the-box functionality.

Screw sports, Katie would rather watch Intel, AMD and Nvidia go at information technology. She can ofttimes be constitute admiring AI advancements, sighing over semiconductors, or gawping at the latest GPU upgrades. She's been obsessed with computers and graphics since she was small, and took Game Fine art and Design up to Masters level at uni. Her thirst for cool Raspberry Pi projects will never be sated, and she will stop at nothing to spread internet safe awareness—down with the hackers.