To pair a PS4 (DualShock 4) controller to a PC, you have two main methods: Bluetooth wireless pairing or USB wired connection.
Wireless Bluetooth Pairing
- Put the controller in pairing mode: Press and hold the Share button and the PS button simultaneously until the light bar starts flashing rapidly.
- Enable Bluetooth on your PC:
- On Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, then click Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth.
- On macOS, open System Preferences > Bluetooth, and ensure Bluetooth is on.
- Select the controller: In the list of available Bluetooth devices, choose Wireless Controller. If prompted for a PIN, enter 0000.
- Complete pairing: The controller light bar will blink and then stay on, indicating a successful connection.
Note: Some controller features like the touchpad, vibration, or headphone jack may not work over Bluetooth and might require a wired connection for full functionality
Wired USB Connection
- Connect your PS4 controller to the PC using a micro-USB cable.
- The PC should automatically detect the controller and install necessary drivers.
- You can test the controller in a compatible game or controller test app.
This method provides better compatibility and full feature support but limits mobility
Additional Tips
- For better compatibility with non-Steam games, consider using software like DS4Windows , which helps map the PS4 controller inputs to Xbox controller inputs recognized by most PC games
- If your PC lacks built-in Bluetooth, you can use a Bluetooth USB dongle or the official Sony DualShock 4 USB wireless adapter for wireless use
Following these steps will allow you to pair and use your PS4 controller on your PC effectively.
