Sony’s PS5 update added two different features: DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers can store pairings for up to four devices and switch between them, while Power Saver for Games lets supported PS5 games scale back performance to reduce console power use. Sony announced a global rollout beginning September 17, 2025, so these are released features—not upcoming ones—as of August 16, 2026. Availability still depends on updated software, compatible devices and, for Power Saver, game support.
What the PS5 update changed
Previously, moving a DualSense between a PS5, computer or mobile device generally meant pairing it with that device again. Multi-device pairing lets the standard DualSense or DualSense Edge retain up to four registered Bluetooth pairings and switch among them from the controller. It stores four device connections; it does not let one controller control four devices at once.
Power Saver for Games is separate: it allows a supported PS5 game to scale back performance as needed to reduce the console’s power consumption. It is neither a controller battery-saving feature nor the same thing as putting the PS5 in Rest Mode. Sony first announced the features in a beta on July 23, 2025, then updated its announcement on September 16 to say global rollout would begin September 17. Sony’s announcement and rollout update explain the original release timeline.
Set up DualSense multi-device pairing
The controller’s four slots are assigned to face buttons. The number of player-indicator lights shows the selected slot:
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- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
| Slot | Button combination | Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PS + Triangle | One light |
| 2 | PS + Circle | Two lights |
| 3 | PS + Cross (X) | Three lights |
| 4 | PS + Square | Four lights |
You can assign a slot to a PS5, Windows PC, Mac, phone, tablet or another supported Bluetooth device. Sony lists Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11, macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later, iOS and iPadOS 14.5 or later, tvOS 14.5 or later, and Android 12 or later. Feature support varies by device, operating system, game and connection type. See Sony’s DualSense pairing and compatibility guide for current requirements and limitations.
Pair with a specific slot
- Disconnect any USB cable. Make sure the controller’s light bar and player indicator are off, and turn on Bluetooth on the device you want to pair.
- Press and hold the face button for the slot you want—Triangle, Circle, Cross or Square.
- While holding that button, press and hold the PS button for more than five seconds. The light bar and player indicator flash twice when pairing mode starts.
- Open the target device’s Bluetooth settings and select the DualSense controller from the available devices.
- Check the player-indicator lights to confirm the assigned slot.
Let the controller assign a slot automatically
- With the controller disconnected from USB and off, hold the Create button and press and hold the PS button for at least three seconds.
- When the light bar and player indicator flash twice, select the controller in the target device’s Bluetooth settings.
If all four slots are occupied, automatic assignment replaces the pairing that has gone the longest without being used. To keep a particular pairing, assign the new device to a slot you intend to overwrite instead.
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- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
Switch between registered devices
- Turn on the device you want to control and make sure its Bluetooth is enabled.
- Press and hold the face button assigned to that device together with the PS button for about three seconds.
- Release both buttons when the light bar and player indicator blink. The controller connects to that slot; use the indicator-light count to check which one is selected.
You can start a switch while the controller is on or off. If it is off and you press only the PS button, it connects to the last device used. On Mac and mobile, you may also be able to switch the connection from the device itself. Sony says that option is unavailable when the controller is connected to a PS5; use the controller’s button combination in that case.
If pairing or switching does not work
- The controller is missing from Bluetooth settings: Disconnect USB, make sure its light bar and player indicator are off before starting, hold the correct buttons for the required time, and confirm Bluetooth is enabled on the target device.
- It connects to the wrong device: Turn on the intended device first, use its assigned face button with PS, and check that the indicator lights match the slot.
- An old connection interferes: Remove the controller’s old pairing from the target device’s Bluetooth settings if it keeps trying to reconnect incorrectly, then pair it to the intended slot again.
- The controller connects but features are missing: That may be a compatibility limit, not a pairing fault. Sony says adaptive triggers need game support and are not compatible with Android mobile devices. Haptics require a USB connection on PC when supported by the game, and are not compatible with Mac or mobile. The built-in microphone and speaker are supported on Windows PC when the game supports them, but not on Mac or mobile. The headset jack requires a wired connection on PC and Mac and is not compatible with mobile.
- The PS5 no longer responds to the controller: Connect it to the console with a compatible USB cable and press the PS button. Once paired, you can remove the cable for wireless use.
DualSense can also be used with Remote Play and games that support generic controllers, but those uses do not guarantee that every controller feature will work on every device.
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- Feel you in-game actions and environement simulated through haptic feedback
- Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone
- Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
Enable Power Saver for supported PS5 games
Power Saver is an optional, game-specific PS5 setting. When a supported game uses it, the game may scale back performance as needed to lower console power consumption. Sony does not specify a universal wattage reduction, frame-rate target or visual result. Unsupported games do not receive a power reduction through this setting.
- On the PS5, open Settings.
- Select System, then Power Saving.
- Select Power Saver for Games and turn on Use Power Saver.
- Choose which compatible games should use the feature.
When it is active for a game, a Power Saver icon appears beside the game in the Control Center’s Switcher. The settings also include an option to show or hide a notification about whether the current game supports Power Saver. The menu path and behavior are documented on Sony’s PS5 power-saving support page.
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- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
Check game support and trade-offs
Support is not universal, and Sony’s list may change as games are added or updated. Its September 2025 rollout announcement named Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Demon’s Souls and Ghost of Yōtei as examples of games with support planned; that announcement is not a complete current catalog. Check the game-selection list on your own PS5 for the titles available to you.
- Performance may be reduced or scaled back in supported games; Sony does not promise a fixed frame rate or identical effect across titles.
- VR mode is unavailable while Power Saver is active, and other gameplay features may be limited.
- It is useful if reducing power use matters more to you than retaining every performance or gameplay feature. If you want maximum performance or are playing in VR, leave it off for that game.
Power Saver affects console power use during supported gameplay. It does not directly extend DualSense battery life, and it is not Rest Mode, which is a separate low-power state for the console when it is not being actively played.
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- Enjoy precise, comfortable control over 10,000+ supported Steam games.
- Easily pair the controller directly to your Windows PC via Bluetooth or play as you charge with the included USB Type-C cable
- Stay paired with up to four different Bluetooth devices, making it easy to enjoy the controller across Windows PC, Mac, PS5 consoles and smartphones. Discover more connection tips and tricks at playstation.com/pair-dualsense
- Access the latest available controller firmware directly from your PC with the free-todownload PlayStation Accessories app
- Play games streamed from your PS5 or PS4 console to your PC via the PS Remote Play App
Who benefits from the changes?
Multi-device pairing is a practical quality-of-life improvement if you regularly move one controller between a PS5, PC and mobile device: each gets a slot, so you can switch without repeatedly creating Bluetooth pairings. It is less consequential if you use the controller with only one device or mainly play wired. It also does not remove device-specific limits on haptics, triggers, audio or other features.
Power Saver is best treated as a per-game choice rather than a console-wide eco mode. Enable it for supported games when you are comfortable with possible performance or feature trade-offs; check the in-console list and the game’s behavior rather than assuming that every PS5 title will use less power.
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