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How to Connect a PS4 Controller: Pair It With a PS4, Phone, or PC

Connect a DUALSHOCK 4 to a PS4 with USB, pair it to supported devices over Bluetooth, and reset it if console pairing fails.
Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To pair a DUALSHOCK 4 with a PS4, connect it to the console with a USB cable and press the PS button. To pair it with a supported phone, tablet, or computer over Bluetooth, turn the controller off, disconnect USB, then hold SHARE and PS until the light bar flashes and select the controller in the device’s Bluetooth settings.

Pair a DUALSHOCK 4 with a PS4

  1. Turn on the PS4 and connect the controller to it with a USB cable.
  2. Press the PS button on the controller. The light bar blinks while it connects; the player indicator lights when pairing is complete.
  3. Once the controller has enough charge, disconnect the cable to use it wirelessly.

Sony says a controller must be paired when first used and when used with another PS4. A DUALSHOCK 4 pairs with one console at a time, and a PS4 can connect up to four controllers. See Sony’s DUALSHOCK 4 support guide.

Pair it with a phone, tablet, or computer over Bluetooth

  1. Make sure the controller’s player indicator is off. If it is lit, hold the PS button until it turns off.
  2. Disconnect the USB cable from the controller.
  3. Hold SHARE, then hold PS until the light bar flashes. This puts the controller into Bluetooth pairing mode.
  4. On the other device, turn on Bluetooth and select the DUALSHOCK 4 from the available-device list. Once pairing finishes, the light bar blinks and the player indicator lights up.

Sony lists Android 10, iOS 13, iPadOS 13, macOS Catalina, and tvOS 13, or later versions, as supporting DUALSHOCK 4 connections over Bluetooth and USB. On Windows PCs, Sony lists USB connection using either a DUALSHOCK 4 USB wireless adaptor or a compatible micro-USB cable. Follow Sony’s device connection guidance, and check whether the particular game or application supports the controller.

What works on non-console devices

Pairing successfully does not mean every game supports the controller or every DUALSHOCK 4 feature. Sony notes that on non-Xperia devices, these features are not supported: touchpad functions, changing the light-bar color, rumble, the motion sensor, and audio through the controller’s headphone jack. Feature support can vary by device and application.

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  • Precision Control: The feel, shape, and sensitivity of the DualShock 4’s analog sticks and trigger buttons have been enhanced to offer players absolute control for all games on PlayStation 4.
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  • Charge Efficiently: The DualShock 4 Wireless Controller can easily be recharged by plugging it into your PlayStation 4 system, even when on standby, or with any standard charger with a micro-USB port.

Reconnect a controller to a PS4 or PS5

To reconnect a DUALSHOCK 4 to a PS4 or PS5, connect it to the console with a compatible USB cable and press the PS button. After it connects, remove the cable if you want to use it wirelessly. If pairing does not work, make sure the cable can carry data; a cable that only charges the controller may not complete the connection.

Reset the controller if PS4 pairing fails

  1. Turn off and unplug the PS4.
  2. Disconnect the controller from its USB cable.
  3. Find the small reset button in the hole on the back of the controller. Press and hold it for at least five seconds with a small, unfolded paper clip or a similar item.
  4. Reconnect the controller to the console with the official USB cable and press the PS button.

If it still will not pair, use Sony’s DUALSHOCK 4 troubleshooting steps or its PlayStation Repairs diagnostic tool.

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  • The feel, shape, and sensitivity of the dual analog sticks and trigger buttons have been improved to provide a greater sense of control, no matter what you play.Motion sensors - Rock and roll as a highly sensitive built-in accelerometer and gyroscope detect the motion, tilt and rotation of your DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controllerDualShock 4 Wireless Controller PS4 and PC compatible. Item PS5 compatible only when playing PS4 games.
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  • The Dualshock 4 wireless controller can be easily recharged by plugging it into your PlayStation 4 system, even when in rest mode, or with any standard charger using a USB cable (type A to micro B sold separately)

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