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How to Sync a DUALSHOCK 4 (PS4 Controller) to a PS5

Connect the DUALSHOCK 4 to your PS5 with USB and press PS to pair it. Find troubleshooting steps and the controller’s PS4-versus-PS5 game compatibility limits.
Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To sync a DUALSHOCK 4 to a PS5, turn on the console, connect the controller with its USB cable, then press the controller’s PS button. When the light bar blinks and the player indicator lights up, it is paired. Leave it connected until it has enough charge, then unplug it to play wirelessly.

Pair the DUALSHOCK 4 with your PS5

  1. Turn on the PS5.
  2. Connect the DUALSHOCK 4 to the console using the included USB cable.
  3. If the controller is off, press its PS button.
  4. Wait for the light bar to blink and the player indicator to light up.
  5. After the controller has enough charge, disconnect the cable to use it wirelessly.

Sony’s PS5 pairing instructions specify connecting the controller with the included USB cable and pressing PS. A compatible USB cable is also Sony’s recommended way to reconnect a controller later.

What to do if it will not connect

  • Check that the PS5 is on, the controller is connected to it by USB, and you have pressed PS.
  • If the controller was paired to another console, pair it with the PS5 again. A DUALSHOCK 4 pairs with one console at a time; a PS5 can have up to four controllers connected.
  • If pairing still fails, follow Sony’s DUALSHOCK 4 troubleshooting steps, which include resetting the controller. Sony directs users to PlayStation Repairs if the problem continues.
  • For reconnection, attach the controller with a compatible USB cable and press PS; once connected, remove the cable to use it wirelessly.

Sony’s console setup instructions begin with USB pairing, not the SHARE-plus-PS Bluetooth sequence. That Bluetooth sequence is for pairing the controller with a supported non-console device: turn off the player indicator, unplug USB, hold SHARE while pressing PS until the light bar flashes, then select the controller in that device’s Bluetooth list. See Sony’s guide to connecting a DUALSHOCK 4 to other devices.

Can you use a DUALSHOCK 4 to play PS5 games?

The DUALSHOCK 4 works on PS5 consoles with supported PS4 games. PS5-format games require a DualSense wireless controller, so successfully pairing a DUALSHOCK 4 does not make it compatible with a PS5-native version of a game. Check whether the game you want to play is the PS4 or PS5 edition and consult its compatibility information. Sony’s PS5 backward-compatibility guidance explains the distinction.

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Sony also recommends the DUALSHOCK 4 for the best PS VR experience on PS5. That is a specific VR use case, not an exception that allows the controller to play PS5-format games.

Which cable should you use?

Use the included USB cable for initial pairing or a compatible USB cable for reconnection. If you need a replacement, check that the connectors fit both your controller and console and that the cable supports data. Sony’s cited instructions do not specify a cable model or guarantee that every charge-only cable will work.

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