If your PS5 controller will not connect, first turn on the console, connect the DualSense with a USB cable that supports data, and press the PS button. If that does not work, check the cable and USB port, try the pairing steps for an additional controller, reset the controller, and update its software. These steps follow Sony’s support guidance; if they fail, use PlayStation Repairs for diagnosis.
Reconnect the controller with USB first
Sony’s first-pair procedure is also the simplest way to reconnect a DualSense to a PS5. Connect the controller to the console with a USB cable, then press the PS button if the controller is off. During pairing, the light bar blinks and the player indicator lights up. Once the controller has enough charge, you can disconnect the cable and use it wirelessly. See Sony’s DualSense connection instructions.
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- Make sure the PS5 is on. The console must be switched on for the pairing procedure.
- Connect the controller to the console by USB. Use the cable supplied with the console or controller if you still have it.
- Press the PS button. Look for the light bar to blink and the player indicator to light up.
Check the USB cable and port
A USB-C plug does not guarantee that a cable can transfer data. For pairing and the relevant wired troubleshooting, Sony recommends a “charge and sync” or “charging and data” cable; a charge-only cable is not suitable. If the included cable is missing, damaged, or charge-only, use a compatible data cable. Check the connector types on both the controller and console before choosing one.
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Try another PS5 USB port
Move the cable to a different USB port on the PS5 and repeat the USB connection and PS-button steps. Sony recommends trying another console port as a charging check; changing ports is a sensible diagnostic, not a guaranteed fix for every pairing problem. These cable and port checks are covered in Sony’s DualSense support guidance.
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- 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.
Use the supplied cable if available
Sony identifies the included cable as the pairing cable. If you do not have it, the important requirement is data support—not simply a USB-C connector.
Check whether you are pairing a second controller
If another controller is already connected to the PS5, you can add the second one wirelessly through the console’s Bluetooth Accessories menu:
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- On the connected controller, open Settings > Accessories > General > Bluetooth Accessories.
- On the controller you want to add, hold the Create and PS buttons together until its light bar blinks.
- Select the controller from the Bluetooth Accessories list on the screen.
If you cannot use that route, connect the additional controller to the PS5 over USB with a data-capable cable and press PS.
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A DualSense can register up to four device pairings, according to Sony. If you recently used the controller with another console or device, reconnect it to the PS5 over USB with a compatible data cable and press the PS button. Sony’s instructions for connecting a DualSense describe this USB reconnection method.
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- 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
Reset the DualSense controller
If USB pairing still fails, try Sony’s controller reset. It requires the console to be off and a pin or similar tool to press the small recessed button on the back of the controller. Sony says this reset does not affect pairing settings; its support instructions describe a reset, not a destructive factory reset.
- Turn off the PS5.
- Use a pin or similar tool to press the reset button on the back of the controller.
- Reconnect the controller to the PS5 using USB.
- Press the PS button.
Sony’s Controllers Support page provides the reset instructions.
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- 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.
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Update the controller’s device software
Sony says DualSense controller updates are added when the PS5 system software is updated. You can also check for controller device software manually in the console settings. Menu wording can change with system updates, so follow the current labels on your PS5 if they differ.
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- Select DualSense Wireless Controller Device Software and follow the on-screen prompts if an update is available.
These update instructions are on Sony’s DualSense support page.
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- Bring gaming worlds to life, Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Find your voice, share your passion, chat online with the built in microphone (Available when feature is supported by game)
- Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Multi-device connectivity, connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices
When to contact PlayStation Repairs
If the controller still will not pair after the USB, port, pairing, reset, and software-update checks, use Sony’s PlayStation Repairs diagnostic tool. The support steps do not establish that every connection issue has the same cause, so a diagnosis is more appropriate than assuming the controller must be replaced.
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