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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThere is no single “R button” on a PS5 controller. On the standard DualSense, “R” can mean three different physical controls: R1, R2, or R3. Which one a game or menu means depends on the exact label in the instruction.
The three controls behind the “R” label
The DualSense manual labels the top-edge controls R1 and R2 alongside L1 and L2, and it labels the right stick as “Right stick/R3 button.” These are three separate inputs, so the first step is to read the number that follows the R.
| Label | Where it is | What the official source establishes |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | Top edge, right shoulder button | Named R1 in the DualSense manual (Sony Interactive Entertainment). In the PS5 console User’s Guide (US instructions), R1 moves forward. |
| R2 | Top edge, the trigger directly beneath R1 | Named R2 in the DualSense manual. No universal game action is stated in the official documentation. |
| R3 | Press the right analog stick inward | PlayStation support says: “Press on the stick to use it as the R3 button.” |
What R1, R2 and R3 do
R1: the right shoulder button
R1 is the button you press with your index finger on the upper-right edge. The one documented interface role for R1 comes from PlayStation’s US instructions for the PS5 console User’s Guide, where R1 means Forward and L1 means Back. That mapping belongs to the guide. It does not establish what R1 does in a game.
R2: the right trigger
R2 is the pressure-sensitive trigger beneath R1. The DualSense manual names it, but the official documentation does not assign it a universal function. In games, R2 is commonly used for an action such as acceleration or aiming, but the on-screen prompt is the authority for any specific title.
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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.
R3: pressing the right stick
R3 is not a separate button on the body of the controller. It is the click function of the right analog stick. Pushing the stick straight down activates it, which is why the same thumb movement can also move the camera or cursor.
How to work out which R button an instruction means
- If the instruction says “R1,” look at the upper-right shoulder button.
- If it says “R2,” look at the trigger below that shoulder button.
- If it says “R3,” press the right analog stick inward.
- If it says only “R,” check the on-screen button prompt, which usually shows the controller icon for the intended input.
- If the prompt is unclear, open the game’s control settings and find the action listed there. The label in that menu is the one that matters.
Why the same label can behave differently
PlayStation’s documentation identifies the physical labels. It does not give a complete map of what every button does in every game, and the DualSense manual notes that the console “may operate differently than described in this manual” depending on the software version in use. Behaviour can therefore change after a system update, and a game’s own control scheme always takes precedence over the generic label.
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- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
Where the answer is less certain
The official sources cited here establish the DualSense labels, the R3 stick-click wording, and the User’s Guide mapping for R1. They do not provide a universal control list for games, and this article does not cover third-party controllers or PS4-era layouts.
If you are replacing or buying a controller and need the standard hardware, the DualSense wireless controller is the model these labels describe.
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- 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
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- 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
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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
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