R3 is not a separate button on the DualSense. It is the right analog stick itself, which you activate by pressing it straight down until it clicks. The right stick sits on the lower-right part of the controller face, beneath the face buttons.
Locating the right stick on the DualSense
On the DualSense wireless controller, the right stick is positioned on the lower-right side of the face, below the four face buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross and Square). Sony’s DualSense Wireless Controller Instruction Manual labels this control “Right stick/R3 button” in its front-view parts list, and labels the left-side control “Left stick/L3 button.”
How to press R3
- Locate the right analog stick on the lower-right of the controller face.
- Move the stick to use it for aiming, camera or menu movement. Moving it is a separate input from pressing it.
- Press the stick straight down, without tilting it, until it clicks. That press registers as R3.
PlayStation Support describes the same behaviour in its accessories guidance: “Press on the stick to use it as the R3 button.”
R3 and L3 compared
| Control | Physical location | Input when moved | Input when pressed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right stick | Lower-right of the face, below the face buttons | Analog movement | R3 |
| Left stick | Lower-left of the face, beside the D-pad | Analog movement | L3 |
L3 works the same way on the left stick. The two presses are independent, so a game can map each one to a different action.
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- Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions through haptic feedback
- Experience varying levels of force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone and connect a headset directly through the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
- Play on more devices using the USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth to connect easily to Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones as well as your PlayStation 5
What R3 does in games
R3 has no fixed function across games. PlayStation’s support guidance for PS5 console button functions describes the right stick and R3 as serving movement and gameplay functions, but the specific action depends on the game. Common examples include sprinting, crouching, melee or camera recentring, but these vary by title. To confirm what R3 does in a particular game, open that game’s controls or key-binding menu and find the entry for R3 or the right stick click.
If you use a third-party controller
Official DualSense documentation establishes the layout of Sony’s controller only. Third-party controllers may place their right-stick press in a different spot, or use a different label, so check that controller’s diagram or the game’s button settings rather than assuming the DualSense layout applies.
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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
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- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
If pressing the stick does nothing
- Press straight down rather than at an angle; an off-centre press can move the stick without clicking it.
- Confirm the game has not remapped R3 to another action, and check the game’s controls menu.
- Check that you are pressing the right stick, not the left, since L3 and R3 are on opposite sides.
Note: the stick is not hidden, so the search for a “secret spot” ends at the right analog stick. Pressing it is the only thing that produces R3.
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- Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback
- Chat online through the built-in microphone or connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
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- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range titles
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- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
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- 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.
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