How to connect and use PS4 and PS5 controllers on your PC

Sony’s approach to PlayStation controllers is not the same as Microsoft’s to Xbox.

The so-called “DualShock 4” on the PlayStation 4 and the “DualSense” controllers on the new PlayStation 5 have similar button designs but look different. More importantly, the newer option introduces some advanced features. So while you can use either one for PC gaming, there are reasons to explore upgrading to a DualSense if you’re still using something older.

Regardless of which controller you are using, it is quite easy to connect. There are some additional considerations with the DualSense (which we’ll get to), but let’s start with the DualShock 4. All you need is the controller and a micro-USB cable (the one you use for charging is fine) or a Bluetooth Receiver on your PC. .

To go the wired route, simply plug the cable into your controller and then plug it into a USB port on your computer. (I’ve seen reports that USB 2.0 ports are your best option, but personally I have had no issues with USB 3.0 ports.) And that’s it, as long as you are on Windows 10 or Apple computers with macOS Catalina or later.

For a wireless connection, you will need a Bluetooth receiver built into your motherboard or in the form of a USB dongle. To activate the controller’s pairing mode, press and hold the PS button and the Share button simultaneously for a few seconds. You will know that pairing mode is active when the light bar on the controller starts to flash.

Once done, jump to your computer and open the Bluetooth settings menu. You should be able to search for new devices from there. Once the driver shows up as an available device, it should be “Wireless Controller”, click on it. You will know it worked if the light bar turns solid blue.

Just keep in mind that the process of setting up Windows with Bluetooth can be a bit tricky. When you click the “Add Bluetooth or other device” option in the settings menu, a window pops up asking what type of device you want to connect. You may think that the third option, “Everything Else”, is the correct one, as the Xbox controller is one of the examples you offer. However, it is not that. Actually, you have to click on the first option, “Bluetooth”. The controller should appear as a pairing option there.

The DualSense connection process is basically the same. For a wired connection, you will need a USB-C to USB-A cable (that is, USB-C to standard USB). Connect end C to your controller and end A to your PC, Windows, or Mac, and that’s it.

For Bluetooth, it’s the same deal too: press and hold the PS and Create buttons (Create is in the same place as the Share button on the DualShock 4) until the controller lights start to flash. Next, go into Bluetooth settings and pair the “Wireless Controller” using the same process you would for a DualShock 4.

There’s just one problem: Because DualSense is so new, not all games will recognize it. There is a workaround, but you will need to install the Steam client for it to work. You see, Steam added beta support for DualSense in November, and then pushed that support to non-beta in early December.

That means Steam should automatically recognize your shiny new PlayStation controller as soon as it’s connected. Emphasis on should. If Steam games don’t work well with DualSense, go back to the Steam settings menu, go to the controller submenu and click the “General Controller Settings” button.

First, click the checkbox you see for “PlayStation Settings Support.” Then find the bottom of that menu. If you connected or paired your DualSense successfully, you should see the PlayStation 5 controller in the list of detected controllers. Click on that, then click Identify. Your DualSense should give a little affirmation buzz.

Only a few games support the most advanced features of the controller at this time, including Death stranding, Horizon: Zero Dawnand No Man’s Sky. But you should still be able to play any game that supports a controller, just without things like gyro controls and shake features.

Of course, that only helps with Steam games. You have the possibility to add no-Steam games to your library, via the Games drop-down menu, but it won’t work with all games. For example, I cannot get Watch Dogs: Legion or Immortals: Fenyx Rising, which I have in Uplay, to run. But the Epic Games Store titles that I tested seemed to work fine, albeit with limited support.

This will surely improve through updates. Remember that the PS5 and its DualSense controller are still very new. Steam’s full non-beta update for the controller arrived a month after the hardware release and already brings advanced features to several games, with more on the way. It’s fair to expect other stores like Uplay and Epic to add official support in time. But for now, get ready to deal with tricky solutions like the ones we outlined above.