Next, we’ll look at the Bluetooth method, but be warned that your mileage may vary. For example, the touchpad can be used to control your mouse pointer, which is useful in games that may not have full controller support or have some in-game actions that are easier to do with a mouse pointer. Especially if you plan to use DS4Windows this way. Make sure the Hide DS4 Controller box is checked. Simply plug in the controller, open Steam, and go to Settings > Controller settings to configure it. Wait a minute to make sure all of the necessary drivers show up. If you want to play games that aren't on Steam with your DualShock 4, jump ahead for our in-depth guide to getting your PS4 controller working with an open source tool called DS4Windows. This will prevent DS4Windows from conflicting with any game's default controller settings. To access that customization, boot up a game in Big Picture mode, then press the PlayStation button on the controller. Thank you for signing up to PC Gamer. The evolution of social advertising through 2020, How to Share WiFi Password On Android in 2020, How to Make Your WordPress URLs SEO Friendly, 5 Steps to Become a Better Writer: Helpful Tips, 5 Tips for Social Media to Scale Up Your Online Business, Beware Of Google My Business Listings Hijackings, YouTube reveals details about its algorithm for Youtubers, How To Connect PS4 Controller To PC Using Wired Connection, How To Connect PS4 Controller To PC Using Bluetooth, Dauntless is going cross-platform on PS4 and Xbox One, Path of Exile PS4 Release Date Delayed Until Next Year, Connect with creative professionals via SociaBuzz | Digital Asia, 7 Ways To Improve Core Web Vitals Scores & Page Experience Signals.
It even has a feature where light bar color can reflect battery level. Some games will give you the option, though. His work and analysis has been seen in GamePro, Tested.com, Geek.com, and several other publications. This is quite possibly one of the simplest sets of instructions ever. That's it, as far as connecting the controller goes.
Since Sony’s Playstation and Microsoft’s Xbox are direct competitors, you might expect that Microsoft (or Sony for that matter) have not gone out of their way to integrate DS4 support in Windows. It feels great in your hands and retains the classic shape of the DualShock with joysticks and triggers better suited to modern shooters and action games. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. This screen looks complicated, but it's actually pretty simple.
All Rights Reserved. The Playstation 4's Dualshock 4 controller is the best PC controller.
The official Sony DualShock 4 USB wireless adapter is the simplest Bluetooth option. You can even change the light bar's color. © Connecting your PS4 controller using Bluetooth is a little trickier. Receive news and offers from our other brands? You may have to hunt for it or spend a little more than you would on a standard Bluetooth dongle, but it's worth it for its out-of-the-box functionality. With the DualShock 4 turned off (You'll know by the deactivated light bar), press and hold the PlayStation and Share buttons for three seconds until the light bar starts double flashing. Open the Settings app and go to Devices>Bluetooth. Any gamer who has tried to play Windows games using a Dinput controller will attest to the endless frustration this causes. This opens another intimidating but simple page. With the controller off, press and hold the round PlayStation button and the Share button together until the light starts to flash bright white. While Windows 10 supports the PS4 controller as a standard Bluetooth device, there’s more to getting games to work with it than simply connecting it. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Zen 3 is sold out everywhere but AMD’s Frank Azor says it was not a paper launch, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. Now click the big plus icon next to Add Bluetooth or other device. You'll see two applications: DS4Updater and DS4Windows.
Open the Profiles tab in DS4Windows. Most current Windows games use Microsoft's XInput, an interface that processes Xbox 360 and Xbox One controller inputs. This can of course refer to emulating old PlayStation games for the PS1, PS2 and PS3. Now, open the Start Menu and search for Bluetooth, then click on Bluetooth and Other Device Settings. From the Settings tab, you can also set it to run at startup or remain active in the background. The PS4 controller should show up as Wireless Controller.
First, find L1/R1 and L2/R2 in the scroll wheel in the Controls section, or just click them on the virtual controller. If you want to use the Remote Play application on your PC, which lets you stream games from your own PS4, then you can also use your PS4 controller directly.
I do not recommend making a profile from scratch, but if you really want to, click New to start one up. Access the Bluetooth menu on your PC via the system tray. If you run into any issues, open this setup and follow the prompts to install any missing drivers. How to Know If You're Getting a Good Deal, How to Use Your Big-Screen TV for Online Learning (and Fun), Give Your Eyes a Break: How to Choose the Right Blue Light Glasses.
It then takes all your PS4 controller inputs and translates them to the Xinput standard. Open Settings, then Controller Settings, and you should see your controller listed there. Which Controllers Work With Stadia, PS Now, xCloud, and Nvidia GeForce Now? Go into Steam's Settings > Controller menu to configure the controller. The problem boils down to Xinput and Dinput. It supports the PS4 controller via Bluetooth or direct USB connection. Does that mean there’s no way to connect and use a PS4 controller to a PC? You can create multiple configuration profiles and have them trigger when specific games are running. Connecting the controller is only the start of the process, due to how the DualShock 4 communicates with your PC. Not a controller person? This causes an outline of the DualShock 4 to appear surrounded by various settings. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to a PC, How to Connect an Xbox One Controller to a PC, How to Choose the Right Game Controller for Your PC. You can use either a wireless Bluetooth connection or just plug the controller directly into your computer using a micro USB cable. Open the Settings tab in DS4Windows to configure a few things. You’ll now see a list of available devices. 1. If your favorite games are on Steam, they'll work with the DualShock 4 with a quick tweak. 2. To pair the DualShock 4 to your PC over Bluetooth, you need to turn the controller off and force it into pairing mode. The controller should show up under the Controllers tab. Once Windows pops up a message saying it has connected a new Xbox 360 controller, you're ready to play! This installs a multipurpose gamepad driver to your system that DS4Windows uses to get the DualShock 4 to work. To set it up, Simply plug in a USB cable (or connect via Bluetooth, which we talk about more below) and open Steam's Big Picture mode. Bluetooth support can be pretty flakey with the software and certain brands of Bluetooth controller just won’t work right.
Xbox One controller on PC. If you followed the Bluetooth installation steps above, you should be able to use your controller wirelessly. If you want to use the DualShock 4 for non-Steam games, continue on. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Voila, your left trigger will now act as your left bumper. However, there’s a workaround in the form of DS4Windows. Xinput is the controller standard used by all Xbox controllers.
You'll see this screen where you can tweak the controller to your heart's content—even play around with the gyro sensor! By default, the DualShock 4 acts like an Xbox 360 controller, with the touchpad functioning as a mouse.
There are two ways to connect a DualShock 4 to your gaming rig. This tab displays the controllers you have connected.
Go to the Settings menu in Steam (under Steam on the taskbar). DualShock 4s are weird like that.) Congratulations, you’re done with this part of the guide. 4. As a result, you may have better luck simply using DS4Windows. Austin Wood, Fear not, since PCs are such powerful and flexible systems, you can get nearly any peripheral to work on them with a little effort. You also get control over the light bar, letting you set the color or turn it off completely. You can also update DS4Windows directly from this tab by clicking Check for Update Now at the bottom left.
© 2018 - 2020 - Onlyinfotech. Read on to learn how to use DS4Windows to use your controller with games outside of Steam. DS4Windows is a third-party utility that fools Windows into thinking a real Xinput controller has been connected to the machine. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Connect a PS4 controller to PC using Bluetooth and a wireless adapter © Provided by GamesRadar For a plug-and-play solution, grabbing yourself … Open DS4Windows and you'll see the Controllers tab. Steam added native Dualshock 4 support in 2016, so once you're paired or plugged in, you're good to go.
Bluetooth installation note: if you want to use your DualShock 4 wirelessly, take a moment to plug in your USB wireless adapter and pair it with your controller. You want to swap L1 with L2 and R1 with R2, so start by clicking L2. Here, you can remap the physical controls, program the touchpad and motion controls to act in different ways, adjust rumble settings, and tweak the analog sticks' dead zones and movement curves. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? Repeat this process with the other triggers and bumpers to complete the change and prevent redundancy. One of the main reasons a PC gamer might want to connect a PS4 controller to a PC is to play PS4 games on that computer. 6.