Controller tester / Connection guides
How to connect a PS4 controller to a PC
Plug it in with a micro-USB cable, or pair it over Bluetooth in about a minute. The box below turns green as soon as your PC can see the controller.
No controller detected yet
Follow the steps below, then press any button on the controller. This box turns green when the connection works.
Plug it in with a micro-USB cable (quickest)
Connect the DualShock 4 to your PC with a micro-USB cable and press the PS button. Windows recognises it without any download. If nothing happens, try another cable: charge-only cables are common and carry no data.
Or pair it over Bluetooth
With the controller off, hold the Share button and the PS button together until the light bar starts double-flashing.
On Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Add device › Bluetooth; on Windows 10, Settings › Devices › Bluetooth & other devices › Add Bluetooth or other device › Bluetooth. Choose Wireless Controller. The light bar turns solid when it is connected.
Set it up in Steam
Open Steam › Settings › Controller and make sure Steam Input is turned on for PlayStation controllers. Steam then makes the DualShock 4 work in games that expect an Xbox controller, with PlayStation button icons in Big Picture mode.
Games outside Steam
Some PC games support the DualShock 4 directly. For games that only accept Xbox controllers, add the game to Steam as a non-Steam game, or use DS4Windows, a free open-source tool that presents the DualShock 4 as an Xbox controller.
Check every button and stick
Once the box above is green, open the PS4 controller tester to see every button, both triggers and both sticks live. Older DualShock 4s often drift, so run the drift test too.
Questions
Why won't my PS4 controller connect to my PC?
Try a different micro-USB cable first. For Bluetooth, remove Wireless Controller from your Bluetooth devices and pair again with Share + PS. If it still fails, press the reset button in the small hole on the back, near L2, for a few seconds.
My PS4 controller connects but games ignore it.
The game probably expects an Xbox controller. Turn on Steam Input for PlayStation controllers in Steam, add the game to Steam, or use DS4Windows.
Why does the light bar keep flashing?
Double flashing means it is still in pairing mode and hasn't connected. Slow single flashing means it is searching for a device it was paired with before.
Will it still work with my PS4?
Yes. Plug it into the PS4 with a USB cable and press PS to pair it back. It pairs with one device at a time.
Last checked 2026-10-17. Menu names can change between system updates.