If you’re a fan of the DualShock 4 controller for the PlayStation 4, did you know that you can use it on your PC too? With a few simple steps, you can connect your DualShock 4 to your gaming rig and enjoy all your favourite PC games with the familiar feel of your favourite gamepad. Here’s how.
Two Ways to Connect
You have two options for connecting your DualShock 4 to your PC: wired and Bluetooth.
Wired Connection
To connect your DualShock 4 via a wired connection, simply plug it into a USB port on your computer using a USB-to-micro-USB cable. That’s all you need to do.
Bluetooth Connection
To connect your DualShock 4 wirelessly, follow these steps:
- Turn off your controller by deactivating the light bar.
- Press and hold the PlayStation and Share buttons for three seconds until the light bar starts double flashing.
- On your PC, access the Bluetooth menu via the system tray.
- Click “Add Bluetooth or another device.”
- Select “Bluetooth” and then choose the DualShock 4 controller from the list that pops up.
Getting Your DualShock 4 to Work
Connecting your controller is just the beginning. To get your DualShock 4 to work with your PC games, you need to translate its inputs into a format your computer can understand. There are two options for this: DS4Windows and Steam’s controller compatibility settings.
The Comprehensive Option: DS4Windows
DS4Windows is a free program that tricks your PC into thinking it’s connected to an Xbox 360 controller instead of a DualShock 4. To set it up, follow these steps:
- Download and unzip DS4Windows to a directory.
- Open DS4Windows.exe.
- If prompted, install the .NET runtime.
- Click “Install ViGEmBus Driver.”
- Follow the steps in the driver installer to install a multipurpose gamepad driver.
- Click “Install HidHide Driver.”
- Follow the steps in the driver installer to hide the DualShock 4’s DirectInput gamepad connection from Windows.
- Connect your DualShock 4 to your PC.
- The controller should show up under the Controllers tab. Wait a minute to make sure all of the necessary drivers are installed.
With DS4Windows, your DualShock 4 will act like an Xbox 360 controller, with the touchpad functioning as a mouse. However, DS4Windows offers many more options, such as remapping the physical controls, programming the touchpad and motion controls, adjusting rumble settings, and tweaking the analogue sticks’ dead zones and movement curves. You can even change the light bar’s colour.
The Easier Option: Steam
If most of your favourite games are on Steam, you can get your DualShock 4 to work with them by following these steps:
- Go to the Settings menu in Steam.
- Select the Controller menu.
- Click “General Controller Settings.”
- Check the box marked “PlayStation Configuration Support.”
- Connect the DualShock 4 to your PC.
Please note that Steam’s DualShock 4 compatibility is inconsistent, so you may have better luck using DS4Windows. However, if you have a Steam Deck, compatibility mode may be your only option without extensive software tweaks.