How To Connect Multiple Ps4 Controllers To Pc

The DualShock iv is a great controller, but information technology'due south designed specifically for the Sony PlayStation 4. That means, at to the lowest degree on newspaper, that it'due south not meant to be used with PC games. Fear non, since PCs are such powerful and flexible systems, you can become nearly any peripheral to work on them with a little endeavor. Here's how to connect a DualShock iv controller to your PC.

The Connection Itself

There are two ways to connect a DualShock iv to your gaming rig. Yous can get the wired or wireless routes, but setting up those connections is a bit different than how yous would practise it on a PlayStation 4 console.

The Wired Method

Plug your controller into a USB port with a USB-to-micro-USB cable.
That's it, as far as connecting the controller goes. More on getting it to work in a flake.

The Bluetooth Method

With the DualShock 4 turned off (You lot'll know past the deactivated light bar), press and concur the PlayStation and Share buttons for three seconds until the lite bar starts double flashing.
Access the Bluetooth bill of fare on your PC via the organization tray.
Click "Add Bluetooth or other device."
Click "Bluetooth."
Select the DualShock 4 controller from the listing that pops upwards.

Getting the Gamepad to Piece of work

Connecting the controller is just the start of the procedure, due to how the DualShock four communicates with your PC. Most current Windows games employ Microsoft'due south XInput, an interface that processes Xbox 360 and Xbox One controller inputs. The DualShock 4 doesn't ship XInput commands, so a wrapper is needed to translate its inputs into something your PC can deal with easier. At that place are two good options: DS4Windows and Steam'due south controller compatibility settings.

The Comprehensive Way: DS4Windows

DS4Windows(Opens in a new window) is a freeware program that tricks your PC into thinking an Xbox 360 controller is connected, instead of a DualShock 4. Follow these steps to get information technology to work.

Download DS4Windows(Opens in a new window) and unzip it to a directory.
Open DS4Windows.exe in the directory you just unzipped.
Click "Install ViGEmBus Driver."
Follow the steps in the commuter installer. This installs a multipurpose gamepad driver to your system that DS4Windows uses to become the DualShock 4 to piece of work.
Click "Finished."
Connect your DualShock 4 to your PC.
The controller should evidence upwards nether the Controllers tab. Wait a infinitesimal to make sure all of the necessary drivers bear witness up. Once Windows pops upwards a message saying information technology has continued a new Xbox 360 controller, you're ready to play!

What Else Tin You Practice With DS4Windows?

By default, the DualShock 4 acts like an Xbox 360 controller, with the touchpad functioning every bit a mouse. That said, DS4Windows offers more options. To beginning, click the Profiles tab and double-click the Default profile (or create your own new profile). This causes an outline of the DualShock 4 to appear surrounded by various settings. Here, you tin remap the physical controls, programme the touchpad and motion controls to act in different ways, adjust rumble settings, and tweak the analog sticks' dead zones and motion curves. Yous can fifty-fifty change the light bar's color.

DS4Windows

DS4Windows offers many more options for getting your DualShock four to feel skilful on your PC. You shouldn't have to open up these settings, because most games volition conduct properly after you fix the software up the first time.

The (Potentially) Easier Fashion: Steam

If your favorite games are on Steam, they'll work with the DualShock 4 with a quick tweak.

Go to the Settings card in Steam (nether Steam on the taskbar).
Select the Controller carte du jour.
Click "General Controller Settings."
Check the box marked "PlayStation Configuration Back up."
Connect the DualShock 4 to your PC.

Steam's DualShock four compatibility is pretty hit-or-miss, and this technique evidently won't work with not-Steam games. As a consequence, you may have better luck simply using DS4Windows.

Start With the Right Controller

For more than, head over to our guide on how to cull the right controller for your PC. If you're a multi-panel gamer, bank check out our guides for connecting your Nintendo Switch and Xbox controllers to your PC.

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