How To Get A Dualshock Controller To Register On A Pc

The DualShock 4, the PlayStation 4's bundled controller, is 1 of the finest gamepads I've handled. It's comfortable and solidly built and with analog sticks and triggers that experience simply correct. Unfortunately, you can only use information technology with the PlayStation 4 console. Well, officially. Fortunately, there are means to connect it to your PC. All you need is a USB-to-micro-USB cable and, depending on how you want to do it, a Bluetooth USB adapter and a special USB controller adapter.

CronusMAX/Titan One USB Adapters

If you want to avoid playing with third-political party drivers, you lot tin get a USB controller adapter like the CronusMAX or Titan I. Our review of the CronusMAX gives greater detail. But in brusk, it'south a USB key that connects almost any controller, including the DualShock iv, to your PC with custom mapping and macro programming—either directly through a USB cable or with a uniform USB Bluetooth adapter. It besides costs at to the lowest degree every bit much equally the DualShock four controller itself, so you lot might desire to become for a more specific and affordable selection.

Pros: Hardware emulation means no futzing with third-party drivers in Windows. No ads.

Cons: Expensive. Requires a USB Bluetooth adapter for wireless connexion.

DS4 Windows

Hooking up your DualShock iv to your PC in one case took a handful of 3rd-party drivers and wrappers to trick your computer into thinking it's an Xbox 360 controller, only the process has been made a lot simpler. DSDCS' DS4 Windows program streamlines things and packs everything yous demand into a unmarried Windows installer.

To get started, just download DS4 Windows, install it, and plug in your DualShock 4. It will display automatically in the program, and Windows will think information technology's an Xbox 360 controller. You tin also alter the controller's settings to do things like map buttons and fifty-fifty tune the analog sticks' sensitivity in multiple means. DS4 Windows is a free, advert-driven program, though you tin donate to DSDCS for an ad-free version.

Pros: Free. Can utilize onboard Bluetooth for wireless connexion.

Cons: Adware.

Employ information technology Wirelessly

Whether you use a USB adapter or DS4 Windows, you can use your DualShock 4 over Bluetooth. For the CronusMax and Titan Ane, you need to plug a compatible Bluetooth adapter into its USB port, so the adapter processes the inputs from the controller directly. For DS4 Windows, y'all can utilize your estimator'due south onboard Bluetooth.

The DualShock 4 automatically pairs with the PlayStation iv by plugging information technology with a USB cablevision. To pair with your figurer, you'll accept to strength the controller into pairing mode. Plow off the controller—easily done by plugging it into a PlayStation 4 and holding the PlayStation button until a menu appears, then selecting Turn Off Controller)—then hold downwards the Share button and press the PlayStation button until the calorie-free bar flashes. That will put the gamepad into pairing mode, and you lot tin connect it to your computer just like any other Bluetooth device.

What if I Apply a Mac?
In that location'due south good news and bad news. The good news is connecting a DualShock four to your Mac is much, much simpler than connecting information technology to your PC. The bad news is compatibility is much, much more limited, and you'll likely observe yourself tweaking controls and trying to get it to work more than than you would with a PC that thinks it's an Xbox 360 controller. But plug the controller into a USB port and your Mac will detect information technology equally a gamepad. If you want to use Bluetooth, agree down the Share button and press the PlayStation button on the gamepad until the light bar flashes, so pair it in your Mac's Bluetooth menu. Be aware that the Bluetooth connection's compatibility and reliability is lower than with the USB connexion. Afterwards that, experiment to see which games work with the gamepad and what settings you need to tweak. A good starting point is to enter Steam's Large Picture manner, select the Settings icon on the top right, and select the Controller push button to play with how it works.