How to connect ps4 controller to ps4

How to Connect PS4 Controller

Last Updated: 11 months ago

Got your new PS4 controller? That’s wonderful! It makes you the envy of others now. Now are you wondering how to connect your PS4 controller to the console? Don’t worry. It’s exactly easy to connect.

Let’s start. Note: If you just want to sync your PS4 controller, go to this guide then: How to Sync PS4 Controller

How do I connect my PS4 controller to the PS4 console?

This brief guide will show you how to connect your PS4 to the console step by step. You will also learn how to connect a second controller without USB cable.

Method 1: Connect your new PS4 controller to PS4 with USB cable

If you’re using a wired PS4 controller, follow these:

1) Press the power button on your PS4 console to turn it on.

2) Plug the other end of your PS4 controller wire into the USB port of your console.

3) Press the PS button of your controller and hold it down for around 3 seconds.

4) Your wired PS4 controller should then be connected to the console.

If you’re using wireless PS4 controllers, follow these:

1) Press the power button on your PS4 console to turn it on.

2) Connect the micro connector of your USB cable to your PS4 controller. You can find the mini USB port on the back of your controller.

3) Plug the other end of your USB cable into the console.

4) Press the PS button of your controller and hold it down for around 3 seconds.

5) Your wired PS4 controller should then be connected to the console. You can unplug the USB cable and enjoy your games wirelessly now.

6) If you want to add a second or more wireless controllers, just use the same USB cable follow these same steps, and set it to be the New User on your dashboard.

Method 2: Connect your wireless controllers to PS4 without USB cable

If you want to add a second or more wireless controllers to your PS4 console, but you don’t have the USB cable, you still can connect them without the USB cable. Here is how to do it:

1) On your PS4 dashboard, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth Devices (via a media remote for your PS4 or a connected PS4 controller).

2) On your PS4 controller (the one you want to connect), hold down the SHARE button and the PS button for around 5 seconds.

3) Your PS4 controller should then show up in the Bluetooth Devices screen. Select it.

4) Your PS4 controller should then be connected to your console now. Enjoy your games.

How to Sync a PS4 Controller

Connect up to four controllers at once

What To Know

This article explains how to pair a PlayStation 4 controller, known as the DualShock 4, to the console wirelessly via Bluetooth. You can only sync controllers made specifically for the PS4; you cannot sync a PS3 or PS2 controller with a PS4 console. You can, however, use a PS4 controller with the PS3.

How to Sync a PS4 Controller to a PS4

To sync a controller with the system, especially for the first time, you’ll need a USB cable; any USB 2.0 Micro-B cable can connect the DualShock 4 to the console, and although there are only two USB ports on the system, you can sync up to four controllers per player account.

Before turning on your PS4, plug the small end of your USB cable into the port on top of the controller; plug the other end into one of the USB ports on the front of the console.

Turn on your PS4 by pressing the console’s power button. It should automatically detect your connected controller and assign it to the first available player slot.

Press the PS button in the center of the controller and you’ll see the login screen where you can choose a player account or create one.

From now on, pressing the PS button on the controller will automatically turn on the console so long as it has a charge.

How to Sync Additional PS4 Controllers Wirelessly

Once you have at least one controller synced with your system, you can add more wirelessly:

With your synced controller, locate the Settings option in the row of icons above the PS4 home menu, represented by an icon that looks like a briefcase.

Navigate to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth Devices. You should see a list of devices presently synced with your console.

On the PS4 controller, you wish to sync, hold down the PS button and the Share button simultaneously for 5 seconds.

When the new controller appears in the list of Bluetooth device, select it with the other controller. The new controller will then be synced with your PS4.

How to Unpair a PS4 Controller

Make sure the controller you wish to unpair is turned off.

Using another PS4 controller, turn on your console. From the PS4 home menu, navigate to Setting > Devices > Bluetooth Devices.

You should see a list of controllers. Select the one you wish to unpair and choose delete.

How to Charge Your PS4 Controller

The controller’s internal battery will charge while it is connected to the PS4. If the controller remains connected while your PS4 is in rest mode, it will continue charging, and the light on top will turn yellow. The light will also flash yellow when your controller is running low on power, and you should see an on-screen message telling you to plug it in.

When charged, the light bar on the top of the controller will glow different colors depending on which player the controller is assigned to; player 1 is blue, player 2 is red, player 3 is green, and player 4 is pink.

Troubleshooting: PS4 Wireless Connectivity Problems

If your controller won’t turn on when you hit the PS button, plug it into the PS4 to make sure it has a charge. If the light bar doesn’t glow, it could be a problem with your USB cable, or the controller’s internal battery could be damaged. If you have an extra cable handy, try using that instead to eliminate the first possibility.

If the controller can’t connect to the console wirelessly even though it is charged, then the problem lies with either your console or your controller’s Bluetooth connectivity. If your other PS4 controllers are working wirelessly, the faulty controller is to blame. Nonetheless, you can continue playing with the controller connected to the console via a USB.

If you’re unable to pair a PS4 controller with your console, try resetting it.

To sync a PS4 controller to your PC, plug the PS4 controller into your PC, update the Steam client, then go to View > Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings and check the PlayStation Configuration Support box. Under Detected Controllers, choose your PS4 controller and select Preferences to configure the settings.

To connect a PS4 controller to Android, press and hold the PS and Share buttons on the controller, then go to your Android device’s Bluetooth settings and tap Wireless Controller. To connect a PS4 controller to iPhone, press and hold the PS and Share buttons, then go to Settings > Bluetooth > under Other Devices, choose PS4 controller.

To connect a PS4 controller to a PlayStation 5, plug the controller into your PS5. You can play all PS4 games with the PS4 or PS5 controller, but you can’t play PS5 games with a PS4 controller.

If your PS4 controller won’t connect, check the USB cable and battery, disconnect your controller from other devices, and remove sources of Bluetooth interference. If you still can’t sync your controller, you might need to reset it.

Using the wireless controller

Press the PS button on the controller, and then select a user.

Pairing a device

The first time you use a controller or when you want to use the controller on another PS4™ system, you’ll need to pair it with the system. Connect the controller to your system with a USB cable while the system is on.

When you want to use two or more controllers, you must pair each controller separately.

Charging

The controller battery charges when you connect the controller to your PS4™ system with a USB cable. The system must be turned on or in rest mode. The charge level of the battery appears on-screen when you press and hold the PS button.
While the system is in rest mode, the light bar slowly blinks orange. When charging is complete, the light bar turns off.

Basic button operations

PS button	Turn on your PS4™ system (when the PS4™ system is either off or in rest mode). Display the home screen (when the PS4™ system is turned on).
PS button (double-press)	Switch between applications in use.
PS button (long press)	Display the quick menu, with currently available commands and settings.
Directional buttons/Left stick	Select an item.
button	Confirm the selected item.
button	Cancel a command.
SHARE button	Display the menu for the Share feature. For details, see “About sharing”.
OPTIONS button	Display the options menu with currently available commands.

Basic touch pad gestures

You can use the touch pad and the touch pad button for various system functions. Available functions depend on the content in use.

Changing settings

How to connect a PS4 controller to your PS4, and charge or add controllers

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If you’re new to the PlayStation 4 console, you may be feeling a bit behind on the basics. For example, you might not know how to connect and use the wireless controllers. While the controllers can be used wirelessly — assuming they’re charged — you’ll need to use the micro-USB cable that’s included with them to start using a controller.

And although you can connect up to four controllers to your PS4 at one time, the process is different for the first controller than it is for the subsequent ones.

Here’s what you need to know to connect and charge your PS4 controllers.

Quick tip: You can also connect a PS4 controller to other devices, like an iPhone, Android, Mac, and PC.

How to connect your PS4 controller

1. Turn on your console.

2. Plug the USB end of the cable for the controller into the console’s USB port, and then connect the other end to the controller. The ports are located on the front of the console and the top-center of the controller.

3. Press the PS button, located in the center of the controller. You’ll see a light appear on the back of the controller when it’s properly connected.

4. Once connected, you can unplug the cable and use your controller wirelessly — assuming it’s charged.

How to charge a PS4 controller

1. To check the current charge level on your controller, press and hold the controller’s PS button, and the controller’s charging progress will appear on your screen.

2. To charge a PlayStation 4 controller, simply connect it to the PS4 console using the USB cable provided with the system.

3. As long as the PS4 is switched on (it can be in Rest Mode), the controller will begin charging. You can charge up to two controllers at once.

Quick tip: A complete charge takes about two hours. You should be sure to let the battery run out, and then fully charge your PS4 controllers several times a year, to ensure their battery life doesn’t shorten.

How to connect another PS4 controller

1. Using your synced controller, go into your PS4 Settings, located above the home menu.

2. Choose Devices.

3. Select Bluetooth Devices.

4. Press and hold the PS button and the Share button on the controller you want to pair for five seconds.

5. When the controller has been paired, you’ll see it appear on the list of devices on your screen.

Note: You can connect and use up to four PS4 controllers at once.

If it’s not working and you have to troubleshoot, check out our article on what to do if your controller won’t connect to your PS4.

How to sync a PS4 controller

Although the PS4 has become very reliable by the end of its lifecycle, some nagging issues can still crop up from time to time. Even though many have moved on to the PS5, there are still plenty of reasons to keep your PS4, or at least the controller, up and running.

Issues aside, we can’t overstate the convenience of having wireless PlayStation 4 controllers — but you must sync them to your system to use them. For PS4 or PS4 Pro owners, syncing your PS4 DualShock shouldn’t be an issue, but we’re here to clear up any confusion. We’ll run down all the common PS4 controller issues, so you can direct your focus on choosing what games to play.

Difficulty

Duration

What You Need

USB to Micro-B cable

Should you want to ditch your console, we’ve also put together a guide for connecting your PS4 controller to your PC.

See more

How to sync a PS4 controller

Syncing a PlayStation 4 DualShock controller to a PS4 is extremely easy, but it does require one piece of hardware: A USB to Micro-B cable. There’s no wireless workaround for pairing controllers via Bluetooth, so to sync new controllers with your PS4, you’ll need a cable (though you can connect a PS4 or Xbox controller to your smartphone or tablet). Your DualShock 4 controller comes with one cable, but any USB 2.0 to Micro-B cable will work.

Step 1: Plug the USB cable into the controller, then into the USB port in the PlayStation 4.

Step 2: When you turn on your PS4, your controller should automatically connect with your PlayStation, thanks to the USB cable. You’ll need to push the PlayStation button in the center of the controller to activate the controller. When you do that, the PS4 should take you to the login screen to choose a player account to go with that controller.

You’ll be able to tell the controller is working because the LED light bar on the top of the controller will turn blue (or another color, if it isn’t the first controller connected — red for player 2, green for player 3, and pink for player 4). That cable will also recharge your controller, with the light turning yellow when the controller is charging but not turned on.

Troubleshooting: Re-pairing your controller

When you’re having trouble with a controller not working wirelessly with your PS4, the usual issue with pairing is that the controller’s battery is undercharged. If it sounds like the “unplug it and then plug it back in” solution to the problem, it is.

Step 1: Make sure the controller is charging when you plug it in — when it’s not in use, you’ll see the light bar on the top turn yellow. If it’s not charging, you might have another issue, like a damaged controller port or a bad cable.

Step 2: If your pairing issues aren’t related to power or your cable, you might need to reset your PlayStation controller, and reset your PlayStation 4 to pair it again. If you’ve got a controller that still works, you can do that in the PS4’s Settings menu. It’s on the home screen on the far-right side, represented by a Suitcase icon.

Step 3: Navigate down to the Devices menu, and then choose Bluetooth Devices. In the Bluetooth settings, you’ll see all your controllers there, as well as any other Bluetooth devices that are compatible with your PlayStation, such as PS4 headsets and the greatly-improved PDP PS4 Bluetooth Remote. Choose the one you’re trying to reset (it can be difficult to tell, and you might need to turn on all your controllers if you have more than one), select it, and hit the X button.

Now hit the Options button on your controller to bring up a contextual menu, and select Forget Device. Doing so will cause your controller to unpair with your PlayStation 4.

Once that’s done, you should be able to plug the controller in with your USB adapter to pair it to the console again, as mentioned toward the start of this guide.

How to hard reset your controller

If re-pairing the controller doesn’t work, the issue might be with the controller itself and not the PS4. In that case, you’ll need to reset the controller. You’ll need an unfolded paper clip (or something similarly thin and sturdy) with which to push a hidden button on your PS4 controller to reset it.

Step 1: Turn off your PS4 and unplug both it and your internet router or modem so that your controller won’t receive any network signals when you reset it.

Step 2: When that’s done, flip the controller over and look for a small hole on the right side. Push the paperclip in the hole and push the button inside for three to five seconds. It’s best to hold it down for a count of 10 to be sure.

Alternative: How to go USB-only

It’s also possible to skip over the Bluetooth wireless connection and play with your DualShock 4 as a wired controller, with a USB-enabled connection. That’s obviously not ideal when you could potentially play wirelessly, but it’s a potential workaround when connectivity and signal issues persist. You can set a controller to only communicate with the PS4 via USB when it’s plugged in by changing the controller settings in the Devices menu, as noted above. Under Devices, navigate to Controllers, and then set any controllers to only communicate via USB when they’re plugged in. That way, signal issues or Bluetooth problems shouldn’t affect the controller, so long as you’ve got a wired connection.

Thinking about upgrading to the PS5? Take a look at our guide to see how the PS4 and PS5 compare.