How To Play Steam Games With Ps4 Controller

How to use a DualShock 4 PS4 controller on PC

How to use a DualShock 4 PS4 controller on PC (Image credit: Sony)

Using the DualShock 4 PS4 controller on PC isn't to everyone's gustation. We commend you lot for choosing to live the analogue life, rather than submit to the convoluted hand placement of a keyboard gamer.

Of all the options out at that place, the PS4 controller has get ane of the team's favourite PC gaming controllers, not to the lowest degree because it feels great in your hands. The blueprint retains the archetype shape of the DualShock controller, but includes joysticks and triggers ameliorate suited to modern shooters and action games than its predecessor—though non equally sensationally heady as the PS5'due south DualSense controller.

Unfortunately, the DualShock 4's apply of generic DirectInput drivers—as opposed to XInput that the Xbox controllers use—means using a PS4 controller on PC isn't quite as easy as plugging in an Xbox gamepad. Information technology takes a piffling fleck more work to go the DualShock 4 working on PC, but things are made easier thanks to Steam, the PC gaming community, and an official (optional) Bluetooth dongle. In fact, if Steam is your become-to, native Steam support makes it just every bit plug-and-play as an Xbox gamepad.

To outset we'll walk you through getting your PS4 controller working with Steam. If you desire to play games that aren't on Steam with your DualShock 4, DS4Windows is the tool for you.

Setup

What you need

Hardware

Dualshock 4 PS4 controller
A micro-USB cable
(Optional) Dualshock 4 USB wireless Bluetooth adapter

Software

Steam
Or Microsoft .Internet Framework 4.5
Xbox 360 controller driver (only for Windows 7 users)
and DS4Windows

Working with Steam

PlayStation controller configuration ticked on in Steam controller settings menu

Using a PS4 controller in Steam

Open up Steam
Go to Settings in summit left dropdown
Open Controller tab
Click General Controller Settings
Register device to your account
Change preferences
Calibrate joysticks
Tick PlayStation Configuration Back up
Remap from Settings Controller tab/in game

Thanks to official Steam support, at that place'southward almost no setup involved in getting your PS4 controller working in Steam. Just be sure to pair or plug in your controller earlier opening Steam or whatsoever Steam games, otherwise your controller may not exist recognized.

If yous run across any connection bug, closing and reopening Steam should practice the trick. Otherwise, endeavor using a USB 2.0 port instead of a USB 3.0 port. DualShock 4s are weird like that.

Once connected, navigate to Steam's settings menu—nether the top left dropdown—to get everything running smoothly. Under the Controller tab, open General Controller Settings; you should see your controller listed nether Detected Controllers. From hither you can annals it to your business relationship, so it volition remember the settings on any PC you log into.

Personalize your controller menu in Steam — (Image credit: Valve)

Click Preferences to rename, or change rumble and lighting settings. Yous tin too click Calibrate to fine-tune the joysticks and gyro if you lot feel the need. One important tip: click the check box next to PlayStation Configuration Support if you lot want to exist able to do actress configuration of the controller on a per-game basis.

Back in the Controller tab of the Settings menu, you tin can configure your controller for Big Movie and Desktop usage, too, and even set upwardly Guide Push Chord Configuration.

Installing DS4Windows

How to install DS4Windows for non-steam gaming

Download Microsoft .Net Framework
For Windows 7, get Xbox 360 controller commuter
Plug controller or Bluetooth dongle in
Download DS4Windows and extract
Open DS4Windows
Check connection in the Controllers tab
In Settings tab Hide DS4 Controller
Fix Use Xinput Ports to 1
Edit/Create a profile and remap

If y'all're only playing Steam games , you don't need to install anything else.

First, Download the newest Microsoft .NET Framework. If you lot're withal stuck running Windows 7, install the Xbox 360 controller driver next. This commuter is included with Windows 8 and ten.

Before you do anything else, plug in your PS4 controller with a micro-USB directly to your PC, or pair information technology through the Bluetooth carte, or with a USB wireless adapter.

Download and extract newest DS4Windows .zip file adjacent, and open up it up. You can ignore the DS4Updater if you already take the newest version.

Whatsoever controllers you've connected will exist displayed under the Controllers tab. If non, close DS4Windows, reconnect your controller, then re-open the software. Don't worry nearly your controller's ID number, we won't be needing it.

Next, open the Settings tab in DS4Windows to configure a few things. Make sure the Hide DS4 Controller box is checked. This volition forestall DS4Windows from conflicting with any game's default controller settings. For the same reason, make sure Use Xinput Ports is gear up to ane.

DS4 Windows configuration menu screenshot

From the Settings tab, you can also set up DS4Windows to run at startup, or remain active in the background. You tin also update DS4Windows directly from this tab by clicking Cheque for Update Now at the bottom left. In a higher place that, you lot'll see Controller/Driver Setup. If you lot run into any issues, open up this setup and follow the prompts to install any missing drivers.

DS4Windows works by reading your DualShock 4 as though information technology were an Xbox 360 controller. That means you won't get the correct Square/X/Triangle/Circumvolve button icons past default in well-nigh games. Some games will give you the selection to change, but either way, it'll now piece of work with any game that has Xinput back up—i.e. most every modernistic PC game that supports gamepads.

You don't take to remap anything, but if you want to change some buttons or adjust sensitivity outside of in-game menus, only open the Profiles tab in DS4Windows. If you're feeling confident, click New to start a new profile, though this is easier said than done. Otherwise, select the DualShock iv contour and click Edit.

Permit's say yous want to swap your bumpers and triggers. First, detect L1/R1 and L2/R2 in the scroll bike in the Controls section, or simply click them on the virtual controller. You want to swap L1 with L2 and R1 with R2, so start past clicking L2.

Then, but click the push you want L2 to act as—in this case, L1. Voila, your left trigger will now deed as your left bumper. Repeat this process with the other triggers and bumpers to complete the change and forestall redundancy. Yous can save this button setup every bit a separate profile and swap betwixt profiles in the Controllers tab.

Connect via Bluetooth

PlayStation official bluetooth dongle, front and side angle, on a grey background — (Image credit: Sony)

How to connect your PS4 controller via Bluetooth

Concord controller's Share and PS push button until it flashes
Button dongle push button until it starts flashing
Or, add your controller in your PC'south Bluetooth menu
Pairing should happen automatically
Don't unplug the adapter, it'll salvage the last connection

To connect your PS4 controller via Bluetooth, simply hold the pocket-sized Share button and the primal round button simultaneously until the controller's backlight starts flashing, then push button on the terminate of the adapter until information technology starts flashing. Once both are flashing, they will automatically pair after a few seconds.

For a PC with Bluetooth built-in, just navigate to the Bluetooth bill of fare and select your controller from the Add together Bluetooth devices list once it's started flashing.

Luckily, you don't accept to pair your controller every fourth dimension you want to use it. As long every bit you don't unplug the adapter, information technology volition save its last connection, and so you tin can but tap your controller's cardinal PlayStation push to reconnect it.

The official Sony DualShock 4 USB wireless adapter is the simplest Bluetooth selection. You lot may have to chase for information technology or spend a niggling more than than you would on a standard Bluetooth dongle, but information technology's worth it for its out-of-the-box functionality.

Screw sports, Katie would rather watch Intel, AMD and Nvidia become at it. She tin can often be found admiring AI advancements, sighing over semiconductors, or gawping at the latest GPU upgrades. She's been obsessed with computers and graphics since she was small-scale, and took Game Art and Design upward to Masters level at uni. Her thirst for cool Raspberry Pi projects volition never be sated, and she will stop at nothing to spread net safe awareness—down with the hackers.