How to connect a PS5 controller to PC: USB, Bluetooth and fixes that work

Plug the DualSense into your PC with a USB-C cable and Windows detects it straight away, and Steam games use it with no setup. For wireless, turn the controller off, hold Create and then the PS button until the light bar blinks, and pair it from your PC’s Bluetooth settings. Steam supports it fully. For Epic and Game Pass games, launch them through Steam or use DS4Windows.

What you need

• A PS5 DualSense controller (the DualSense Edge works the same way).
• A USB-C cable, or a PC with Bluetooth. A DualSense bought on its own doesn’t come with a cable, so check before you start.
• Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11. Macs work too with macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later.

Need a controller? DualSense prices in India are in our PS5 price guide, and if you’re gaming on a laptop, Can my PC run it? shows which games it can handle.

Method 1: connect with a USB cable (easiest)

1. Plug the USB-C end into the controller and the other end into your PC.
2. Wait a few seconds while Windows sets it up. That’s it.

Use a cable if your game supports the DualSense’s special features. Haptic feedback and the headphone jack generally only work over a cable on PC, and a wired connection has slightly less input lag.

Method 2: connect with Bluetooth

1. Make sure the controller is off. If any light is on, hold the PS button until it turns off, and unplug any cable.
2. Hold the Create button (the small one to the left of the touchpad, above the D-pad), then press and hold the PS button. Keep holding both until the light bar around the touchpad starts blinking quickly.
3. On your PC, open Bluetooth settings. On Windows 11 that’s Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth, or click the Bluetooth quick setting in the taskbar and pick the controller under New devices. On Windows 10 it’s Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth.
4. Select Wireless Controller from the list.
5. When the light bar stops blinking and the small player light comes on, you’re connected.

If the controller doesn’t show up on Windows 11, set Bluetooth devices discovery to Advanced in the Bluetooth settings (if your Windows version shows it) and look again.

Set it up in Steam

Steam has supported the DualSense since 2020, and since November 2023 store pages show whether a game fully supports PlayStation controllers. It’s the easiest way to use one on PC.

1. Open Steam and go to Steam > Settings > Controller.
2. Turn on PlayStation Controller Support (some Steam versions call it PlayStation Configuration Support).
3. Check the store page of your game for “Full Controller Support”. Those games work with no extra setup.

If a game that supports DualSense features loses its trigger effects or fine rumble, try switching Steam Input off for that game only: right-click the game > Properties > Controller and choose to disable Steam Input.

Epic Games, Game Pass and other launchers

Not every PC game understands a PlayStation controller, because many are built for Xbox pads. You have two good options:

• Add the game to Steam. In Steam, choose Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library, pick the game or launcher, and start it from Steam. Steam then handles the controller for you. This works for Epic games and most emulators.
• Use DS4Windows. It’s a free, open-source app that makes Windows see your DualSense as an Xbox controller, which almost every game supports. It’s the usual fix for Xbox app and Game Pass games. Turn off Steam’s PlayStation support while you use it, so the two don’t fight.

DSX (DualSenseX) on Steam is a paid alternative with more options, including haptics over Bluetooth in supported games.

Which DualSense features work on PC?

Games that use the DualSense properly on PC include Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition and Battlefield 6, and plenty of PlayStation’s own PC ports. Ratchet & Clank and Metro need a cable for the full effects.

Controller not working? Try these fixes

• It won’t pair: turn the controller fully off, unplug the cable and start the Create + PS step again. Hold until the light bar blinks fast, not slowly.
• It’s connected but the game ignores it: launch the game through Steam, check Steam’s PlayStation Controller Support is on, and look for a controller option in the game’s own settings. For non-Steam games, use the Add a Non-Steam Game trick or DS4Windows.
• Triggers or haptics don’t work: switch to a USB cable. On PC these usually need a wired connection.
• Still stuck: update the controller’s firmware with Sony’s free PlayStation Accessories app for Windows, or on a PS5 under Settings > Accessories > Controllers (General). As a last resort, press the small reset button on the back with a pin, then reconnect.
• Bluetooth keeps dropping: move closer to the PC, or try a different Bluetooth adapter. Tools like DS4Windows need Bluetooth 4.0 or newer and Windows’ own Bluetooth driver.

Using it on your PS5 again

After pairing with a PC, the controller needs to be linked to your PS5 again. Connect it to the PS5 with a USB cable, press the PS button, then unplug it. It works wirelessly again from then on.

The DualSense can remember up to four devices. Hold an action button and the PS button for more than five seconds to put that slot into pairing mode (Triangle is slot 1, Circle 2, Cross 3, Square 4), then pair the device as normal. After that, hold that button and PS for about three seconds to switch devices without pairing again.

Questions people ask

Can I use a PS5 controller on PC?

Yes. The DualSense works on Windows 10 and Windows 11 by USB cable or Bluetooth, and Steam supports it fully. Some games also support its adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.

Why is my PS5 controller not connecting to my PC?

Usually because it wasn’t in pairing mode. Turn it off, then hold Create and PS together until the light bar blinks quickly, and pair it from Windows Bluetooth settings. If it connects but games ignore it, launch the game through Steam or use DS4Windows.

Do I need DS4Windows for a PS5 controller?

Not for Steam games, which support the DualSense directly. DS4Windows helps with games from other launchers, like the Xbox app or Game Pass, that only understand Xbox controllers.

Does haptic feedback work on PC?

Yes, in games that support it, such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition. On PC you usually need a USB cable for haptics.

Do I have to re-pair my controller with my PS5 after using it on PC?

Yes. Plug it into the PS5 with a cable and press the PS button once. Or save the PC and PS5 to different slots so you can switch with a button combination.

Can I connect a PS5 controller to a Mac?

Yes. Use the same Create and PS pairing step, then pick the controller in System Settings > Bluetooth. Haptics and the built-in mic don’t work on a Mac.

Sources

Pairing steps, slots and features: PlayStation: pair DualSense and PlayStation gaming on PC. Windows steps: Microsoft Support. Steam support: PC Gamer via Yahoo (November 2023) and Shacknews. DS4Windows: GitHub. PlayStation Accessories app: PlayStation Support. Game support: Ratchet & Clank on Steam and TechRadar (Metro Exodus). Checked on 21 October 2026.