You actually need to click the first option, "Bluetooth." The controller should appear as a pairing option there. You might think the third option, "Everything else," is the correct one since Xbox controller is one of the examples it offers. When you click the "Add Bluetooth or other device" option on the settings menu, a window pops up asking you what kind of device you want to connect. Just note that the Windows setup process with Bluetooth can be a little tricky. You'll know it worked if the light bar switches to a solid blue. Once the controller appears as an available device - it should be "Wireless Controller" - click that. You should be able to scan for new devices from there. Once that's done, jump over to your computer and open up the Bluetooth settings menu. You'll know pairing mode is active when the controller's light bar starts flashing. To turn on the controller's pairing mode, press and hold the PS button and Share button simultaneously for a few seconds.
(I've seen reports that USB 2.0 ports are your best bet, but I've had no issues with USB 3.0 ports personally.) And that's it, provided you're on Windows 10 or Apple computers using macOS Catalina or later.įor a wireless connection, you'll need a Bluetooth receiver either built into your motherboard or in USB dongle form. To go the wired route, simple connect the cable to your controller and then plug it into a USB port on your computer. All you need is the controller and either a micro-USB cable - the one you use for charging is fine - or a Bluetooth receiver on your PC.
There are some added considerations with the DualSense (which we'll get to), but let's start with the DualShock 4. Whichever controller you're using, it's pretty simple to get yourself connected.
So while you can use either for PC gaming, there are reasons to explore upgrading to a DualSense if you're still rocking something older.
More importantly, the newer option introduces some advanced features. The PlayStation 4's so-called "DualShock 4" and the new PlayStation 5's "DualSense" controllers have similar button layouts but they sport different looks. Sony's approach with PlayStation controllers isn't quite the same as Microsoft's with Xbox.