Most of the time, your DualShock 4 controller probably works fine. But when your PlayStation 4 controller is not responding or disconnecting randomly, it is frustrating.
Let’s look at fixes for when your PS4 controller isn’t working, so you can get back playing.
PS4 Controller Won’t Connect or Pair
Normally, when you press the PS button on your controller, it should power on and connect to your system. However, when it’s not connecting, you’ll instead see the light bar on your controller flash briefly, then turn off.
This often happens when you’ve used your DualShock 4 with another console, as the PS4 controller tries to connect to the last device you used. For example, if you use a controller for Steam on your PC or with a friend’s console, it will remember that device and try to connect to it the next time you turn on the controller.
In these cases, you’ll need to pair your DualShock 4 with your PS4 again. To do this, connect your controller to your PS4 using a Micro-USB cable (see our guide to USB cable types if you’re not familiar with these). Make sure you’re using a high-quality cable that you know works properly.
Once your controller is physically connected to your console, press the PS button on your controller for a moment, and its light should flash briefly before turning blue (or another solid color if you’ve had it before). controller is connected to). This means that your PS4 controller has been paired and connected successfully.
If you have your DualShock 4 paired with another nearby device, such as your phone or PlayStation 5, trying to pair it again to your PS4 may turn on the other device and cause the controller to connect to it. can add. Thus you should first power off and unplug whatever device your DualShock 4 is paired with.
After re-pairing your controller, you can disconnect the USB cable and use your controller wirelessly as normal. Your PS4 will remember this until you pair the controller with another device in the future, so it should auto-connect as soon as you press the PS button.
Keep in mind that you can connect up to four controllers to the PS4 at once. If you already have four controllers connected, you’ll need to disconnect one to make room for more.
PS4 Controller Keeps Disconnecting
If your DualShock 4 randomly disconnects while playing, there are a few solutions you can try.
First, make sure your controller battery is charged. It sounds simple, but if your controller’s battery is nearly dead, it may disconnect. To check your controller battery life, hold down the PS button to bring up the quick menu on the left side of the screen. You’ll see a controller icon below displaying battery life.
Plug your controller into your PS4 (or a wall outlet) and go to the Quick Menu again to make sure you see the battery charging animation. After your controller has charged for some time, try to use it normally.
If the battery was not causing your PS4 controller issue, make sure that you are not trying to use your controller too far away from your system. Bluetooth has a typical range of about 30 feet; Depending on your setup, you may be able to use your controller further than this, or may be restricted to use close to it.
Speaking of which, you should try to minimize interference between your controller and console. Remove any metal objects, such as shelving or laptops, between the two that could be interfering with the signal. You should also take your PS4 out of enclosed spaces, if applicable, for better signal transmission and reception.
Finally, remember that the PS4 has a setting that turns off the controllers after they’ve been inactive for a period of time. If you don’t want your PS4 controller to turn off when you’re watching media apps like YouTube, go to Settings > Power save settings > Set the time until the controller turns off and select Never. Note that this will use the controller battery even when you’re inactive.
Common Fixes When Your PS4 Controller Isn’t Working
We’ve looked at specific fixes for some common DualShock 4 problems above. Next, let’s look at more general solutions to problems with PS4 controllers. Walk through these if your PS4 controller is still not responding.
1. Restart your console
While most controller issues originate from the controller itself, there is a chance that your PS4 is the problem. To rule this out, you should restart your console before troubleshooting further.
If your controller is working well enough to access the menu, hold down the PS button to open the quick menu, then go to Power > Restart PS4 to reboot your system.