Discover ways to use a PS5 DualSense controller on PC

Sooner than releasing the PlayStation 5, Sony overvalued its new controller’s distinctive triggers and superior haptics as killer new choices. They often weren’t improper—though not many video video games use the DualSense to its fullest, it’s a tremendous controller. It is usually lifeless simple to utilize on PC, and by no means merely in Sony’s PlayStation ports.

Help for the DualSense gamepad’s fancy haptic strategies and adaptive triggers is fairly frequent in as we communicate’s triple-A PC video video games: Silent Hill 2, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and Star Wars Outlaws are just a few examples of 2024 video video games that help the PlayStation 5 controller’s punchy triggers. (You may even see a full file of video video games that work with the DualSense proper right here.)

Resulting from these explicit choices we anticipate the PS5 controller is probably going one of many best PC controllers, though not merely on account of them. It has to essentially really feel good throughout the hand, too, and it positively does. It is usually very simple to utilize on PC, each wired (all you need is a USB-C cable) or wi-fi by way of Bluetooth.

Resulting from Steam’s unbelievable built-in controller help, turning the DualSense pad into your regularly PC controller is admittedly simple. Plug, play, press buttons. No superior setup proper right here: it merely works, and video video games will acknowledge the controller. It’s nearly as simple as using an Xbox controller.

In case you want to play non-Steam video video games with the DualSense there are a pair further steps involved, nonetheless nothing troublesome. Here’s a step-by-step data to using the PS5 DualSense controller on PC with each wired USB or a wi-fi Bluetooth connection.

PS5 controller on PC: Wired or Bluetooth

Using a wired DualSense on PC

This part of the setup is easy peasy. To connect the controller to your PC by way of USB, you’ll desire a USB Variety-C to USB-A cable in your PC (or a USB Variety-C to Variety-C cable if you happen to have a useful port accessible). Whereas the PlayStation 5 console comes with one packed in, the DualSense purchased by itself doesn’t. Bummer! Get your palms on a cable, plug it in, and in addition you are in your methodology.

In case you might buy a cable, this can be a two-pack from Anker for ~$10.

Using a Bluetooth DualSense on PC

To utilize the DualSense by way of Bluetooth, it’s your decision a USB Bluetooth adapter (or a motherboard with Bluetooth built-in). To get associated, open the “Bluetooth & totally different models” menu in House home windows by pressing the House home windows key and typing “Bluetooth.” Then click on on “Add Bluetooth or totally different gadget” and the first merchandise on the next menu that claims “Bluetooth.” Your PC will start looking for accessible models.

On the DualSense, preserve down the PlayStation model button and the Share button (the small one to the left of the touchpad) until the LEDs throughout the touchpad begin flashing shortly. Inside a few seconds, a generic entry named “Wi-fi controller” should pop up in your Bluetooth models file in House home windows to attach with. Merely click on on that to finish pairing.

In case you occur to desire a Bluetooth adapter, you might get an up-to-date Bluetooth 5.0 model for decrease than $20.

Discover ways to use a PS5 DualSense controller on PC

The DualSense will now be accessible in House home windows with its DirectInput driver, which some video video games will acknowledge and mean you can rebind controls out of the sphere. Nevertheless many PC video video games as we communicate are constructed spherical Microsoft’s newer XInput driver for the Xbox controllers, so the DualSense shall be a bit restricted with out some help.

That’s the place we use Steam.

PS5 controller on PC: Steam setup

Discover ways to configure Steam Enter for the DualSense

Steam added major help for the DualSense once more in November 2020, and has steadily improved the DualSense efficiency since then. It’s good now! Using Steam is by far the perfect resolution to get your DualSense engaged on PC, even when you want to play non-Steam video video games. I’ll make clear that in a second.

To begin out, be part of the DualSense to your PC by way of wire or Bluetooth as described above. Upon getting it associated, open Steam and click on on Settings > Controller. From this part of the settings menu, now you’ll be able to click on on “Desktop Configuration” to try and customise the button construction.

You want to see the DualSense is now acknowledged and listed as a PlayStation 5 controller. Steam will mechanically configure the keybinds to mimic an Xbox controller construction; the Triangle button is Y, the Sq. button is X, and so forth.

You might choose Calibrate to tweak the joystick sensitivity, and Preferences to current the controller a status, permit/disable rumble, and configure the color and brightness of the LED strip throughout the touchpad.

DualSense in Steam

(Image credit score rating: Steam)

One important tip proper right here: be certain that PlayStation Configuration Help is checked beneath “Regular Controller Settings” when you want to customise your DualSense controller’s construction or gyro controls. With this button checked, you presumably can press the PlayStation model button on the controller in any Steam sport to tug up Steam’s controller configuration show.

DualSense config

(Image credit score rating: Steam)

From the Desktop Configuration show you presumably can swap button bindings, change how the touchpad works (it is going to in all probability do separate left- and right-clicks) and likewise configure the gyroscope, when you want to use gyro aiming. You may additionally configure Movement Models and Movement Layers to permit fully fully totally different button bindings after which change to them on the fly in-game. As an example, if you solely wanted to utilize gyro controls whereas in a airplane in GTA, you’ll be able to create an Movement Set for that and set off it by pressing a particular key anytime you hop in a airplane.

In case you occur to easily want your DualSense to work like each ol’ gamepad, though, you presumably can go away this show alone, no tweaking required.

PS5 controller on PC with non-Steam video video games

Discover ways to use the DualSense with out Steam

In case you want to use the DualSense in a sport that you just private on the Epic Video video games Retailer for example, there’s a decision that should work for completely something, even emulators. The simple resolution to do it: Ship Steam once more into the picture.

Steam has an ‘Add to library’ operate for House home windows executables that allows you to add totally different purposes to your Steam library, after which make use of the Steam overlay.

As you presumably can see throughout the image above, click on on the ‘Video video games’ menu in Steam, then choose the “Add a Non-Steam sport to my library…” option to tug up an inventory of purposes in your PC. Usually, this might will allow you to add a sport and use a controller with Steam showing as a result of the intermediary.

Add a non-Steam game

DS4Windows is another option

In case you occur to want to configure the DualSense for non-Steam video video games with out together with these video video games to your Steam library, nice group software program DS4Windows added DualSense help. (Shouldn’t or not it is DS5Windows? Hm, that doesn’t sound pretty just about pretty much as good).

Get hold of DS4Windows and observe the easy getting started data to place in it.

To utilize DS4Windows, be part of your controller to PC by way of USB or Bluetooth as outlined above with DS4Windows open, and that you must then be succesful to customize your keybinds, change the LED and monitor the controller’s battery diploma. DS4Windows will mean you can use the DualSense in any PC sport with Xbox controller help.

DualSense choices: PC sport help

So what variety of video video games actually help the DualSense choices on PC, anyway? In the present day, pretty a few!

In House home windows the DualSense makes use of the generic DirectInput driver, which some video video games help out of the sphere. Nevertheless most video video games as we communicate use Microsoft’s newer XInput driver, which is the place Steam Enter really is beneficial. PCGamingWiki retains an inventory of video video games that use the DualSense choices, nonetheless beneath are some highlights that help every Adaptive Triggers and haptic strategies. It is miles from an exhaustive file.

There is a catch: For lots of, Steam Enter have to be disabled for the choices to completely work appropriately. Steam Enter helps superior haptic strategies, nonetheless supplied that the game is designed to take advantage of the controller’s choices by means of Steam Enter. So if you’re having fun with any of the beneath and by no means feeling the triggers or delicate rumble do their issue, try disabling Steam Enter.