Near of the time, your DualShock 4 controller probably works fine. Merely when your PlayStation iv controller isn't responding or disconnects randomly, information technology's frustrating.

Permit'southward await at fixes for when your PS4 controller is not working, and so you can go back to playing.

PS4 Controller Won't Connect or Pair

Unremarkably, when you press the PS Button on your controller, it should plough on and connect to your system. However, when it's not connecting, you'll instead see the light bar on your controller flash for a bit, and so turn off.

PS4 Controller Light Flashing

This often happens if y'all've used your DualShock 4 with some other console, since the PS4 controller tries to connect to the concluding device you used it with. For instance, if you pair your PS4 controller with your PC or a friend'southward console, it will remember that device and effort to connect to it the side by side fourth dimension you turn the controller on.

In these cases, you lot'll need to re-pair your DualShock 4 with your ain PS4. To do this, connect your controller to your PS4 using a micro-USB cable. Brand sure you're using a high-quality cablevision that you know works properly.

One time they're physically continued, press the PS Button on your controller for a moment, and its light should flash briefly before turning blueish (or another solid color if you already accept a controller connected). This signifies that your PS4 controller has paired and connected successfully.

If y'all accept your DualShock 4 paired with another nearby device, similar your phone or a PlayStation v, trying to re-pair it to your PS4 may turn on the other device and connect the controller to it. You should thus plough off and unplug whatever other device your DualShock 4 is paired to first.

After you re-pair your controller, yous can disconnect the USB cable and use your controller wirelessly as normal. Your PS4 volition remember it until you pair the controller with another device in the future, so it should auto-connect as soon as you printing the PS Push button.

Go along in mind that the maximum number of DualShock 4 controllers you tin have connected to the PS4 at once is four. If yous already take four controllers connected, you'll need to disconnect 1 to make room for more.

PS4 Two Controllers

PS4 Controller Keeps Disconnecting

If your DualShock 4 disconnects randomly while playing, there are a couple of remedies yous can attempt.

First, make sure your controller battery is charged. It sounds uncomplicated, but if the battery in your controller is almost dead, it may disconnect. To check your controller battery life, agree the PS Button to bring up the Quick Menu on the left side of the screen. You lot'll run into a controller icon with battery life displayed at the bottom.

PS4 Quick Menu Battery Level

Plug your controller into your PS4 and visit the Quick Menu again to make sure you come across the battery charging blitheness. After your controller charges for some time, try using information technology every bit normal.

If the battery wasn't causing your PS4 controller issue, brand certain you aren't trying to utilise your controller likewise far away from your system. The typical range for Bluetooth is around 30 anxiety; depending on your setup, you may be able to use your controller farther than this, or exist restricted to using it closer.

Speaking of this, you lot should endeavor to minimize interference between your controller and panel. Remove any metal objects between the ii, like shelving or laptops, that could inhibit the indicate. You should also take your PS4 out of enclosed spaces, if applicative, for better signal manual and reception.

Finally, remember that the PS4 has a setting that turns off controllers after they're idle for some fourth dimension. If you don't want your PS4 controller to turn off when you're watching media apps like YouTube, go to Settings > Ability Save Settings > Set Time Until Controllers Turn Off and choose Never. Note that this will use up the controller battery even while you're idle.

PS4 Never Turn Off Controller

Full general Fixes When Your PS4 Controller Isn't Working

Nosotros've looked at specific fixes for a few mutual DualShock 4 problems above. Next, permit's look at more general solutions for problems with PS4 controllers. Walk through these if your PS4 controller is yet not responding.

1. Restart Your Console

While most controller problems stem from the controller itself, there's a gamble that your PS4 is what's having the problem. To dominion this out, yous should restart your console earlier troubleshooting farther.

If your controller is working plenty to access menus, hold the PS Button to open the Quick Carte, then get to Power > Restart PS4 to reboot your system.

turn off ps4 quick menu

In instance your controller isn't cooperating, press and hold the Ability push on your PS4 panel until yous hear two beeps. This will fully close it down—in one case it'due south powered off (with no lights on the forepart), press the Ability button once again to turn information technology back on. If yous see an orange light, your system went into Rest Mode, which isn't a full shutdown.

Try using your controller again after a reboot (connecting it via a USB cable if needed) and see if that helps.

2. Forget and Re-Pair Your PS4 Controller

If you have a second PS4 controller (or a PS Motion controller for PS VR), you tin can employ that to access a menu that lets you delete the controller having an effect. Head to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth Devices and select the DualShock 4 entry—information technology'due south the i that does not accept a green low-cal next to it.

PS4 Forget Devices

On the resulting bill of fare, press the Options button on your controller and cull Forget Device. This will crusade your PS4 to remove it from retentivity so you lot accept to re-pair it once more.

This is a expert fourth dimension to try a slightly different pairing method: having your PS4 controller re-pair at startup. To practice this, fully plow off your PS4 (as explained earlier). Once information technology'southward shut down, connect the problematic controller to your console with a USB cablevision. Striking the PS Push button on the controller to hopefully turn on and pair your controller in one process.

If this doesn't work, plow your PS4 back on and try pairing it the normal fashion, equally above.

3. Difficult Reset Your PS4 Controller

If removing and re-pairing the controller didn't piece of work, you tin adjacent endeavour the full reset procedure for the DualShock 4. You'll demand a modest pointed object, like a bent paper clip or a SIM bill of fare ejection tool, to do this.

Fully turn off your PS4, so flip your controller over. You'll see a small hole next to the screw by the L2 button (on the right side of the controller when flipped over). Utilize your pointed tool to printing and hold the button inside this hole for roughly five seconds.

PS4 Controller Reset Pinhole

Once you've washed this, connect your controller to your PS4 over again via USB cablevision and see if it pairs successfully.

4. Endeavour Connecting the PS4 Controller Elsewhere

At this point, if y'all haven't already, you should try connecting the PS4 controller that'south having problems with another device. If you have similar problems on a friend's PS4, your PC, or a smartphone, so your controller is probable faulty.

It's also a good idea to try using another PS4 controller with your console, if possible. If you infringe a friend'southward DualShock four that you know works properly and find that it has bug with your organization, something is probably wrong with your PS4'due south wireless connectivity.

5. Utilize the Controller in Wired Mode

Before you requite upwardly on your PS4 controller, you should try playing with it permanently connected via a USB cable. However, go on in mind that this just works for the revised model of PS4 controllers. Y'all'll know you have this model if the low-cal bar is visible inside the touchpad on the front of your controller. If non, you have an older controller and can't force wired communication.

To force your PS4 to connect controllers over USB with a uniform DualShock 4, caput to Settings > Devices > Controllers > Communication Method and choose Use USB Cable. This will prevent the DualShock 4 from using Bluetooth, even when continued via USB.

PS4 Use USB Cable Communication

If this works, you should get a long USB cable so y'all tin withal relish gaming from the couch even when wired in. Ailun'due south three-pack of 10-foot micro-USB cables is a proficient cost-constructive option.

DualShock 4 Hardware Gear up Options

Similar most hardware, DualShock 4 controllers have a ane-year warranty. If you bought your PS4 controller within the last year and it'southward still not working afterwards all the above tips, you should visit PlayStation'southward Gear up & Replace folio to put in a asking for repair on your controller.

Otherwise, you lot can effort hardware fixes on your own past opening your controller. But depending on the specific consequence, this may exist difficult or incommunicable. We recommend speaking to a local repair technician if you don't feel comfortable with doing this yourself.

PS4 Controller Issues, Patched Upwardly

Now yous know how to fix the most common PS4 controller issues. More specific issues, such as a push button that stops working, unfortunately fall under the hardware fix solutions mentioned above. You may be able to fix modest bug by following YouTube tutorials, only be careful not to further harm your controller in the process.

Hopefully, your DualShock 4 issue was easy to fix. But if not, and y'all need to pick up a new PS4 controller, you accept enough of great options.