How to Use a PS5 Controller on Your PC or Mac

How to Use a PS5 Controller on Your PC or Mac.

PS Remote Play lets you play PlayStation games on your PC using your PS5 controller. Every day, more and more PC games and gaming platforms support the DualSense controller. And the PS5 controller also works on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

This guide covers how to use the PS5 controller on your Mac or PC. Turn off the PS5 controller before connecting the controller to the computer. Press and hold the PlayStation (PS) button until the controller light or status light turns off. When this is done, you can connect the controller to your computer using a USB cable or wirelessly.

USB Wired Connection

For a wired USB connection, use the Type-A to Type-C cable included with your PS5. If you cannot find the included cable, please use a third party USB cable that supports power transfer and data sync. Windows or macOS won’t detect your PS5 DualSense controller if you’re using a “charge-only” cable.

All you have to do to get it working is plug the USB-A end of the cable into your computer and insert the USB-C end into the DualSense controller’s USB-C port.

Note. Use a USB-C to USB-C cable for PC and MacBook without a USB Type-A port. Connect one end of the cable to your Mac or PC and the other end to your controller.

Connect the PS5 DualSense Controller Wirelessly

Be sure to turn off or disconnect the controller from other devices before connecting it to your computer. Press and hold the PS button on the controller until the indicator turns off. This will disconnect the controller from other Bluetooth devices and make it available for pairing with a new device.

Connect your PS5 controller to your Windows PC

To connect your PS5 DualSense controller to your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, follow these steps.

On Windows 11, open your PC’s Settings app (press the Windows key + I). Select Bluetooth and devices in the sidebar, and then select Add a device on the right.

On Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices and select Add Bluetooth or other devices.

Select Bluetooth.

The next step is to put the controller into pairing mode. Press and hold the Playstation button and the New button for about 5 seconds. Release both buttons when the controller LED blinks twice.

On the PC, select Wireless Controller.

Wait while your computer connects to the controller. Select Done to close the window when you see the message “Your device is ready to go”.

Your controller should show as “Connected” in the Bluetooth settings menu. You can now use the controller in Steam games and other compatible software.

Connect PS5 controller to Mac

Go to System Preferences > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is enabled. Click the “Turn Bluetooth On” button to enable Bluetooth on your Mac.

Press and hold the PS button and the Create button on the PS5 controller until the light blinks twice intermittently. This puts the controller into pairing mode.

Your Mac should detect “DualSense Wireless Controller” in the Bluetooth settings menu. Click the Connect button to continue.

Unlike Windows, macOS correctly recognizes and labels the PS5 controller as “DualSense Wireless Controller”.

Select Options to customize the functionality of some of the buttons on your DualSense controller.

By default, pressing the Home (PS) button on your controller opens your Mac’s launcher.

You can set macOS to open the floating app switcher when you long-press the Home (PS) button on the controller. To do this, open the Long Press drop-down menu and select LaunchPad.

The Share or Create button can also be customized. You can start recording your screen or capturing “highlights” while playing by double or long pressing the “Share” button. Flare capture saves the last 15 seconds of gameplay.

Expand the Share by Double Tap or Share by Long Press menu and select Start/Stop Recording or Select Frame.

Select “Screen Recording” at the confirmation prompt.

Note: Capturing highlights with a DualSense controller may reduce gameplay speed and performance.

Select Done to save your settings.

Set Up and Use PS5 Controller on Your Computer

Your computer and compatible apps should immediately detect a PS5 DualSense controller connected via cable or wireless. Depending on the app or PC games you play, you may need to enable app-specific settings.

For example, on Steam, enabling “PlayStation Configuration Support” allows you to enjoy all the features of the DualSense controller.

Connect your controller to your computer and open Steam settings. Go to the Controller tab on the left sidebar and select General Controller Settings.

Make sure your PlayStation 5 controller shows up under Detected Controller. Check the PlayStation Configuration Support checkbox and close the controller settings window.

You should also check the “Gamepad configuration support” box. This can help your PS5 controller work properly if the PlayStation configuration support on Steam fails.

In Remote Play, you’ll see your controller’s battery level in the bottom right corner of the screen.

If your PS5 controller is not working with a particular game, please contact the game developer for support.

PS5 Controller Not Connecting or Working on PC or Mac? Try These Fixes

Your computer may not recognize the PS5 controller for many reasons. The troubleshooting suggestions below should resolve the issue(s).

1. Try a different port or cable

If you are connecting the controller with a cable, make sure it is the original cable that came with the PS5. If you are using a fake or fake cable, your computer may not be able to detect the DualSense controller. Use the original cable that supports both data sync and power transfer.

USB port issues can also prevent PS5 controllers from connecting to your computer. Try a different port on your computer if the controller does not work on a specific port. We also recommend connecting the controller directly to the computer. When using a USB adapter, make sure that the accessory supports data sync and power transfer.

2. Update the controller

Updating the controller to the latest firmware may resolve connectivity and performance issues.

If you are using a Windows PC, please update your PS5 controller using the DualSense Wireless Controller Firmware Update app. Install the application on your computer and connect the controller with a cable.

The app will automatically download and install any firmware update available for your controller. Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet.

You can also upgrade your controller from the PS5 console. Open the PS5 settings menu, go to Accessories > Controllers and select Wireless Controller Software.

3. Restart your computer

Restart your computer if your controller firmware is up to date but it won’t connect or work when playing compatible games.

4. Reset the controller to factory settings

If the issue persists, reset your PS5 DualSense controller to factory defaults. Disconnect or unplug your controller from your console or other devices before performing a factory reset. You must also turn off the console.

Locate the tiny round hole on the back of the controller. Inside the hole is the reset button for the DualSense controller. Insert a pin or paperclip into the hole and press the reset button for 3-5 seconds.

Turn on the controller, connect it to the computer and check if it now works without problems.

Enjoy Console-Like Gaming on Your Computer

Connecting your PS5 DualSense controller to your Windows or Mac computer is easy. Update your computer’s operating system if you still have problems using the controller. Visit a PlayStation Service Repair Center if your DualSense controller is not connecting or working on your console or computer.