How to Connect a PS4 Controller to PC (Wired and Bluetooth)

The DualShock 4 — the PlayStation 4 controller, including the revised DS4 V2 — is the controller InputMapper was built around. Both models are on InputMapper’s official input list, along with the Xbox 360 controller, the Xbox One controller, the DualShock 3 only via a Mayflash Magic-NS dongle, the PS Move Navigation controller via Magic-NS, and generic DirectInput and XInput devices. Connecting a DualShock 4 to a Windows PC takes minutes, wired or wireless, but two small traps catch almost everyone: a charge-only cable that carries no data, and a Bluetooth pairing that was never completed properly. This guide covers both connection methods cleanly, then hands the controller off to InputMapper so games see it as an Xbox 360 controller.

What You Need

• A DualShock 4 or DS4 V2 controller with some charge in it.
• For wired play: a micro-USB data cable. This distinction matters and is explained below.
• For wireless play: Bluetooth built into your PC, or a USB Bluetooth dongle.
• InputMapper installed, with ViGEmBus installed first. The full sequence is in how to use InputMapper.

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Method 1: Connect With a Cable (Wired)

1. Plug the micro-USB end of the cable into the port on the top of the DualShock 4.
2. Plug the other end into a USB port directly on the PC. Avoid an unpowered hub for the first test.
3. Wait for Windows to recognize the device. The lightbar lights up and Windows may show a device notification.
4. Open InputMapper. The controller should appear in its device list within a few seconds.

The Charge-Only Cable Warning

Many micro-USB cables bundled with chargers, power banks, and cheap accessories are wired for power only. They will charge the controller — the lightbar may even glow — but they carry no data lines, so Windows sees nothing and InputMapper shows no device. This is the single most common reason a “broken” wired connection is reported in our controller not detected guide.

The test is simple: if the controller charges but never appears in Windows or InputMapper, swap the cable for one you know transfers data, such as the cable you use to sync a phone or move files. A data cable makes the wired method the most reliable connection of all: no pairing, no battery anxiety, and the lowest latency. Many players test everything wired first, then add Bluetooth only after the software chain is known to work.

Method 2: Connect Over Bluetooth

Bluetooth frees you from the cable, at the cost of battery use and a pairing step you must repeat if you move the controller between devices. Follow the pairing mode sequence exactly — timing the button hold is where most attempts fail.

1. On the PC, open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Click “Add device” and choose “Bluetooth”, but do not select anything yet.
2. On the controller, make sure it is off and not lighting up. If it is connected by cable, unplug it.
3. Hold Share and PS together. Keep holding both buttons until the lightbar starts double-blinking in a rapid pattern. That double-blink means the controller is in pairing mode and discoverable. A slow pulse is not pairing mode — release the buttons and try again.
4. Back in the Windows Add device window, select “Wireless Controller” when it appears.
5. Wait for Windows to confirm the device is ready. The lightbar settles to a steady color.
6. Open InputMapper and confirm the controller appears in the device list.

If pairing stalls, remove any old “Wireless Controller” entry in Bluetooth settings and pair again from scratch. Stale pairings are a leading cause of drops and reconnect loops, and our Bluetooth pairing guide covers removal, re-pairing after switching devices, and interference fixes in depth. For in-game drops after a successful pair, see Bluetooth lag and disconnects.

Hand the Controller Off to InputMapper

A connected DualShock 4 is only half the job. In its raw state Windows treats it as a DirectInput device, which many PC games ignore or map incorrectly, because most expect an XInput device — an Xbox-style controller. InputMapper closes that gap: it reads the DualShock 4 and, through ViGEmBus, outputs a virtual Xbox 360 controller, a virtual DS4, or keyboard and mouse input.

1. With the controller connected and visible in InputMapper, create or select a profile.
2. Set the profile output to the virtual Xbox 360 controller for maximum game compatibility.
3. Save the profile and bind it to the DualShock 4.
4. Test in the Windows game controller panel, then in a game.

The step-by-step version, including profile setup and testing, is in how to use InputMapper, and profile management itself is covered in InputMapper profiles. If both the real and virtual controllers show up in a game and inputs double, that is a separate hiding problem — start with the double input fix.

Wired vs Bluetooth: Which Should You Use?

• Wired: most reliable, lowest latency, charges while you play, and the best choice for first-time setup and troubleshooting.
• Bluetooth: comfortable for couch play, but depends on adapter quality, distance, interference, and battery level.
• Practical approach: set everything up wired, confirm your profile works in two or three games, then pair Bluetooth and keep the cable nearby as your fallback test whenever wireless misbehaves.

One boundary worth knowing before you shop: this guide is about the DualShock 4. The newer DualSense is not in InputMapper’s official input list, and InputMapper’s final build from May 2020 predates the DualSense launch, so do not buy a DualSense expecting InputMapper to map it. If you already own one, use our DualSense on PC guide and the alternatives page instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my PS4 controller charge but not connect by cable?

Your cable is probably a charge-only cable with no data lines. It can power the controller but cannot carry its input to Windows. Swap it for a micro-USB cable that you know transfers data, and the controller should appear in Windows and InputMapper.

How do I put a DualShock 4 into Bluetooth pairing mode?

With the controller off, hold Share and PS together until the lightbar double-blinks rapidly. Then open Windows Bluetooth settings, choose Add device, and select Wireless Controller from the list.

Do I still need InputMapper after Windows detects the controller?

For most PC games, yes. Windows alone treats the DualShock 4 as a DirectInput device that many games ignore. InputMapper converts it into a virtual Xbox 360 controller through ViGEmBus, which is the format most games expect.

Does this method work for the DualSense controller?

No. The DualSense is not in InputMapper’s official input list, and InputMapper’s final build predates the DualSense launch in November 2020. Use a current mapping tool for DualSense instead of InputMapper.