More than simply one of the best gaming controllers, Sony DualSense is also one of the best PC controller. It’s got an ergonomic design and grip so you can stay hooked for hours on end, and it’s crammed with some of the most meaningful improvements in gamepads since the controversy. Steam controller. However, for DualSense to work on a PC gaming seems like a fool’s chore – it’s made for PlayStation 5 after all, right? Fortunately, PCs that support DualSense are a lot more powerful than support for DualShock 4 controllers just a generation ago. It can be as simple as plug-and-play or just a quick Bluetooth pairing to get started.
Items needed for pairing PS5 Controller with PC:
- Data-ready USB-C cable
- Bluetooth Adapter for PC
Where things can get a little complicated is to make sure you actually have the means to link your DualSense controller and your PC. DualSense doesn’t come with a USB cable when you buy it as a standalone controller, and not every PC has Bluetooth. So, to pair the DualSense with your PC, you’ll need a USB-C cable that supports data (some cheaper cables carry only power). The USB-C cable can be C-to-C if you have a USB-C port on your PC, or it can be USB-C-to-A if you just want to connect using the classic rectangular USB connectors.
If your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth yet, you can easily add it. There are many Bluetooth adapters on the market, some of which will go into a PCIe slot inside your computer, and others that just need an open USB port.
How to Pair a PS5 Controller with a PC via USB
- Plug your selected USB cable into an open port on your PC
- Plug the other end of the cable into the USB-C port on your DualSense controller
- Wait for your Windows PC to recognize the DualSense controller as a gamepad
How to pair DualSense PS5 Controller with PC via Bluetooth
- Access Bluetooth settings on your PC (Press Windows key, type “Bluetooth” and select Bluetooth and other devices from the menu)
- Option Add Bluetooth or other device
- Option Bluetooth in the pop-up
- On your DualSense controller (disconnected and powered off), press and hold the PS button and the Create button (next to the D-Pad) at the same time until the light bar under the trackpad starts blinking
- On PC, select your DualSense controller from the list of available Bluetooth devices
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an occasional Twitter post @ Techn0Mark.
