How to Connect PS4 Controller to PC Using DS4Windows? Latest Guide April 2023, Version 3.2.9‍

Want to use a PS4 Controller on your PC? Well, it is possible now with a simple program known as DS4 Windows.

You don’t always have to use a keyboard and a mouse while playing games on a PC. If you are a fan of PS4 or Xbox controllers then you are in luck because now you can use them even on PC. 

Yes, they could have been plugged in earlier too, but due to the lack of a proper interface that could act as a translator between the controller and your PC, there was an error in commands and the results weren’t always exactly as expected. 

DS4Windows is a free and open-source program available on GitHub that allows you to use your PS4 or Xbox controller on your PC. It emulates the controller and provides a perfect interface for playing games with a familiar feel. 

Regardless of which games you are playing or on which platform, this particular interface will streamline the controller with game settings. 

In this post, I will be sharing with you a step-by-step guide on how you can connect your PS4 controller to your PC using this program. 

Before beginning, let’s briefly discuss what DS4Windows actually is and what the benefits of using it are.

DS4Windows and its Benefits 

DS4Windows is an open-source gamepad input mapper and virtual emulator. Basically, it is an interface that allows you to experience gaming with a PS4 controller on the PC. 

The software not only emulates the controller but also allows you to customize the controls to your desired preferences. It will reduce the input latency and provide you with an amazing gaming experience. 

Without the DS4Windows, your PC doesn’t support the DS4 controllers and won’t detect it when you plug it in. 

So, it is a must-have program in your system to enjoy console gaming on your PC. 

Let’s dive into the step-by-step process that can help you install and run the program. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Connect PS4 Controller to PC

Installing the DS4Windows is not a difficult or complex process, thanks to the continuous updates and improvements in the program. 

However, there are a few important things that you must do in a proper manner to get the program running. 

Hence, I decided to share with you a detailed guide that will help you connect and run the PS4 controller perfectly. 

Here’s what you have to do:

Step 1: Download

In the very first step, you have to download the program. To do that, open the web browser (preferably Google Chrome) on your PC and go to the DS4Windows download page. 

You can go to the official website, which will then bring you to the GitHub page, or you can open the second link on the search results and go directly to the GitHub site. 

It will appear as Ryochan7/DS4Windows, who is the official developer of the program and uploads the updates on GitHub regularly.

Before downloading the program, you will have to download a prerequisite known as .NET Runtime. Download the x64 or x86 version depending on the Operating system of your PC. 

Once you have downloaded this program, next you can download the latest version of DS4Windows from the available links below. 

The current version is 3.2.9. You can download it in 7z or zip format. Make sure you download both files in the same folder.

Step 2: Install .NET Runtime

.NET Framework/Runtime is required for the smooth functioning of the DS4Windows program. You might not be able to run the program properly or it might not detect the controller if you haven’t installed this software. 

No extraction is required. Once you have downloaded the program, simply double-click on it and install it in the default location. 

The installation process is pretty simple and quick and you will be able to get through it in just a minute. 

Step 3: Extract the DS4Windows Compressed File

Once you have installed the .NET Runtime, the next step is to extract the DS4Windows program. 

You can use a specific tool like I use WINRAR to extract the folder. Right-click on the file to directly extract it to a folder of the same name. 

If you don’t have specific software, even then you can extract directly since Windows 10 supports direct extraction. 

You must remember to extract the file into a folder and not openly because that would put a lot of files out of order and it will become difficult to sort them later. 

Once you have extracted the file, open the DS4Windows folder. 

Step 4: Open DS4Windows Program and Save Settings

Go inside the extracted folder and open the DS4Windows program. It will be the file with a colorful rainbow controller icon. 

Once you open the file for the first time, it will show a pop-up window asking you where you want to save your settings for this program. 

You have two options. Either you can save the settings in the same folder where you have extracted the DS4Windows program or you can choose to save them in the Appdata folder where all the program settings are generally saved. 

I prefer saving them in the same folder because it is advantageous in the long run. 

Once you have chosen where to save the settings, the DS4Windows program will open. 

Step 5: Installing the Secondary Driver

As the program opens, you will see another pop-up window opening which will give you steps to properly install a second driver before connecting the PS4 controller. 

This secondary driver is also needed to make the program work properly. It is called ViGEmBus driver and is responsible for providing an interface that will communicate between your PC and controller. 

The interface allows your computer to talk to the controller and interpret the signals to form the PS4 controller properly. 

If the dialog box doesn’t appear automatically, then you will have to manually access it. To do this, go to the Settings tab and look for Controller/Drivers set up in the utility section. 

This will open the same window that was supposed to open once you saved the settings but didn’t for some reason. 

The installation process for the ViGEmBus driver is pretty simple. Just go through the setup and install it in the default location. The software will download and install the driver. 

So, if you have a slower internet connection, this may take a little while. 

Once the driver is installed, you are almost there. There are also some other steps and drivers mentioned, but they are optional and not needed at the moment. So, you can ignore them. 

Step 2 has a driver that was not available in Windows 7. So, if you are using Windows 7, you will need to install that driver too. But, Windows 10 already has that driver. 

Steps 4 and 5 have HidHide and Fake-Input drivers that serve other specific functions and are optional in this case. 

Step 6: Connect the PS4 Controller

Finally, your program is ready to receive the controller. All you have to do now is connect the controller to your PC. 

Open the controller tab, the first tab from the left on your DS4Windows program, and plug in the controller on your PC. 

You will see the controller appear in the tab. It means everything is working perfectly. 

Unplug the controller to see if it disappears from the tab. If it does, that means you have nothing to worry about and the connection seems to be working fine. 

Even if you have the wireless controller, the process is the same and you will be able to see it appear and disappear as you connect and remove it. 

Step 7: Select Controller Profile

The default profile allows you to use the controller just like it would have been used on a PS4, but the new version of DS4 Windows also allows you to customize your profile and personalize the keys. 

You can either create a new profile or start from scratch or you can choose to tweak an already available profile to customize the keys to your desired preferences. 

The settings will be saved at the location you initially selected. 

Troubleshooting Issues

DS4Windows is an open-source program and some users might face issues while using it. 

Your controller might not be appearing when you connect it or it might not be functioning properly even if you have followed all the steps to the dot. 

So, here are a few quick fixes you can try if your controller does not appear when you connect it. 

Restart the Computer

If the controller is not appearing on the screen, the very first thing you have to try is restarting your system. 

You have just installed the program and it might not have been properly saved in all the places. 

So, restarting your computer might get it working properly. It’s an easy fix and will only take a few minutes of your time. 

Reset the Controller

 After restarting, the very first thing that you can do when your controller is not working properly is to do a hard reset on the controller. 

If you look at the back of the controller, on the right side, you will see a small hole with reset written on it. 

Inside the hole, there is a button that allows you to reset the controller. This button resets all the settings of the controller to factory default which often resolves most of the problems. 

You will need a paperclip to reach the button and press it for about 10-12 seconds on the clock. 

Once the controller resets, all of the settings will be returned to default and you will see it appear in the controller tab. 

Run as Administrator

The reason why your program might not be functioning properly is that you have not run it as an administrator. 

So, close the program, and then run it again as administrator. Then connect the PS4 controller and see if it appears on the controller tab. 

If it does, then you are good to go, otherwise, you can try other solutions provided below.

Update Windows

One of the reasons your program might not be running properly or might not be detecting the controller is that your Windows is not up to date. 

So, go to settings and make sure that your Windows OS is up to date, otherwise update it to the latest version and then run the program. 

Hopefully, it will start working normally. 

Update DS4Windows and Drivers

Another reason is that you might be using an older version of the app and have not either downloaded the latest version from GitHub, or you have not activated the automatic updater. 

So, if your version is not the latest one, i.e. 3.2.9, then go to GitHub and download the latest version of DS4 Windows software. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DS4Windows work with a PS4 controller?

Yes, the program is designed to work with both PS4 and Xbox 360 controllers. You can use the program to create an interface between the PC and these controllers, which would allow you to use these controllers for PC games. 

How do I get DS4Windows to detect my controller?

You will have to make sure that the prerequisite drivers are installed properly before running the DS4Windows program. If all the drivers are installed, and then you have plugged in the controller, the program will detect it. 

Does DS4Windows work with Bluetooth?

Yes, the program works the same way with Bluetooth as it works with wired devices. All you have to do is to install the drivers including .NET runtime and ViGEmBus driver before connecting the controller. 

Why is my PC not detecting my controller?

There can be a number of reasons why your PC might not be detecting the controller. There might be a fault with the controller itself or your drivers, program, or Windows might not be up to date. 

How do I fix my PS4 controller not connecting to DS4Windows?

You can try several fixes including updating your Windows, programs, and drivers to their latest version, resetting the controller, running the program as administrator, and restarting your system. Read the above guide for detailed methods. 

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up, DS4Windows allows you to enjoy games on PC as if you were playing them on the console. However, you need to install the program properly and take care of several factors to make sure it allows the PS4 controller to connect to your PC. 

The above guide not only helps you properly connect the PS4 controller but also helps you deal with the issues that might arise during the process. 

Got something on your mind? Drop it in the comments below.