To put a PS5 DualSense controller in Bluetooth pairing mode, turn the controller off (player indicator dark), unplug any USB cable, hold the Create button, then hold the PS button until the light bar blinks. Then pick the controller from the Bluetooth list on your PC, Mac, phone or tablet. A PS5 console is the exception: it pairs a controller for the first time over USB, not through this sequence.
Which method do you need?
| Connecting to | USB cable? | What you do | Success signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC, Mac, phone, tablet, other Bluetooth device | No, unplug it | Create + PS to enter pairing mode, then choose the controller in that device’s Bluetooth settings | Light bar blinks, then the player indicator lights |
| PS5, first-time pairing | Yes | Connect by USB, press PS | Light bar blinks, then the player indicator lights |
| Extra controller on a PS5 you already use | No, unplug it | Use a paired controller to open Bluetooth Accessories, put the new one in pairing mode | New controller’s light bar blinks, then its player indicator lights |
These steps are based on Sony’s official DualSense support instructions.
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Pair to a PC, Mac, phone or other Bluetooth device
- Check that the player indicator is off. If it is lit, hold PS until it turns off.
- Disconnect any USB cable from the controller.
- Hold the Create button. While holding it, press and hold PS until the light bar blinks. That blinking means the controller is discoverable.
- Turn on Bluetooth on the target device and select the controller from the list of discovered devices.
- When pairing finishes, the light bar blinks and the player indicator lights up.
Sony lists these minimum systems: Windows 10 (64-bit), Windows 11, macOS Big Sur 11.3, iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, tvOS 14.5 and Android 12 or later. Requirements can change, so check Sony’s current DualSense compatibility page if your device is near the cutoff.
Features are not identical everywhere. Sony notes that adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, the microphone and speaker, and the headset jack are not supported uniformly across PC, Mac and mobile devices. A controller that connects but lacks some features is not necessarily faulty.
#1 Best Overall
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
Pair to a PS5 for the first time
- Turn on the PS5.
- Connect the controller to the console with a USB cable.
- Press PS. The light bar blinks, then the player indicator lights up.
- Unplug the cable to play wirelessly, provided the controller has enough battery.
Reconnecting a controller to the PS5 works the same way: compatible USB cable, then press PS.
Add a second controller to a PS5 wirelessly
- On the second controller, unplug any USB cable and make sure the player indicator is off.
- With the first, already paired controller, go to Settings > Accessories > General > Bluetooth Accessories.
- On the second controller, hold Create and PS together until the light bar blinks.
- Select the controller on the PS5 screen. Its light bar blinks and its player indicator lights when pairing completes.
Using one controller with several devices
A DualSense can hold up to four registered pairings, kept in slots. Pairing it with another PS5 uses the next free slot. If all four are taken, the slot that has gone longest without a connection is replaced. A controller connected by USB cannot wirelessly pair with or switch to another PS5.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Enjoy precise, comfortable control over 10,000+ supported Steam games.
- Easily pair the controller directly to your Windows PC via Bluetooth or play as you charge with the included USB Type-C cable
- Stay paired with up to four different Bluetooth devices, making it easy to enjoy the controller across Windows PC, Mac, PS5 consoles and smartphones. Discover more connection tips and tricks at playstation.com/pair-dualsense
- Access the latest available controller firmware directly from your PC with the free-todownload PlayStation Accessories app
- Play games streamed from your PS5 or PS4 console to your PC via the PS Remote Play App
Rank #4
- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
Rank #3
- Feel you in-game actions and environement simulated through haptic feedback
- Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone
- Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
Rank #2
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
If it won’t pair
- Light bar never blinks: the player indicator was probably still lit. Hold PS until it goes off, then repeat Create + PS.
- Bluetooth pairing fails: make sure no USB cable is attached.
- Console won’t recognise it: connect by USB and press PS. Try a different PS5 USB port.
- Cable seems to do nothing: use a charge-and-sync (data-capable) cable. A charge-only cable can’t carry the data a connection needs.
- Still failing: Sony advises resetting the controller and repeating the steps. If the problem persists after that, contact PlayStation Repairs.
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