Connecting your controller

Supported controllers

• PlayStation: DualSense (PS5), DualSense Edge and DualShock 4 (PS4), over USB and Bluetooth.
• Xbox: wireless Xbox controllers and third-party controllers in Xbox mode, as Windows detects them through XInput.
• Nintendo Switch: Pro Controller, Joy-Con and the Switch Online controllers.
• Added once from the Devices tab, then followed automatically: the Steam Controller (original and new model, over USB or its wireless Puck), 8BitDo controllers in D-input mode, and the Flydigi Apex 5 and Vader 5 Pro.

For PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo controllers, there is nothing to declare and nothing to configure. Connect the controller as you normally would and it appears on its own, with its icon in the taskbar.

Switch controllers only include their level in their reports once a program such as Steam has switched them to full mode. Until then, they appear with a question mark instead of a percentage.

A second controller is read straight away, and gets its own icon when you give it one: see Tracking a second controller.

Connecting over Bluetooth

1. 1

   Put the controller into pairing mode

   On a DualSense, hold Create (the small button left of the touchpad) and PS together until the light bar flashes quickly. A slow flash means it is looking for a device it already knows; you want the fast one.

2. 2

   Add it in Windows

   Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Add device › Bluetooth, then pick the controller from the list.

3. 3

   Wait for Connected

   A device shown only as Paired is not talking to anything, and no level will appear.

Connecting over USB

Plug it in and it is done: the controller is detected and charging at the same time.

It never disturbs your game

PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo controllers are read strictly passively: not a single command is ever sent to them. This matters more than it sounds. Tools that poll a controller by writing to it can make a game briefly lose the device: a dropped input, or a disconnect mid-fight. Reading only makes that impossible by design.

The controller is not detected

• It is already connected to a console or a phone: a controller pairs with several devices but connects to one at a time.
• It is listed as Paired without being Connected: remove it from the Bluetooth list, then pair it again from scratch.
• Another program has taken it: Steam, an emulator or DS4Windows can claim exclusive access. Close them, reconnect, then reintroduce them one at a time. With DS4Windows, BatteryOnPC recognises the situation and offers the fix.

Compatibility grows with each update, but we cannot yet guarantee every device on the market. If yours is not detected, tell us and we will do our best to add it.