How to Connect a PS4 Controller to Steam

Last Updated: April 14, 2022

This wikiHow will teach you how to connect a PlayStation 4 controller to your computer so you can use it to play Steam games. You can connect your controller wirelessly with Bluetooth or by using a USB cable.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a USB Cable

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You'll find a USB port on the front of your computer's tower, on the back of an all-in-one, or along the sides of a laptop; you'll find the mini-USB port on the back of the controller.
The light on the back of your controller should illuminate when it's on.

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You'll find the gear icon to launch the client in your Start Menu or Applications folder in Finder.
You'll see this in the menu along the top of your screen.
You'll find this near the bottom of the menu.
You'll see this on the left side of the pop-up window.
You'll see this button on the right side of the window and it will bring up another window where your connected controller should be detected.
" If you're connecting any other controller, you'll see the options to enable them here.
9
Click your controller under "Detected Controllers. " If you don't see your controller here, check the USB connections between your controller and computer as well as the power status of your controller.
- Your controller's details will pop up on the right side of the window. ^{[1]
  X
  Research source}
You can change your controller's name, the light's brightness and color, and the rumble preference.
11
Click Submit . You'll see this in the bottom left corner of the window.
- Your PS4 controller will now work for Steam. If you want to configure the controller's buttons more, press the PS button on your controller to pull up a keybinding menu.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Bluetooth

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You can do this in Windows by going to the Start Menu, clicking the gear icon > Devices , and then clicking to turn on the switch next to Bluetooth . On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon that's in the menu bar and click to turn it on.
2
Press and hold the PS and Share buttons on your controller. This will put your controller in pairing mode and make it discoverable by non-PlayStations.
- You can release the buttons when the light on the back of your controller should pulse rapidly.
You'll see this above the Bluetooth toggle.
Since your PS4 remote is using Bluetooth to connect, you'll want to prompt your computer to find Bluetooth.
When it's done connecting, you'll see the button at the bottom of the window change.
You'll see this at the bottom of your window.
You'll find the gear icon to launch the client in your Start Menu or Applications folder in Finder.
You'll see this in the menu along the top of your screen.
You'll find this near the bottom of the menu.
You'll see this on the left side of the pop-up window.
You'll see this button on the right side of the window and it will bring up another window where your connected controller should be detected.
" If you're connecting any other controller, you'll see the options to enable them here.
13
Click your controller under "Detected Controllers. " If you don't see your controller here, check the USB connections between your controller and computer as well as the power status of your controller.
- Your controller's details will pop up on the right side of the window. ^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
You can change your controller's name, the light's brightness and color, and the rumble preference.
15
Click Submit . You'll see this in the bottom left corner of the window.
- Your PS4 controller will now work for Steam. If you want to configure the controller's buttons more, press the PS button on your controller to pull up a keybinding menu. ^{[3]
  X
  Research source}