A PS5 controller can connect to a PC through a USB cable or Bluetooth, but the connection does not always work correctly. Your computer may fail to detect the controller, Bluetooth pairing may stop halfway, or the controller may connect without responding inside a game.
These problems can come from the cable, USB port, Bluetooth settings, outdated drivers or unsupported game settings.
This guide explains how to fix a PS5 controller not connecting to a PC and how to confirm that every button and analog stick is working after connection.
Can You Connect a PS5 Controller to a PC?
The PS5 DualSense controller can connect to most modern Windows computers using:
A USB-C cable
Bluetooth
Steam controller support
Compatible game launchers
Third-party controller software
A wired connection is usually easier to set up and gives you a stable input signal. Bluetooth offers more freedom but may experience pairing, battery or wireless interference problems.
Some PC games support the DualSense controller directly. Other games may require Steam Input or controller-mapping software.
Connect the PS5 Controller With a USB Cable
Connect the USB-C end of the cable to the controller and the other end to your computer.
Press the PS button after connecting it. Windows should recognise the controller and install the required device drivers automatically.
If nothing happens, try these steps:
1. Disconnect and reconnect the cable.
2. Try another USB port.
3. Use a different USB-C cable.
4. Restart the computer.
5. Check the Windows device settings.
Not every USB-C cable transfers data. Some cables are designed only for charging. A charging-only cable can power the controller without allowing the PC to detect its inputs.
Use a cable that supports both charging and data transfer.
Connect the PS5 Controller Through Bluetooth
Your computer must have built-in Bluetooth or a compatible Bluetooth adapter.
Open the Bluetooth settings on your PC and choose the option to add a new device.
Next, press and hold the Create button and the PS button on the controller at the same time. Keep holding them until the controller light begins flashing.
Select Wireless Controller from the list of available Bluetooth devices.
The controller should stop flashing and connect to the PC. Open a compatible game or gamepad tester to confirm that the connection works.
Why Is the PS5 Controller Not Showing in Bluetooth?
The controller may not appear in the Bluetooth device list if it is already connected to another device.
Turn off nearby consoles, phones or computers that have previously been paired with the controller. Restart Bluetooth on the PC and place the controller back into pairing mode.
You can also remove the old Wireless Controller entry from Windows:
1. Open Bluetooth and device settings.
2. Find Wireless Controller.
3. Select Remove Device.
4. Restart Bluetooth.
5. Pair the controller again.
Keep the controller close to the computer during pairing. Low battery power and wireless interference can also interrupt the process.
Check the PS5 Controller Battery
A low battery can prevent the controller from maintaining a stable Bluetooth connection.
Connect the DualSense controller to a power source using a working USB cable and let it charge. After charging, disconnect the cable and try pairing it again.
If the controller works through USB but disconnects immediately on Bluetooth, the battery or wireless connection may be causing the problem.
Testing with another computer can help confirm where the issue comes from.
Reset the DualSense Controller
A reset can clear temporary pairing and connection problems.
Disconnect the controller and turn off any nearby PS5 console. Find the small reset hole on the back of the controller.
Use a pin or similar object to press and hold the reset button for several seconds
After resetting it, connect the controller to the PC using a USB cable. Press the PS button and test the connection again.
You may need to repeat the Bluetooth pairing process after a reset.
Update Windows and Bluetooth Drivers
Outdated device drivers can stop Windows from recognising a controller correctly.
Open Windows Update and install available system updates. Restart the PC after the update is complete.
You can also check the Bluetooth and USB drivers through Device Manager:
1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Open Device Manager.
3. Expand the Bluetooth or USB controllers section.
4. Right-click the relevant device.
5. Select Update Driver.
Be careful when removing drivers. Deleting the wrong device can temporarily affect other USB or Bluetooth hardware.
Enable PS5 Controller Support in Steam
Steam can recognise the DualSense controller and translate its inputs for games that do not support it directly.
Open Steam and go to the controller settings. Confirm that Steam detects the connected controller and enable Steam Input for PlayStation controllers if needed.
Next, open the game properties and review its controller settings.
If a game already supports DualSense input directly, Steam Input may sometimes create double inputs or incorrect button prompts. In that case, disable Steam Input for that specific game and test it again.
Why Does the Controller Connect but Not Work in Games?
A PS5 controller may appear in Windows but fail to respond inside a game.
This can happen because:
* The game does not support PlayStation controllers
* Steam Input is disabled
* Another controller is set as the primary device
* The game is detecting keyboard input first
* Controller-mapping software is conflicting with Steam
* The game must be restarted after connecting the controller
Connect the controller before launching the game. Check the game's control settings and select the gamepad as the active input device.
Close any unnecessary controller programs to avoid input conflicts.
Test the Controller After Connecting It
Once Windows detects the DualSense controller, use a gamepad tester to check its inputs.
Press every button and move both analog sticks. The tester should display each input immediately.
Check the following controls:
* Cross, Circle, Square and Triangle
* D-pad directions
* L1, L2, R1 and R2
* Left and right analog sticks
* L3 and R3
* Create and Options buttons
* Touchpad click
Bitro recommends testing the controller outside the game first. This helps separate controller hardware problems from game compatibility or configuration issues.
If the controller works in the tester but not in a game, the problem is probably related to the game's settings or controller support.
Fix Frequent Bluetooth Disconnections
If the controller connects but keeps disconnecting, check the battery level and reduce the distance between the controller and PC.
Move other wireless devices away from the Bluetooth adapter. Wi-Fi routers, wireless headsets and USB 3.0 devices can sometimes create interference.
You can also try:
* Reconnecting the Bluetooth adapter
* Using a different Bluetooth USB port
* Removing and pairing the controller again
* Updating Bluetooth drivers
* Switching to a wired connection
A wired USB connection is usually the best option for diagnosing repeated wireless disconnections.
Final Thoughts
A PS5 controller may fail to connect to a PC because of a charging-only cable, faulty USB port, old Bluetooth pairing, low battery or unsupported game settings.
Start with a wired connection and use a data-capable USB cable. Reset the controller, update Windows drivers and remove any old Bluetooth pairing if the problem continues.
After connecting the controller, run a gamepad test to confirm that its buttons, triggers and analog sticks are working. If the controller responds correctly in the tester but not in your game, review Steam Input and the game's controller settings.
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