CHIBA, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 12: Wireless controller for the PlayStation 4 (PS4) game console are displayed in the Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. booth on the business day of the Tokyo Game Show 2019 at Makuhari Messe on September 12, 2019 in Chiba, Japan. The Tokyo Game Show will be open to the public on September 14 and 15, 2019. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
Sony’s latest update to its PlayStation 4 console, version 7.00, brings a host of new conveniences that make it easier for players to add more players to their online party, adds chat transcription support, and improves audio quality thanks to some behind-the-scenes improvements.
But the most appealing feature might be the updated Remote Play service, which now works with both Android and iOS devices, controller support included. That means you’ve now got a way to free up the TV and still enjoy your PlayStation 4 games on your PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet.
PS Remote Play is a free to use feature on all PS4 and PS5 consoles. All you need is: Your PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition, PS4 or PS4 Pro 1 connected to your home wired broadband network. A compatible device — also connected to your network. The free PS Remote Play app. A DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller or DualSense controller 2. Your Steam client will help your Windows PC recognize the controller. Steam already provides native support for DualShock 4. You can configure PS4 controller on Steam using these steps: Disconnect the PS4 controller. (In case of wireless controller, unpair the controller by going to Bluetooth settings.
Still, there are a few footnotes to consider before you start gaming on a screen other than your TV. To use the PS4 Remote Play feature, you’ll need to configure a couple of things — besides your PS4, obviously.
What You Need For PlayStation 4 Remote Play
You’ll need a PC or Mac running the free PS4 Remote Play app (you can download it here). If you’re on an Android or iOS device, you’ll need to grab the Remote Play app from Google Play or the App Store.
You’ll also need a broadband internet connection, a DualShock 4 controller, and a PS4 game that doesn’t require a VR headset or a specialized controller. To minimize latency, you should use an Ethernet cable to connect your console to your wireless router or modem (you should do the same on the device you’re streaming to, if possible).
Prep Your PlayStation 4
Once you’ve installed the requisite PS4 Remote Play app from whatever app store you’re using, you’ll need to configure your PS4. First, update your PS4’s software to the most current version, 7.00. To do so, visit Settings > System Software Update, and let your console get to work. Then you’ll need to identify your console as the “primary” console. Visit Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PS4.
Next, enable Remote Play on the console itself. Visit Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings > Enable Remote Play. If you don’t want to walk over to your console to turn it on every time you want to get away from it, you can visit Settings > Power Save Settings > Set Features Available in Rest Mode, then select “Stay Connected to the Internet” and “Enable Turning On PS4 From Network.”
Next Up, Pairing Your Controller
So you’ve got your PS4 ready to go, and the PS4 Remote Play app installed on your remote device. Now it’s time to pair your DualShock 4 controller, either with a Micro-USB cable on a PC or Mac, or via Bluetooth on any Remote Play compatible device with Bluetooth support (or a Bluetooth adapter).
You can pair the controller to your PC either with a Micro-USB cable or via Bluetooth. First, find your PC’s Bluetooth settings by heading to Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. Hold both the Share and PS button for four seconds until the controller’s light bar starts to flash. On your PC, select the plus to add a new Bluetooth device.
On your Mac, you can pair via Bluetooth, but you’ll need to be running the latest version of macOS Catalina, released earlier this week (though you might want to hold off on updating until all your apps are compatible). Put your controller in pairing mode, visit the System Preferences app on your Mac, hit the Bluetooth icon, and add your device.
iOS and Android devices can pair to your DualShock 4 the same way they pair with any traditional Bluetooth device. But you’ll need to be running Android 10, iOS 13, or iPadOS 13 to actually use the controller instead of the inferior on-screen controls.
Link Your Devices
After you’ve installed the PS4 Remote Play app and paired your DualShock 4 controller to your remote device, you’ll need to visit the console’s Remote Play Connection Settings page you visited earlier, and select Add Device.
You can fiddle with frame rate and resolution settings by picking Open Preferences in the Remote Play app on your remote device before you begin playing. On your remote device, open the app and select Start to locate and pair your device to your PS4. Then sign in with your PlayStation Network account and enjoy gaming your day away while someone else uses the TV to enjoy their stories.
Get an Accessory or Two
Sure, you’re all set up and ready to play, but if you’ve placed your smartphone in a precarious position while you’re playing, you’d be well-served with a key accessory: a phone mount. A search on Amazon for “PS4 phone mount” will yield a few options from obscure accessory makers, so make sure the mount will fit your phone model and read some customer reviews before you drop $15 on one.
That phone mount will allow you to clip your smartphone to your DualShock 4 controller, and adjust the viewing angle to fit your needs. If you plan on using Remote Play often, a phone mount might be the one missing piece of the puzzle that keeps you away from your TV for good.
The Leadership Brief. Conversations with the most influential leaders in business and tech.
Thank you!
For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder.
Read Next
No PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X? Here's How to Get Your Next-Gen Gaming Fix at Any Budget
Next Up: Editor's Pick
How We Can Learn to Live with COVID-19 After Vaccinations
EDIT POST
Some games are better played with a controller than with a keyboard or mouse. I personally find it convenient to enjoy genres similar to Cyberpunk 2077 with a controller, especially when i’m driving around the map. If you are a PC gamer and wanting to use your PS4 controller when playing, this article should help.
Below, we’ll explain what are the things that you need to make it happen as well as the exact steps to connect the DualShock 4 controller to your PC.
Requirements to connect a PS4 controller to your Windows 10 PC
If you’re a PC gamer who wants to play your favorite game using a PS4 controller, these are a few basic things that you must prepare to do successfully:
PS4 DualShock 4 controller (wired or wireless)
Micro USB cable (if you want to connect via USB)
USB wireless Bluetooth dongle (if your PC does not have a built-in Bluetooth capability)
PC with internet connection
Does Windows 10 support PS4 DualShock 4 controller?
Windows 10 does not natively support the wireless PS4 controller as Microsoft has its own Xbox controller sets. In order to successfully use your PS4 controller on your PC, especially if you want to take advantage of its wireless capability, you’ll want to make sure that your Windows 10 drivers are updated and you install a third party device driver such as DS4Windows.
However, if you are content with using a wired setup, or does not want to use a wireless controller via Bluetooth, you simply have to plug in the controller to your PC and you’re good to go.
How to use a PS4 controller on PC (Windows 10)?
The steps below should show you how to use your DualShock 4 wireless controller on your PC.
Step 1: Get a third party software and device driver for PS4 wireless controller (DS4Windows)
In order for your PC to detect a PS4 DualShock 4 controller, you need to secure a software called DS4Windows. This piece of important software will allow Windows 10 to see your PS4 DualShock 4 controller as an Xbox controller, which is the only controller supported officially by this OS. Basically, once you have DS4Windows installed, your computer will be fooled into thinking that you are plugging in an Xbox controller.
Playstation 4 Remote Play Pc
Step 2: Install DS4Windows.
Once you have downloaded DS4Windows on your PC, you have to find the Zip file and extract it. To do that, just right click on the file and hit Extract All option. You can either create a new destination folder to extract the files to, or you can simply extract them to the same folder where the original zip file is located. Any of the two methods should work.
After extracting the files, you should see two important files: DS4Updater.exe and DS4Windows.exe. The first one is a software updater, and you’ll be using it to keep DS4Windows updated.
The other file is the main application executable. Right click it to begin installing the DS4Windows software.
Step 3: Configure DS4Windows
So that your PS4 DualShock 4 wireless controller will work on your PC, you want to make sure that you set DS4Windows up properly.
Upon first opening DS4Windows, Windows will ask you for settings and profiles you want. If you have no idea how to begin, you should pick Appdata.
Afterwards, a new window will open and you need to click on Install the DS4 Driver. Doing so will let you use your DualShock 4 wireless controller on your Windows 10 PC.
Step 4: Use a micro USB cable to connect your PS4 to your PC
After the installation and first time setup, you should be able to connect your DualShock 4 controller to your PC either via a micro USB cable connection, or via Bluetooth.
How to connect a PS4 controller to PC to play Steam games?
If you want to play a Steam game using your DualShock 4 controller, all you have to do is to configure your Steam client so it detects it. You can either use the wired or wireless configuration for your DualShock 4 controller on Steam.
Read: How To Use PS4 Controller On Steam
Can a PS4 controller be used to play non-Steam games on PC?
Your PS4 DualShock 4 controller can also be used to play games outside Steam client. This is where the DS4Windows comes handy as it can trick Windows 10 OS that you’re using an Xbox controller even when what you have is a DualShock 4 controller.
Simply follow the instructions provided above on how to download, install, and configure DS4Windows.
How to use a wireless PS4 Dualshock 4 controller on PC?
Ps4 Remote Play Download
If your computer does not have a built-in Bluetooth, you can buy any cheap Bluetooth adapter that plugs into any USB port in your PC. Alternatively, you can opt to use an expensive official Sony Bluetooth dongle for the same job.
Ps4 Remote Play Pc No Controller
Once you have the Bluetooth adapter connected, here are the steps that you must do to start using your wireless PS4 controller on your PC:
On the controller, press and hold the Share and PS buttons together until the light blinks. Once the light bar starts blinking, this means that your controller is now on discovery or pairing mode and should be able to connect via Bluetooth.
On your PC, open the Windows Bluetooth settings and click on Add Bluetooth or other device.
Select Wireless Controller.
That’s it! Your DualShock 4 controller should now work wirelessly.
Other interesting articles:
Use Ps4 Controller On Pc For Remote Play
Visit our TheDroidGuy Youtube Channel for more troubleshooting videos and tutorials.