Gaming on a PC does not mean you are forced to use a keyboard. A Windows 10 system can supports game controllers, but you will find most users prefer an Xbox controller since compatibility is not a problem. That said, there are still players who like or prefer to use a PlayStation controller over an Xbox one.
It is a matter of personal choice, or it may just be what they have on-hand. Connectivity-wise, PlayStation controllers practically connect to a Windows 10 machine as simple as an Xbox controller does, but there are some exceptions.
Connect the PS4 controller to Windows 10
PS4 controllers come in both wired & wireless models, and they both can be used on a Windows 10 system.
1. Connect via USB port
Windows 10 contains native support for a wired DualShock Controller, also other PS4 & PS3 controllers.
1. Connect the controller to your system through the USB port.
2. Now, wait for Windows 10 to detect the device and install drivers for it.
3. You’ll see a prompt telling you the device is ready. Open a game; start playing now.
2. Connect via Windows 10 Bluetooth
A wireless PS4 controller can connect to a Windows 10 system through Bluetooth.
1. First of all, open the Settings app and go to Devices>Bluetooth.
2. Must ensure Bluetooth is On.
3. Tap the ‘Add Bluetooth or other device’ button.
4. In the menu, tap Bluetooth.
5. Must ensure the controller is On, and press the PlayStation + Share buttons to enter pairing mode.
6. The controller will pop up on the menu on your Windows 10 system. Allow it to connect.
7. When connected, you can start using it to play games.
3. Connect with DS4Windows
A PS4 controller, whether it is wired or wireless, should connect to the system through the native USB port or over Bluetooth; although, there will always be exceptions. If you have a PS4 controller that will not connect, use an app called DS4Windows.
1. Must ensure the controller is NOT connected to the system.
2. Download & run DS4Windows.
3. Afterward, extract the folder and run the DS4Windows.exe file.
4. Select where you need to save the profile Program Files or AppData.
5. Tap ‘Install the DS4 Driver’.
6. Allow the driver to install & restart the system.
7. Now run the app and connect the controller (if it is wired), press and hold the PS4 and Share button (if it is wireless).
8. Go to the Controller tab in the app; it will show the controller. Now you can use it to play games.
4. Connect with InputMapper
DS4 Windows should be capable of connecting a PS4 controller, but again there may be exceptions. In that case, there is another app you can try.
1. Download and install InputMapper.
2. Run the app and let it install the driver named ‘Scarlet.Crush Productions System devices’.
3. When installed, connect the controller to your system through Bluetooth or USB port, whichever sort you have.
4. Now open the InputMapper app, and the controller should appear in it. You can also configure the controller in the app or do it in the game you play.
Configuring controllers in games
The methods mentioned above connect a PS4 controller to a Windows 10 system. When connected, you may have to customize how it works within a game since it’s a PS4 controller, all buttons probably not work the same in all games.
To change and check how the controller works in a game, follow the simple steps below.
1. Must ensure the controller is connected to the system.
2. Open the game, you wish to play using the controller and go to its settings.
3. Look for the controller settings. These differ based on every game’s settings; if you cannot find the controller settings for a game, Google where they’re.
4. On the Controller settings screen within a game, now look through what every button does, and change it if you need to. Must ensure you save the configurations.
5. Repeat this for all games that you wish to play.
Games & controller support
PC games usually have controller support. It does not matter if a game title has been released for a console platform or not. It’ll still have support for a controller.
Older games might not have support, or they may not support the latest controllers, but games like that will be a tiny subset of the available games.
Moreover, you can use InputMapper to map the controller keys to particular keyboard buttons that control gameplay for games that do not have controller support. Besides, InputMapper supports multiple profiles, so this should be simple enough to do for different games.
The results will vary based on the game, also how old it is. If you are using an emulator to play a game, it is best to configure the controller within the emulator rather than InputMapper.
Conclusion
PS4 controllers are somewhat proprietary. It is not impossible to get them to work with a Windows 10 system, and in most cases, the built-in Bluetooth & USB port options will do the job correctly.
When you encounter trouble, the DS4 Windows app will help you override the controller’s restrictions.