This wikiHow article guides you on how to connect a PS4 controller to Steam on your computer, enabling you to play games with it using either a wired USB cable or wireless Bluetooth connection.
Before you start, you’ll need a PS4 controller, a micro-USB cable for the wired method, Steam installed on your computer, and Bluetooth capability for the wireless method.
To connect your PS4 controller to Steam, you can choose between two methods based on your setup. The first method involves using a USB cable, while the second method utilizes Bluetooth for a wireless connection.
For the USB method, start by plugging your PS4 controller into your computer using a micro-USB cable. Then, press the PS button on the controller to turn it on; the light bar on the back should illuminate. Next, open the Steam client on your computer, click the Steam menu in the top-left corner, and select Settings. Click Controller, then select General controller settings. Check the box next to PlayStation Configuration Support, select your controller from the list under Detected controllers, and click Preferences if available, then Submit.
Alternatively, you can use Bluetooth to connect your PS4 controller to Steam. To do this, first enable Bluetooth on your computer. If you’re using Windows, go to Start → Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and turn it on. If you’re using macOS, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and enable it. Then, press and hold the PS button and Share button on the controller until the light bar pulses rapidly, indicating pairing mode. Click Add Bluetooth or other device (Windows) or go to Bluetooth settings (macOS), select Bluetooth as the device type, and choose your PS4 controller from the list of available devices to pair it. Click Done or Connect to complete pairing. After pairing, open the Steam client, click the Steam menu, select Settings, click Controller, and follow the same steps as the USB method to configure your controller.
Once your controller is connected, you can press the PS button to access Steam’s keybinding menu and customize your controller buttons for specific games. To test your setup, launch a Steam game that supports controllers and navigate using the analog sticks and buttons to confirm responsiveness.
If you encounter any issues, try restarting Steam or your computer, ensuring that drivers are updated, and checking for controller firmware updates via official PlayStation tools. For optimal play, you can calibrate the controller in Steam’s settings and explore community controller profiles for popular titles.
