PC won't recognize PS4 controller

[Oak-Thorn]

For whatever reason, I can't seem to get my Dual Shock 4 controller to pair up with my PC when plugged in. I simply get a single yellow light that fades. I've restarted my PC a few times to see if that works, no luck there. I've tried to enable it in my devices but nothing seems to change.

I had an issue not long ago when I couldn't get Owlboy to read my controller despite other games being able to, and making a change that I for the life of me can't remember what I did. Up until my most recent Windows update it was functioning, now it's not, and I have no idea now how to fix it. Please help.

[Supafly]

引用自 roleybob：

This was driving me nuts - my pc wouldn't even recognise that anything at all was plugged into the USB slot. Tried a different cable, now works fine...

Sounds like the old cable was a power/charge only cable and Charge and sync/data cable

[ТРУБОЧИСТ]

fafa

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 roleybob：

This was driving me nuts - my pc wouldn't even recognise that anything at all was plugged into the USB slot. Tried a different cable, now works fine...

Ah now that's also a thing. If the cable isn't thick enough it won't draw enough current to let the thing work. Plus,. well, USB often has ♥♥♥♥♥♥ connections.

[BoomSlang]

I found the problem. It's the type of USB you use. Some are capable of transmitting data back and forth, while others are only capable of charging the controller. I swapped the charging USB I had with a gray braided one that came with an Xbox One controller play and charge kit I had bought months ago, and my PC recognized the controller instantly

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 BoomSlang：

I found the problem. It's the type of USB you use. Some are capable of transmitting data back and forth, while others are only capable of charging the controller. I swapped the charging USB I had with a gray braided one that came with an Xbox One controller play and charge kit I had bought months ago, and my PC recognized the controller instantly

Of course! I so often forget about this.

I have a load of musical equipment, synths and so on, and I've stumbled across this problem at least a couple of times before. I always forget it though.

Yeah, not all cables are created equal. Some are thinner wire internally and may even be missing wires. This is how devices such as iPods are able to detect slower charging because the wiring isn't good enough.

Thank you for pointing this out.

[zok]

I Have two PS4 controllers. One is black and other is camo-colored.
Black one works just fine. In the Devices and printers camo is in the category Unspecified and labeled Wireless controller with generic box icon. Black one is in the Devices category and shows controller icon. Also camo controller cant be seen in Windows game controllers or DS4Windows.
On my laptop both controllers work fine so this must be some issue with windows. I have tried many times uninstalling the controller, different cables and usb ports. The black one works fine. Also wireless connection works fine on camo-controller. Is it Steam or Windows to blame whats going on.

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 zok：

I Have two PS4 controllers. One is black and other is camo-colored.
Black one works just fine. In the Devices and printers camo is in the category Unspecified and labeled Wireless controller with generic box icon. Black one is in the Devices category and shows controller icon. Also camo controller cant be seen in Windows game controllers or DS4Windows.
On my laptop both controllers work fine so this must be some issue with windows. I have tried many times uninstalling the controller, different cables and usb ports. The black one works fine. Also wireless connection works fine on camo-controller. Is it Steam or Windows to blame whats going on.

Well, it can be USB cable as pointed out above. They're not created equal and especially if you use a USB cable for charging, the wiring that you can't see can make the difference between not working and working.

On top of that there is some sort of issues - whether in Steam or Windows I haven't worked out - that does cause this. I first saw it reported on here a few months ago, quickly after a Steam update (which may or not be relevant).

And the only rememedy that helps I've found is for using joy2key. It's better as it helps some but it ain't a guaranteed fix.

[HespersQuest]

Lil' necromantic bump with a possible solution:

I connected a /different/ controller, went into Big Picture mode, then hit the "unhide devices" button. It was grayed out and inactive until I connected my second controller, but when I did that, my PS4 controller (connected via USB) appeared and began working.

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 Ushimimi：

Lil' necromantic bump with a possible solution:

I connected a /different/ controller, went into Big Picture mode, then hit the "unhide devices" button. It was grayed out and inactive until I connected my second controller, but when I did that, my PS4 controller (connected via USB) appeared and began working.

Big thank you for the feedback. I can hopefully remember this and pass that advice onto others. Cheers.

[etsonic]

I get this too, but my pc detects it as wireless controller (even though it's plugged in), but the controller doesn't work for anything. Steam and DS4 don't pick it up either

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 etsonic：

I get this too, but my pc detects it as wireless controller (even though it's plugged in), but the controller doesn't work for anything. Steam and DS4 don't pick it up either

If you're getting issues from various different wired controllers, it could easily be a different issue for you - namely, the cables or the USB ports you're using.

[CheeseburgerWalrus]

I can\t connect on a USB cable that charges my headset and watch. But as soon as I change USB cable it connects the PS4 controller. Both cables obviously work, but only one of them somehow connects to my PS4 controiller.

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 Howie：

I can\t connect on a USB cable that charges my headset and watch. But as soon as I change USB cable it connects the PS4 controller. Both cables obviously work, but only one of them somehow connects to my PS4 controiller.

Then create your own thread and detail exactly what the issue is instead of hijacking and necroing an old thread.

[Supafly]

引用自 Howie：

I can\t connect on a USB cable that charges my headset and watch. But as soon as I change USB cable it connects the PS4 controller. Both cables obviously work, but only one of them somehow connects to my PS4 controiller.

Because 1 is a charge only cable and the other is a charge and sync(data) cable.

[Goose]

引用自 Djoom Guy：

for anyone still plagued by this, i believe it's a power management issue with your USB BUS. try removing all devices from whichever USB BUS you had the controller in. now plug only the controller into a USB 2.0 if you have it (less resistance than 3.0) and if it works, sweet. now progressively plug in all other devices you had connected to the BUS. it's likely one of them is drawing too much power away from the controller and befuddling windows' ability to read its signature. All i had to remove was a flash drive i had forgotten about and everything is working as before now.

THIS RIGHT HERE..... issue was the cable after changing cables and using a 3.0 usb port ps4 controller was picked up by my pc