DualShock 4 Controller via DS4Windows not recognised by Steam after Windows Update

[Đecaf]

Last night Windows 10 installed an update before shutting down and today Steam is unable to recognise my controllers. Not actually sure one is caused by the other, but they do coincide regardless.

I've been using a DualShock 4 controller via DS4Windows for a long time now as this way it is compatible with most things, like launching games via the Xbox App or GOG. However, Steam still needs to recognise it as a 360 controller which it fails to do so as of today.

Checking 'General Controller Settings' brings up an empty page. DS4Windows recognises the controller and the PS4 Wireless controller is hidden entirely from apps. Moreover, I can use it in non-Steam games without issue. Tried in both the Xbox App and Steam version of Halo Infinite and currently the Steam version refuses to recognise the controller's Xinput, but the Xbox version works just fine.

Anyone else experienced this issue?

So far I've tried reinstalling DS4Windows and tried to use multiple controllers.
Steam reinstall will come up shortly unless I or someone in here knows a solution.

[tintingaroo]

The thing that comes to my mind:
- Is DS4Windows.exe already renamed to something else, if not, rename it and then see if Steam detects the emulated device.

- Have the emulation going then on the Controller Settings screen see if you have the option for Unhide Devices (if it's available it would be next to the Back button).

[Đecaf]

Publicado originalmente por tintingaroo:

The thing that comes to my mind:
- Is DS4Windows.exe already renamed to something else, if not, rename it and then see if Steam detects the emulated device.

- Have the emulation going then on the Controller Settings screen see if you have the option for Unhide Devices (if it's available it would be next to the Back button).

Can you elaborate on the rename idea? It's running under the default name, hasn't been changed. Also, it works just fine in non-Steam games.

The Unhide Devices button is greyed out on my end and cannot be interacted with unfortunately.

Attempted to unhide (using HidHide) the default DS4 input called Wireless Controller and maybe having it register as a PS4 controller without DS4Windows but unfortunately that also didn't work.

Thank you in advance for more info on the renaming idea!

[tintingaroo]

Rename the DS4Windows executable to anything other than DS4Windows.exe then run it.
To prevent issues between Steam and DS4Windows, Steam doesn't try to handle controllers (might just be PS devices) when it's running (or perhaps its when they're connected to it - I'd have to experiment and see what is the exact case). I might be on the wrong track but it's easy to trial.

Update:
I've just been testing things out and renaming was only required when DS4Windows was set to emulate a DS4. When set to 360 emulation, Steam detected it just fine with the input mapper named DS4Windows.exe. So not the solution to the issue...

[SaVoY]

Check out their troubleshooting guide to see if any of those methods work.

https://ds4-windows.com/troubleshoot/

[Zukabazuka]

DS4 windows emulate the controller as a 360, you can't really change that. So unless you get the official bluetooth adapter for the controller or make your little bluetooth device with same files it will always register as 360 controller.

Now if the game offer ways to change the button prompts it will be no problem but since a lot of games don't even bother to put it in your best option is to either get the bluetooth device or ask devs to put PS4 button prompts in to the game.

[20pega70fugi]

nice

[tintingaroo]

Publicado originalmente por Zukabazuka:

DS4 windows emulate the controller as a 360, you can't really change that. So unless you get the official bluetooth adapter for the controller or make your little bluetooth device with same files it will always register as 360 controller.

Now if the game offer ways to change the button prompts it will be no problem but since a lot of games don't even bother to put it in your best option is to either get the bluetooth device or ask devs to put PS4 button prompts in to the game.

DS4Windows can also emulate the DS4 if that's what you select.

[Mentat_Atavist]

Publicado originalmente por tintingaroo:

Publicado originalmente por Zukabazuka:

DS4 windows emulate the controller as a 360, you can't really change that. <snip>

DS4Windows can also emulate the DS4 if that's what you select.

Disagree, Windows 10 game controllers list (joy.cpl) only shows it as a Controller (XBOX For Windows), as does HidHide. Toggline the virtual controller, applying and saving, restarting etc etc never changes how Windows, Gamepad Tester, or HidHide sees it.

Maybe it outputs buttons as Playstation values, but it isn't being recognized as a Playstation controller.

I would love for it to be able to do that, make my life much easier but I suppose Playstation has some hardware 'feature's that make compatibility impossible.

[tintingaroo]

@Mentat_Atavist
Have you set Emulated Controller to DualShock4? Hang about, wasn't reading what you wrote.

DS4Windows can emulate a DS4 - something is up on your end.

Here I have my controller set to DS4 mode (am using an 8BitDo Pro 2), DS4Windows' Emulated Controller set to DualShock4. Game Controllers is detecting the actual device and the emulated.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2816076158&fileuploadsuccess=1


If you want other sources: https://ds4-windows.com/about/#faq

Why would I emulate a DS4 controller if I'm already using one?

DS4Windows can emulate a DS4v1 connected via USB. This is useful when:

• You want to rebind buttons, adjust the sticks behavior etc when using a real DS4 (or any other controller)
  
• a fake/copy-cat DS4 controller is being used which the game may not recognize as an actual DS4
  
• Your controller is connected wirelessly but the game you want to play only has (full) support to wired, version 1 DS4 controllers
  
• DS4Windows’ virtual DS4 controllers are always wired/v1, regardless to the real controller being used and how it’s connected
  
• Your real, physical DS4 is hidden, meaning the only way to use it with games as an actual DS4 controller is by emulating a new one
  
• “Hiding” the physical controllers being used with DS4W from the system is a recommended step to prevent issues with games. For more information, check the Preventing the double controller / double input issue in games page

Can I emulate other controllers besides Xbox and DS4?

DS4Windows is limited to the types of virtual controller the ViGEmBus driver can create, and for now it can only spawn virtual Xbox and DS4 controllers. This may change in the future but there is no estimate.