How to connect PS5 controller to Windows 11 ?

When the Playstation 5 was released, players were surprised to see a much better controller model than the previous ones. So, you may be one of those who are wondering how to connect PS5 controller to Windows 11.

Well, in this article we will give you all the tips to be able to do it easily and quickly. You will see that there are two different techniques, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

As a bonus, you will even be told how to set your controller to Steam since there is a good chance that you are looking to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11 for this reason ! So, let's not waste a moment.

The advantages of connecting a PS5 controller

Before seeing precisely how to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11, let's see why to do it. Indeed, for years, gamers preferred to connect an Xbox controller to their PC.

This is due to ergonomics which, it must be admitted, was superior. The main problem with the PlayStation controllers compared to the Xbox controllers was that they were thinner in the hand and that was a bit awkward.

In addition, we can specify that since Xbox is Microsoft, it was much easier to connect a controller of the same brand. But for some time now, it's been very easy to connect Sony controllers to our computers.

In addition, with the recent release of the PS5, Sony has revised the criteria for these controllers. It is wider and has a very good grip. From then on, it becomes much more interesting to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11.

Connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11 in bluetooth

You have two main ways to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11. The first is to do it via Bluetooth. The practical aspect of this first technique is that you will not need any wire.

From then on, you will not need a cable, or even untangle it every time you want to transport your PC. Of course, for this to work, your PC must be able to link via Bluetooth.

But this is now the case for almost all computers, especially if they are laptops. The other weak point of this means of connection is that you will have to recharge the batteries of your controller regularly.

Therefore, this means that you will need to bring another controller if you want to do long gaming sessions. It is possible, but it is something to take into account before doing so. As for how to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11, there she is :

  • Go to SettingsAnd in Bluetooth and devices.
  • Click on Add device.
  • Choose to add via Bluetooth.
  • Press the Sony + Share button on your controller until the lighting around the touchpad turns blue and starts flashing quickly. The Share button is the one just to the left of the touchpad.
  • Select " Wireless controller » in the list of Bluetooth devices and choose to add the controller to your PC.
  • A message will appear to let you know that the controller is connected.

Connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11 via a wired connection

As we have just seen, the main fault when you want to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11 via Bluetooth, it's autonomy. If the controller is recent it's not too much of a problem, but it can become one later.

So, one of the ways to solve this problem is to opt for the second option, namely connecting the PS5 controller to Windows using a charging cable intended for the controller.

This way, you no longer have to worry about running out of battery. In fact, the controller simply recharges while you are playing. Well stretched, there are a few weak points.

One of these downsides is that this cable can be inconvenient and most importantly, it takes a USB port on your PC. This can be annoying, especially if you're playing on a laptop that has a limited number of USB ports.

The advantage of this technique is also that it is very simple. Simply connect the cable to your PC and the controller. After a few seconds of installation, it will then be usable in your games.

Make PS5 controller settings on Steam

Now that we have seen the two ways to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11, let's see how to do it at the output of the pay on the Steam platform. Because yes, you can manage a lot of settings this way.

For that, of course, you must have Steam installed on your computer. Your controller must also be connected. Once done, follow these steps:

  • Launch the software and go to the settings by clicking on the Steam menu then Settings.
  • Next, enter Big Picture mode by going to Controller > Big Picture Setup.
  • There you will have several options, check “ PlayStation setup support“. This is especially important because it will allow you to customize your PS5 controls for Steam games and large picture mode in the main settings menu.
  • Here is the controller is configured directly on Steam.

On this same page, you can also click on Preference to adjust the vibrations or the color displayed by the controller. By pressing Calibration, you can also manage the calibration of the different joysticks of the controller.

Beware of audio output after connection!

Voila, at this point of the article, you have already connected the PS5 controller to Windows 11 and you were even able to calibrate it for Steam. We could then say that everything is good, but one last point deserves to be explained.

Indeed, you have to see that your PS5 controller has a microphone and also a speaker. Therefore, it may be that on your PC, it is audio inputs and outputs on your controller which are selected by default, which is annoying.

If so, go to Settings, then Audio. there you will have the used audio inputs and outputs. If it's the ones on the PS5 controller, just change them to the ones you want and you shouldn't have any problems.

There you go, now you have successfully connected the PS5 controller to Windows 11, configure it to play, but also avoid some recurring bugs. All you have to do is launch your favorite games and enjoy your PS5 controller. It's also important to note that if you ever have an Xbox controller, the method will be pretty much the same!