When the Playstation 5 was released, players were surprised to see a much better controller model than the previous ones. So, you might 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 tricks 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 given that 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 exactly 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.
In question an ergonomics which was it must be admitted superior. The main problem with the PlayStation controllers compared to the Xbox ones 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 checkmark for these controllers. It is wider and it has a very good hold in hand. From then on, it becomes much more interesting to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11.
Connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11 via Bluetooth
You have two main ways to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11. The first is to do it through Bluetooth. The practical aspect of this first technique is that you won't need a wire.
From then on, you won't 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 connect 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 provide another controller if you want to do long gaming sessions. It is possible, but it is an element to take into account before doing so. As for how to connect PS5 controller to Windows 11, here it is:
- Go to ParametersAnd 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 rapidly. 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 drawback when you want to connect the PS5 controller to Windows 11 via Bluetooth is autonomy. If when the controller is recent it's not too much of a problem, but it can become so later.
So, one of the ways to solve this problem is to opt for the second option, namely to connect the PS5 controller to Windows using a charging cable provided for the controller.
This way you don't have to worry about running out of battery anymore. Indeed, the controller simply recharges at the same time as you are playing. Of course, there are a few weak points.
One of these weak points is that this cable can be inconvenient and above all, it takes up 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. you just need to 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 exit from 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 particularly important as it will allow you to customize your PS5 controls for Steam Games and Big 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 have even been 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, configured it to play, but also avoided some recurring bugs. All you have to do is launch your favorite games and enjoy your PS5 controller. It is also important to note that if you ever have an Xbox controller, the method will be pretty much the same!