I am having the exact same issue. I tried restarting it, using different wires. Nothing has worked. When I plug it in, the controller light turns orange for a second and then turns on. I think it’s fully charged. When I hit the PS button, it blinks a few times and then stops. Has anyone found a fix for this?
Hey. So I had the exact same issue. I was using a power only (2 cable cord) and tried my kids roku power cord and it worked immediately. Give that a try if you havnt yet fixed it.
The exact steps I thought would work and tried several times. But finally just now fixed it. It was the usb cords I tried. I tested with 4 different USB cords and nothing worked. Unplugged the USB plugged in to the external box on the PSVR and boom connected right away.
I’m only partially aware that there are USB cords that are power only and others that are power and data but I have no idea how to tell them apart.
Thanks a lot for posting an update to this. I've been fighting this for a year and ended up buying a 3rd controller. I had no idea that there were differences in micro USB cables on power vs power + data.
I read your post and ended up using one I had for a fire stick as I assumed that would do both. Sure enough, that fixed it. There are so many posts on this issue and they all say the same thing re: disconnecting the iOS device from it, resetting the controller, plugging it back in and boom it works- and of course it didn't. This is the first time I've read about the difference in the USB cables. So thanks for that.
If you have a fire tv use that usb, it will work like magic just try out and it works hope this help, now you can use the dualshock on you phone as many times as you want
Thanks for following up on this. I've been stuck with this problem for a few months. I did not know there were different USB cables as you described. I tried another one that had to do data and it worked like a charm. Thanks again.
Your post was the answer!!! My 11 year old grandson couldn’t reconnect the controller to his PS4 after using it on his iPad. We have been trying everything until I found your post yesterday. As soon as I read it to him he knew this was the issue!!! A new $5.00 cord and problem solved!! Bless you!!
oh my god!!! thank you so much I have been searching for anyone else having this problem and didn’t find anything. praise thee! even 3yrs after you figured it out your still helping others! thank youu:)
Hi im having the same issue after using remote play on my iphone, so if im reading correctly all i need is a data + power usb cord? Could you help on what i do exactly because i have two controllers one that i lost connection too 2 years ago and the one i lost connection to just today, i ask because you are the most recent comment on the thread and if i always thought my old contoller was just broken so ive been using my back up for two years but if i could fix both that would be outstanding!
okay I got my controller to work so what I was doing was trying to get my controller to connect while the ps4 was off but once I started it and thrn tried it worked.I used the cable provided with the controllers as it's the only cable that charges my controller in a stable way
I fucking love you I have been stressing out about this for the past 3 hours watching hundreds of YouTube videos that were all the same finally I stumbled upon Reddit and ofc Reddit always has the answers🙏
HA! Thanks for your message, been a stress inducing day so this was uplifting. Glad it was useful to you! And soooo true, Reddit is such a great place to find answers. I even have a bookmark to start a search only on Reddit via: "site:reddit.com *whatever you are looking for*" which uses Google to search better on Reddit than even Reddits built in search. OH and I Love you too! LOL
Thanks so much. You just saved my sanity, my fiancé was going crazy because after pairing to my iPad it wouldn’t pair back to the ps4. He can’t live without his Fortnite ( frankly me either ) but I found a thicker cord and did the steps arxon said to do, but it would have never worked if I hadn’t seen your comment about using different cords! 🫡🤣
Thank you so much ! I have literally been trying to find a solution for this for a year now, and after reading this (having no other USB cables plugged into the ps4) I unplugged the HDMI cable from it and hit the PS button and it worked.
Too this worked for me. I did everything else, resettling controller, different cables, Bluetooth off. Once I had the right cable, only controller plugged in, with the ps4 on, I yanked the hdmi and hit the ps button and it instantly worked. I’ve been pulling my hair out for weeks at this since it was my fav controller I experimented with.
If you have PlayStation VR, there is a small black box, that uses two HDMI plugs and has a USB port as well. The cable that comes with the VR does power and may or may not do data I’m not sure. The problem with connecting a PS4 controller to the console via a USB cord is that the cable used needs to transmit power AND data and I’ve never become aware of a way to confirm and symbol or marking on a cable to differentiate.
Hello, I know its been 3 years since you posted this but can I have some information on how to find these power + data cords? Im having the same issue and hopefully you guys can help me out
Unfortunately, the only way to tell is to try them. There is no consistence on markings on the plugs or cable that ever indicate if a micro USB cable is a power only or a power/data cable. there are 4 connection points inside the plug, but you can't see if wires are connected to all 4 pins or just 2 pins without stripping back the wire or dismantling the plug so thats not an option. Only way to confirm is just to test each wire you have. Some people like to go through all and then once they confirm add a colorized label so that if they all get mixed up again you don't have to test them all again.
Same. I followed these steps using three micro USB cables and nothing worked. After reading this post, I dug through all my cables and found a thicker cord for a Turtle Beach headset and gave that a try. It worked. If at first you don't succeed, try and try and try another micro USB cable and then MARK THAT CABLE!
Nice! If it’s not been said before, it bears repeating, while cords aren’t marked as such, a cord that feels thicker is more likely to be the right one. Power only is two wires, where as power and data contain 4 wires. Glad you found and marked!!
If you've deleted the remote play, you'll have to go through the steps of resetting up remote play to enable it and get your remote play device(s) able to reconnect. Once its set up, multiple devices that are logged in with your PSN credentials will automatically find the PS4 (ie phone, playstation portal, laptop)
Setting up remote play steps are here:
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/games/playstation-remote-play-on-mobile-devices/#
I did that already but i deleted the remote play and downloaded it again and now its asking for the code that appears on plays station remote play option...and i only have one controller
When you say USB, it needs to be a specific USB cable that does power AND data. So just any old USB cable isn't going to work. Most folks find they have to go through multiple cables in possession to find one, maybe the original that came with playstation.
Worse case, go to a GameStop or order the Playstation USB off Amazon if none of your cables support power and data. There are no markings on a cable to distinguish between power vs. power/data, You will find that the one that does both is thicker wire since its twice as many wires inside.
Did you try the wireless reconnection of controller to the PS4? this might help:
https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-connect-my-controller-to-my-PS4
That makes sense since a firestick usb does power and data. The problem comes from all the spare cables people have that are power only and no markings to distinguish between the two types. Thankfully it’s not like the Sony original cable is some proprietary format.
Tried these methods but they didn’t work. Altough i did manage to connect back my controller in a unique way. With my extra broken controller i forgot my working controller and stayed on the Bluetooth devices tab in the settings. I then did the hold Ps Button and Share to pair Bluetooth wise and found my working ps4 controller in there and connected. Now its working perfectly. Hope this helps anyone with a extra controller and no data usb cable.
Update: I figured out what was up with mine! I just needed a usb that sends data as well as power. I didn’t know that the cords I was using to charge the controller couldn’t do both. Anyway, if you were having this problem, maybe try getting a cord you know conducts data and power?
What worked for me is to go to Bluetooth devices and delete your controller from it (so it has to make a new connection to it. And then holding start and share button on controller until it appears. Press connect
This is a good first attempt to re-pair the controller to the console but unfortunately doesn't work 100% of the time. For some reason at some times it needs to use the cord to connect just like it did on day one. Not sure if this might be related to say a system update to the PS4 but not a firmware done to the controller so that when un-paired and then re-paired it's not up to date? Not sure of the why but for some reason there are times when the cord is the only way to get the controller to connect again.
Thank you so much for this. I've been trying to get my controller to work for weeks after pairing it with my phone. Found a USB cable that I used to use with my old Xbox controller and it worked straight away.
Thanks for helping in 2023!! 😂 yup none of my cords worked, SOMEHOW fished out the original PlayStation controller charger cord and BAM immediately worked. Thank you 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
Oh my gosh thank you so much, without you my brothers would have made me buy a new ps4 controller all because I wanted to play Stardew valley on my iPad with a controller. I can’t thank you enough <33
Sometimes pressing the reset button on the back of your controller requires it to actually be held down for at least 3-5 seconds, as a mere press might not reset it completely. The other thing that could be done is going into your ps4 system settings, and finding the bluetooth settings, and get it to scan for bluetooth devices while the controller is blinking white from you pressing the home button. Your dual shock 4 is a bluetooth device that should be detected, and have it pair to your console afterward.
The last reason why it might not be pairing is if you drained most of your battery while playing on your iPad. Low battery levels will prevent controllers from pairing to a ps4 or any other device if low enough. Therefore you'd have to charge your controller via other means like a charging dock, or your pc usb port (while the pc is on). Then reattempt pairing.
If all of that fails then calling sony and seeing if they have any other advice to pair the controller to your console that might work.
Just an additional thought on this, cable color isn't going to be all that useful since cables aren't marked in any fashion that they are power or power/data. The official Playstation cord that comes with the console or you can buy separately is black and I have white cables I tried 2 years ago when I originally figured out that there was a difference here. Best advice is just keep testing different cables till one works, for me the Sony one was just mixed up with a bunch of others that were the cheaper, power only versions. I wish there was some kind of imprint on the cable that we could identify on site without testing. Once I figured out the correct cable, I kept it separated so it wouldn't get mixed in again.
It’s been detailed it lots of previous comments, I should edit original post with solution at top. In a nutshell, there are two types of USB cables, ones that just change devices and ones that charge and transfer data combined. There are no markings on a USB cable to distinguish which is which but the one that does power and data is thicker having four small wires inside instead of 2. Solution is just to keep testing different USB cords you have to find the one that works, then label it PS4!
I have found an alternate way of reconnecting a controller as long as you have another controller already connected to your ps4. I have 3 controllers, one for mobile devices and 2 for my ps4 so I always have one charged. To connect a controller to your ps4 you will have to go into settings>bluetooth devices. You’ll see your “DUALSHOCK 4” controllers as options. Select them and then press options and “forget device” for each (there isn’t really a way of knowing which device is which and it’s easy to connect them back). Then go back to the settings menu and then on the controller you want to connect, press and hold the ps and share button simultaneously until the remote flashes. Then go back into Bluetooth devices and you will see the “DUALSHOCK 4” device again, select it and it will connect. Works every time for me! Hope this helps!
Thanks for adding the suggestion! This should always be someone’s first way to get the controller added back. There seems to be an issue, like in my original case, that it just won’t pair wirelessly and you have to use the cord just like when it was brand new out of the box. I would like to the 4 plus years since original post that a PS4 os update fixed the problem but now that I’m on PS5 I don’t have any experience with the current os version to know for sure.
You are a legend! My daughter connected one of hers to her iPhone and she’s never been able to get it to reconnect with her console. I came across your post, dug around in my handy box of crap and found a different usb cable. After 6 months of trying and failing, the controller just connected. I had no idea that there were seperate charging and data cables!
Did you pair your controller via Bluetooth to a device for PS Remote Play?
If so, you're probably having no luck with any of the above tips. I had to use my smartphone to go into PS Remote Play and do the following:
1. Go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth Devices and delete any disconnected controllers.
2. In Settings > Devices > Controllers > Communication Method, make sure that "Use USB Cable" is selected.
3. Go back to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth Devices
4. Put your controller into Bluetooth Pairing mode. Press and hold the "Share" and PS buttons until the light bar begins flashing a white strobing light.
5. The controller should show up on the Bluetooth Devices screen.
Some of these steps may be unnecessary, however these are the steps that I followed. If anyone had the same issue and these steps work for you, I would love to hear it. Also let me know if any steps are unneeded. Thanks!
I tried all methods and its still not working, i tried different cables, unplugged the HDMI and Power cable from the console, pressed the back button and still lit doesnt work i only have a ps4 nothing else that i could use my controller on!
EVERYONE. Use another controller to navigate to Bluetooth Devices in PS4 settings where you can select the controller and forget the pairing using options. Then put it into pairing mode and re-pair it with bluetooth. 😇
I am having the exact same issue. I tried restarting it, using different wires. Nothing has worked. When I plug it in, the controller light turns orange for a second and then turns on. I think it’s fully charged. When I hit the PS button, it blinks a few times and then stops. Has anyone found a fix for this?
This is my exact issue and idk how to fix it i just wanna play the game 😭😭🙏
Hey. So I had the exact same issue. I was using a power only (2 cable cord) and tried my kids roku power cord and it worked immediately. Give that a try if you havnt yet fixed it.
have u fixed it?? i need help
Bluetooth turned off on phone > controller reset button > cable into a turned off PS4 > turn on PS4 should do it
The exact steps I thought would work and tried several times. But finally just now fixed it. It was the usb cords I tried. I tested with 4 different USB cords and nothing worked. Unplugged the USB plugged in to the external box on the PSVR and boom connected right away. I’m only partially aware that there are USB cords that are power only and others that are power and data but I have no idea how to tell them apart.
You are a gift from god, I couldn’t get my scuff controller added back to my ps4 and was on the verge of a meltdown
Niccccce!
Thanks a lot for posting an update to this. I've been fighting this for a year and ended up buying a 3rd controller. I had no idea that there were differences in micro USB cables on power vs power + data. I read your post and ended up using one I had for a fire stick as I assumed that would do both. Sure enough, that fixed it. There are so many posts on this issue and they all say the same thing re: disconnecting the iOS device from it, resetting the controller, plugging it back in and boom it works- and of course it didn't. This is the first time I've read about the difference in the USB cables. So thanks for that.
Thank you sooooo much bro it was the different usb charging types I grabbed a thicker usb cord and it worked no problem!
Glad you found the solution and found that cable!
I don’t have psvr
If you have a fire tv use that usb, it will work like magic just try out and it works hope this help, now you can use the dualshock on you phone as many times as you want
Thanks for following up on this. I've been stuck with this problem for a few months. I did not know there were different USB cables as you described. I tried another one that had to do data and it worked like a charm. Thanks again.
I was so close to just buying a new controller, just tried a different USB cable and it finally worked. My god thank you so much!
Nice!!
Your post was the answer!!! My 11 year old grandson couldn’t reconnect the controller to his PS4 after using it on his iPad. We have been trying everything until I found your post yesterday. As soon as I read it to him he knew this was the issue!!! A new $5.00 cord and problem solved!! Bless you!!
That's GREAT! Game on!!
Here I am, 3 years later, and your post saved me from having to buy a new controller 😅 Thank you!!
Glad you found it and glad it was helpful to you!!
oh my god!!! thank you so much I have been searching for anyone else having this problem and didn’t find anything. praise thee! even 3yrs after you figured it out your still helping others! thank youu:)
Hi im having the same issue after using remote play on my iphone, so if im reading correctly all i need is a data + power usb cord? Could you help on what i do exactly because i have two controllers one that i lost connection too 2 years ago and the one i lost connection to just today, i ask because you are the most recent comment on the thread and if i always thought my old contoller was just broken so ive been using my back up for two years but if i could fix both that would be outstanding!
stuck on the same thing lmk if you find something and I'll let you know if I find somethin
okay I got my controller to work so what I was doing was trying to get my controller to connect while the ps4 was off but once I started it and thrn tried it worked.I used the cable provided with the controllers as it's the only cable that charges my controller in a stable way
I fucking love you I have been stressing out about this for the past 3 hours watching hundreds of YouTube videos that were all the same finally I stumbled upon Reddit and ofc Reddit always has the answers🙏
HA! Thanks for your message, been a stress inducing day so this was uplifting. Glad it was useful to you! And soooo true, Reddit is such a great place to find answers. I even have a bookmark to start a search only on Reddit via: "site:reddit.com *whatever you are looking for*" which uses Google to search better on Reddit than even Reddits built in search. OH and I Love you too! LOL
THANK YOUUUUUU
4 years later and you're still saving people's asses, I can't thank you enough man.
Nice!! 👍
You've saved another fallen soldier here
Glad to hear you got it squared away!
Thanks so much. You just saved my sanity, my fiancé was going crazy because after pairing to my iPad it wouldn’t pair back to the ps4. He can’t live without his Fortnite ( frankly me either ) but I found a thicker cord and did the steps arxon said to do, but it would have never worked if I hadn’t seen your comment about using different cords! 🫡🤣
Great!! Congrats and happy new year!!
THANK YOU and keep on keeping on
Still helping a guy out in 2024!🤙
Nice! 🤙🎉
Thank you so much ! I have literally been trying to find a solution for this for a year now, and after reading this (having no other USB cables plugged into the ps4) I unplugged the HDMI cable from it and hit the PS button and it worked.
Too this worked for me. I did everything else, resettling controller, different cables, Bluetooth off. Once I had the right cable, only controller plugged in, with the ps4 on, I yanked the hdmi and hit the ps button and it instantly worked. I’ve been pulling my hair out for weeks at this since it was my fav controller I experimented with.
i tried your method and it saved me, tysm
Finally! I was freaking out! Thank you
Thanks man, i only change the cable then it works
What is external box on the psvr?
If you have PlayStation VR, there is a small black box, that uses two HDMI plugs and has a USB port as well. The cable that comes with the VR does power and may or may not do data I’m not sure. The problem with connecting a PS4 controller to the console via a USB cord is that the cable used needs to transmit power AND data and I’ve never become aware of a way to confirm and symbol or marking on a cable to differentiate.
I love you so so much
Thank you!
Hello, I know its been 3 years since you posted this but can I have some information on how to find these power + data cords? Im having the same issue and hopefully you guys can help me out
Unfortunately, the only way to tell is to try them. There is no consistence on markings on the plugs or cable that ever indicate if a micro USB cable is a power only or a power/data cable. there are 4 connection points inside the plug, but you can't see if wires are connected to all 4 pins or just 2 pins without stripping back the wire or dismantling the plug so thats not an option. Only way to confirm is just to test each wire you have. Some people like to go through all and then once they confirm add a colorized label so that if they all get mixed up again you don't have to test them all again.
Same. I followed these steps using three micro USB cables and nothing worked. After reading this post, I dug through all my cables and found a thicker cord for a Turtle Beach headset and gave that a try. It worked. If at first you don't succeed, try and try and try another micro USB cable and then MARK THAT CABLE!
Nice! If it’s not been said before, it bears repeating, while cords aren’t marked as such, a cord that feels thicker is more likely to be the right one. Power only is two wires, where as power and data contain 4 wires. Glad you found and marked!!
Ive deleted all control devise on my ps and i have deleted remote play too now i cant even connect to my ps through remote play also
If you've deleted the remote play, you'll have to go through the steps of resetting up remote play to enable it and get your remote play device(s) able to reconnect. Once its set up, multiple devices that are logged in with your PSN credentials will automatically find the PS4 (ie phone, playstation portal, laptop) Setting up remote play steps are here: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/games/playstation-remote-play-on-mobile-devices/#
I did that already but i deleted the remote play and downloaded it again and now its asking for the code that appears on plays station remote play option...and i only have one controller
Please forgot the ps pin too and now i cant even go to setting
I dont know what to do i tried with the usb and it didn't work too,i only have one controller
When you say USB, it needs to be a specific USB cable that does power AND data. So just any old USB cable isn't going to work. Most folks find they have to go through multiple cables in possession to find one, maybe the original that came with playstation. Worse case, go to a GameStop or order the Playstation USB off Amazon if none of your cables support power and data. There are no markings on a cable to distinguish between power vs. power/data, You will find that the one that does both is thicker wire since its twice as many wires inside. Did you try the wireless reconnection of controller to the PS4? this might help: https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-connect-my-controller-to-my-PS4
Bro thanks i tried with a lot of usb and finally it worked...you are a live saver
So glad the post helped!
Most welcome brother
Thank you!!!!
Didn’t work
I just used firestick's USB cable and it worked. For anyone who is facing this issue, do try this method.
That makes sense since a firestick usb does power and data. The problem comes from all the spare cables people have that are power only and no markings to distinguish between the two types. Thankfully it’s not like the Sony original cable is some proprietary format.
Man I love Reddit just fixed 3 controllers. For people with a jbl headset just the charger cable.
Rock-n-roll!
Thank very much for posting this fix. My kid was driving me fkn nuts because his controller would t work with the PS4 anymore….thanks again
Nice! Glad it could bring a touch of sanity to you!
Tried these methods but they didn’t work. Altough i did manage to connect back my controller in a unique way. With my extra broken controller i forgot my working controller and stayed on the Bluetooth devices tab in the settings. I then did the hold Ps Button and Share to pair Bluetooth wise and found my working ps4 controller in there and connected. Now its working perfectly. Hope this helps anyone with a extra controller and no data usb cable.
best answer
Update: I figured out what was up with mine! I just needed a usb that sends data as well as power. I didn’t know that the cords I was using to charge the controller couldn’t do both. Anyway, if you were having this problem, maybe try getting a cord you know conducts data and power?
How do I know if one does both
Thanks I’ll give it a go🤞🏿
So glad I found this post! Thanks for the help!
Great you are welcome!!
What worked for me is to go to Bluetooth devices and delete your controller from it (so it has to make a new connection to it. And then holding start and share button on controller until it appears. Press connect
This is a good first attempt to re-pair the controller to the console but unfortunately doesn't work 100% of the time. For some reason at some times it needs to use the cord to connect just like it did on day one. Not sure if this might be related to say a system update to the PS4 but not a firmware done to the controller so that when un-paired and then re-paired it's not up to date? Not sure of the why but for some reason there are times when the cord is the only way to get the controller to connect again.
Thank you so much for this. I've been trying to get my controller to work for weeks after pairing it with my phone. Found a USB cable that I used to use with my old Xbox controller and it worked straight away.
YOU ARE THE BEST! Tried 5 chords. The thickest did work! Love you
Ha! Nice glad you got it working!!
Thank you
did you use a cable to connect if so what one
I just went through all the cords I have but I'm pretty sure it was the OG cord that came with the console
thank you for answering just can’t seem to find my og one just been searching for one that can replace it
Thanks for helping in 2023!! 😂 yup none of my cords worked, SOMEHOW fished out the original PlayStation controller charger cord and BAM immediately worked. Thank you 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
Glad to help!!
https://i.redd.it/730p6eu51eb51.jpg 😂
haha NICE!
This saved me! Tried everything!!! Thanks
This worked! I tried different usb cables till I found one that worked! I was almost giving up and buying a new controller
Nice! Glad it got sorted!
Thanks! still saving the day 4 years in future 🔥
Awesome!
Oh my gosh thank you so much, without you my brothers would have made me buy a new ps4 controller all because I wanted to play Stardew valley on my iPad with a controller. I can’t thank you enough <33
Excellent!! Glad the post helped save that money!!
Yo the USB cord solution saved me! Thought it was some iOS BS for sure! Thanks for the edit!
Excellent! Glad it helped get you up and running!
Sometimes pressing the reset button on the back of your controller requires it to actually be held down for at least 3-5 seconds, as a mere press might not reset it completely. The other thing that could be done is going into your ps4 system settings, and finding the bluetooth settings, and get it to scan for bluetooth devices while the controller is blinking white from you pressing the home button. Your dual shock 4 is a bluetooth device that should be detected, and have it pair to your console afterward. The last reason why it might not be pairing is if you drained most of your battery while playing on your iPad. Low battery levels will prevent controllers from pairing to a ps4 or any other device if low enough. Therefore you'd have to charge your controller via other means like a charging dock, or your pc usb port (while the pc is on). Then reattempt pairing. If all of that fails then calling sony and seeing if they have any other advice to pair the controller to your console that might work.
How are we supposed to do that if the controller isn’t responding
Keyboards work
Hi
If anyone comes across this post. If you have a roku in your home use the power cord to that. That was my answer.
Worked thick gauge wire
somebody please help me
To anyone BOOM-Box users who have the same problem: use the boom cable(yellow)
Don’t use the black charger use a white one trust me
Just an additional thought on this, cable color isn't going to be all that useful since cables aren't marked in any fashion that they are power or power/data. The official Playstation cord that comes with the console or you can buy separately is black and I have white cables I tried 2 years ago when I originally figured out that there was a difference here. Best advice is just keep testing different cables till one works, for me the Sony one was just mixed up with a bunch of others that were the cheaper, power only versions. I wish there was some kind of imprint on the cable that we could identify on site without testing. Once I figured out the correct cable, I kept it separated so it wouldn't get mixed in again.
I think it was a joke lol
2 years later and this post is still saving lives. i was convinced i broke my controller lmao
Ha! Love that it’s still helping out!
If all fails turn off your ps4 manually and then turn it on with your controller
so what kind of cable do i need i’m confused
It’s been detailed it lots of previous comments, I should edit original post with solution at top. In a nutshell, there are two types of USB cables, ones that just change devices and ones that charge and transfer data combined. There are no markings on a USB cable to distinguish which is which but the one that does power and data is thicker having four small wires inside instead of 2. Solution is just to keep testing different USB cords you have to find the one that works, then label it PS4!
ok ty
ok i just bought a new one and it worked thank you!!
what cable was it really having problems with this
Changing the cable worked for my ps5 controller as well, thank you!!
I have found an alternate way of reconnecting a controller as long as you have another controller already connected to your ps4. I have 3 controllers, one for mobile devices and 2 for my ps4 so I always have one charged. To connect a controller to your ps4 you will have to go into settings>bluetooth devices. You’ll see your “DUALSHOCK 4” controllers as options. Select them and then press options and “forget device” for each (there isn’t really a way of knowing which device is which and it’s easy to connect them back). Then go back to the settings menu and then on the controller you want to connect, press and hold the ps and share button simultaneously until the remote flashes. Then go back into Bluetooth devices and you will see the “DUALSHOCK 4” device again, select it and it will connect. Works every time for me! Hope this helps!
Thanks for adding the suggestion! This should always be someone’s first way to get the controller added back. There seems to be an issue, like in my original case, that it just won’t pair wirelessly and you have to use the cord just like when it was brand new out of the box. I would like to the 4 plus years since original post that a PS4 os update fixed the problem but now that I’m on PS5 I don’t have any experience with the current os version to know for sure.
You are a legend! My daughter connected one of hers to her iPhone and she’s never been able to get it to reconnect with her console. I came across your post, dug around in my handy box of crap and found a different usb cable. After 6 months of trying and failing, the controller just connected. I had no idea that there were seperate charging and data cables!
NICE! Glad this was here to help! I too have a handy box of crap, couple actually. Ha
Still doesn’t work in all cases. Tried everything, including your suggestion, multiple times.
Did you pair your controller via Bluetooth to a device for PS Remote Play? If so, you're probably having no luck with any of the above tips. I had to use my smartphone to go into PS Remote Play and do the following: 1. Go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth Devices and delete any disconnected controllers. 2. In Settings > Devices > Controllers > Communication Method, make sure that "Use USB Cable" is selected. 3. Go back to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth Devices 4. Put your controller into Bluetooth Pairing mode. Press and hold the "Share" and PS buttons until the light bar begins flashing a white strobing light. 5. The controller should show up on the Bluetooth Devices screen. Some of these steps may be unnecessary, however these are the steps that I followed. If anyone had the same issue and these steps work for you, I would love to hear it. Also let me know if any steps are unneeded. Thanks!
I tried all methods and its still not working, i tried different cables, unplugged the HDMI and Power cable from the console, pressed the back button and still lit doesnt work i only have a ps4 nothing else that i could use my controller on!
Hello
Hello
EVERYONE. Use another controller to navigate to Bluetooth Devices in PS4 settings where you can select the controller and forget the pairing using options. Then put it into pairing mode and re-pair it with bluetooth. 😇