The PS4 controller does work on PS5, but it is not as easy as plug-and-play. There’s actually more you can do with it than Sony officially advertises. If you’ve upgraded to the PS5 console and still have a DualShock 4 hanging around, no need to retire it just yet. There’s a lot it can still do on the new console, a few things it can’t, and one clever workaround that lets you push past Sony’s official limits without spending anything extra. Here’s everything you need to know about connecting a PS4 controller to a PS5 console.

What Can a PS4 Controller Actually Do on PS5?

The short answer is: a lot, just not everything. Your DualShock 4 can do these things:

  • Play any backward-compatible PS4 game on the PS5, whether that’s a disc or a digital copy.
  • Works for navigating the PS5 dashboard and watching apps like Netflix and YouTube.
  • Playing PS1, PS2, and PS3 classics through PS Plus Premium.
  • Using it as a second controller in local co-op PS4 games.

Moreover, if you own a PSVR headset, you actually need a DualShock 4 for certain PS VR games, so don’t toss it out even if you have a DualSense.

But the moment you try to launch a native PS5 game, or the PS5-exclusive version of God of War Ragnarok, let's say, the console will stop you and ask you to switch to a DualSense. Sony made that call on purpose because the DualSense has features the DualShock 4 simply doesn’t have.

The biggest downside here is the lack of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. They actually make PS5 games more fun to play. For example, you can feel the tension when pulling a bowstring, the sensation of raindrops, or the recoil of different guns. Without them, you can still play the games, but you're missing out on some of the cool features that make playing on PS5 feel special.

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How to Connect a PS4 Controller to PS5

Connecting the DualShock 4 is pretty easy. You’ve got two options. Here they are:

1. Wired via USB

This is a very quick method, and it takes about thirty seconds:

  1. Make sure your PS5 is turned on.
  2. Plug your DualShock 4 into one of the PS5’s USB ports using a micro-USB cable (the same one you use to charge it).
  3. Press and hold the PlayStation button on the controller for about five seconds until it turns on.
  4. Your PS5 will ask you to assign the controller to a player, so just pick your account.

Once it’s recognized, you can actually unplug the cable and continue using the controller wirelessly. It remembers the pairing going forward.

2. Wireless via Bluetooth

If you’d rather skip the cable from the start, Bluetooth works just as well, with one small trade-off:

  1. On your PS5, go to Settings.
  2. Navigate to Accessories > General > Bluetooth Accessories.
  3. On your DualShock 4, hold the Share button and the PlayStation button at the same time for 5 seconds until the light bar starts flashing.
  4. “DualShock 4 Wireless Controller” will appear in the list on screen. You need to select it.
  5. Confirm the pairing when the prompt appears, then sign in to the account you want it linked to.

The only caveat with Bluetooth is that it can add a very small amount of input lag compared to a wired connection. For slower-paced PS4 games, it’s totally fine, but if you’re playing something that demands tight timing, the USB cable is the better pick.

The Remote Play Trick: Use Your PS4 Controller for PS5 Games

There’s a way to use your PS4 controller to play native PS5 games with no extra hardware. All you need is your smartphone. It works through Sony’s own Remote Play feature, which lets you stream your PS5 to your phone. Once your DualShock 4 is paired to your phone via Bluetooth, the Remote Play app treats it like a DualSense, giving it control over your PS5 and whatever game you’re running on it.

Here’s how to set it up step by step:

  1. On your PS5, go to Settings > System > Remote Play and turn it on.
  2. In the same menu, make sure Remote Play is enabled for your account.
  3. Download the PlayStation Remote Play app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
  4. Open the app and sign in with your PlayStation Network account.
  5. Select PS5 as your device. The app will connect to your console and stream it to your screen.
  6. On your DualShock 4, hold the Share button and PlayStation button together until the light bar starts flashing (pairing mode, just like above).
  7. Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings, tap Pair new device, and select Wireless Controller.
  8. The light on your controller will turn solid when it’s connected.
  9. Go back to the Remote Play app. Your DualShock 4 will now control your PS5.

I’ll be straight with you, though, that this isn’t a perfect setup. The controller speaker won’t work, and vibration is disabled because the signal is being routed through your phone. You’re also not getting haptic feedback or adaptive triggers since those are hardware features the DualShock 4 doesn’t have.

But all the buttons, the touchpad, and even the gyroscopic controls respond properly. For casual sessions where you just want to play a PS5 game without buying a second DualSense, this is a pretty solid workaround. Just make sure your phone and PS5 are on the same Wi-Fi network.

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Troubleshooting: What to Do If the Controller Won’t Connect?

If your PS4 controller isn’t pairing with the PS5, there are a few quick things to check before you start panicking:

  • If you’re going wired, make sure your micro-USB cable actually supports data transfer. A lot of micro-USB cables out there are charge-only, so they’ll power the controller up but won’t let the PS5 recognize it. Try a different cable if the first one doesn’t work.
  • For Bluetooth pairing, confirm that the light bar on the controller is actually flashing before you try to pair. A solid light means it’s already connected to something else. You need it to be in pairing mode (flashing). Hold the Share and PS buttons for the full 4 to 5 seconds.
  • If the controller just won’t turn on at all, it might be the battery. A nearly dead DualShock 4 can fail to pair entirely. Plug it in and charge it for a few minutes, then try again.
  • Your PS5 supports up to four controllers connected at the same time. If you already have four paired and active, a fifth controller won’t be able to join until one is disconnected.

Should You Get a DualSense?

For PS4 games? No, you really don’t need to. The DualShock 4 handles everything in the PS4 library without any issues, and the Remote Play trick gives you an option for PS5 games if you’re in a pinch.

But if you’re actually playing PS5 titles regularly, a DualSense is worth getting sooner rather than later. The adaptive triggers and haptic feedback are different from anything the DualShock 4 offers, and a lot of PS5 games are designed around them. The DualShock 4 had a great run, and it’s far from useless on PS5. But the DualSense is what the PS5 was built for, and once you’ve used it for a while, it’s hard to go back.

FAQs

Can I use a PS4 controller to play PS5 games?

Not directly because Sony blocks it by default. But there’s a workaround using the PlayStation Remote Play app on your phone that lets you do it for free.

Does a PS4 controller work with PS VR on PS5?

Yes, and actually, some PS VR games specifically require a DualShock 4, so it’s worth keeping one around if you use the headset.

Can I connect a PS5 DualSense to a PS4?

No, it doesn’t work the other way around. The DualSense isn’t compatible with the PS4. It was built specifically for PS5 hardware and won’t be recognized by the older console.