Updated at: 16-06-2023 - By: Leo Hall

If your DS4Windows application on Windows 10 is unable to recognize your controller, try one of these simple solutions. Get the DualShock4 working with your computer immediately.

There are some games that are more enjoyable with a controller.

Whether it was the developer’s intention or a matter of preference, the fact that Windows 10 doesn’t work with DS4 Windows controllers is a major bummer for gamers.

In this place, we present to you simplest corrections that satisfies a need of yours.

NOTE All of these workarounds require a USB connection and the DS4 Windows application for your DualShock 4 controller. If not, get the Windows version of DS4 from this link. After downloading, extract the archive, then run DS4Windows.

Update DS4 Windows

You may have seen two executable app files when you unzipped the DS4 Windows download: DS4Windows and DS4Updater. The first one launches the app, while the second one is a handy updater.

DS4Windows Not Detecting Your Controller On Windows 10? [Easy Fix]

We need to install the latest update to prevent issues caused by a previous flawed update that may be preventing DS4 Windows from detecting the controller.

  1. To access DS4 Windows files, go to their respective folder.
  2. Launch the archived document.
  3. To use DS4Updater, select it.
  4. Let the program check for updates and download them automatically if necessary.
  5. Once you see the message “DS4 Windows is up to date,” you know everything has been updated successfully.
  6. You can restart DS4 Windows after closing the DS4Updater window.
  7. Make sure the device shows up under “Controllers” and that it has been detected.

Make Sure DualShock 4 Controller Is Enabled In Device Manager

For unknown reasons, some Windows updates have been known to render controller devices useless. If DS4 Windows cannot find the controller, it will assume that the controller is not functioning.

Fixing this requires convincing Windows 10 to turn on the hardware, which will then be recognized by DS4 Windows.

  1. Make sure your DualShock 4 controller is connected and turned on before launching DS4 Windows.
  2. Then, select “Device Manager” from the submenu that appears when you right-click the Windows Start button.
  3. Click the right-pointing grey arrow in the Device Manager window to reveal the “Human Interface Devices” submenu.
  4. In the list of devices, right-click “HID-compliant game controller,” and then pick “Enable Device” from the context menu.
  5. Terminate Device Manager.
  6. Come back to DS4 Under “Controllers,” Windows and the DualShock 4 controller should be visible.

Fix DS4Windows Not Detecting Controller on Windows 10 : Orange Light/ Yellow Light - YouTube

Uninstall DualShock 4 Controller Device Using Windows Control Panel

When all else fails, uninstalling the offending app or piece of hardware usually fixes problems in Windows 10.

  1. Unplug the DualShock 4 and exit DS4 Windows first.
  2. Click the Windows Start button, then choose “Search” from the resulting contextual menu.
  3. To access the Control Panel, simply type “Control Panel” into the search bar. When you do that, the system’s settings menu appears.
  4. Select “Hardware and Sound” to access the submenu.
  5. Select “Devices and Printers” from the menu.
  1. Choose “Properties” from the context menu that appears when you right-click “Wireless Controller” in the “Devices” section (which you may need to expand by clicking on the small grey downwards arrow on the left).
  2. Select the “Hardware” tab in the Wireless Controller Properties window.
  3. Select “HID-compliant game controller” from the drop-down menu under “Device Functions,” and then click “Properties.”
  4. Select the “Change Settings” button located at the bottom of the Properties window for your HID-compliant gaming controller.
  5. There will be a new window pop up. Click the “Driver” menu item.
  6. Select “Device Uninstall” to proceed.
  7. Click “Uninstall” when you see the “Warning: You are about to uninstall this device from your system” message.
  8. To close the Wireless Controller Properties window, select “OK” from the window’s toolbar.
  9. Start Windows on DS4.
  10. Connect the DualShock 4 to your computer once again.
  11. The controller should now be recognized by DS4 Windows and appear in the “Controllers” tab as shown previously.

Edit DualShock 4 Controller Registry Entry

All problems should be resolved and DS4 Windows should be able to detect the controller after implementing the above solutions. If they haven’t, we resort to the most technical solution on the list: changing the DualShock 4 controller’s entry in the registry.

  1. Start by closing DS4 Windows and checking that the controller is plugged into the computer.
  2. To proceed, right-click the Windows Start button and select “Search.”
  3. When prompted, select the first entry titled “Control Panel” from your search results.
  4. To access this menu, first go to “Hardware and Sound,” then “Devices and Printers.”
  5. Right-click “Wireless Controller” under “Devices,” and then pick “Properties” from the resulting menu.
  6. Choose the “Hardware” menu option.
  7. HID-compliant game controller can be accessed from the Device Functions menu.
  8. Select the “Details” tab in the new window that appears.
  9. Pick “Hardware ids” from the “Property” menu.
  10. Take the first three values listed under “Value.”
  11. Simply copy by right-clicking.
  12. If you want to copy the entries and store them somewhere safe, you can open Notepad now.
  13. To access the “Run” command, right-click the “Start” button.
  14. Simply hit “Run” and enter “Regedit.”
  15. Select “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE” from the left side of the Registry Editor window and expand it. System, CurrentControlSet, Services, HiddenGuardian, and then Parameters should be expanded.
  16. Double-click the “Affected Devices” file in the left pane.
  17. Then, after pasting the values, select “OK” to commit them.
  18. System restart required.
  19. The controller can be used once DS4 Windows has been loaded.

Enable Hide DS4 Controller Option

It’s possible that DS4 Windows will take longer to detect the controller if the system thinks it’s seeing the same physical device as both a D-pad controller (Xbox controller) and a DualShock 4.

How To Fix the DS4Windows Not Detecting Controller Error

When it comes to video games, the issue becomes magnified because of the game’s inability to distinguish between two controllers. The DS4 Windows controller can be hidden at the user’s discretion, which is a welcome addition.

  1. Bring up the DS4 screen.
  2. In the horizontal menu across the top of the app, select the “Settings” tab.
  3. Click the box labeled “Hide DS4 controller” to proceed. It’s at the very top of the list, so it’s the obvious choice.
  4. To access the controllers, select that menu item.
  5. Connect the DualShock 4 controller once again to the computer.
  6. The gadget will be visible within the program.