How to Connect a PS4 Controller to a PS5 — What Works, What Doesn't, and Why It Matters

If you've made the jump to PlayStation 5 but still have a drawer full of DualShock 4 controllers, it's natural to wonder whether they'll work with the new console. The short answer is: yes, with significant limitations. Understanding exactly what those limitations are — and why Sony built them in — helps you figure out whether using your old controller actually makes sense for your situation.

Does the PS5 Support PS4 Controllers?

The PS5 does recognize and connect the DualShock 4 (the PS4's controller), but Sony has deliberately restricted what it can do. A DualShock 4 will only work when playing PS4 games on the PS5 through backward compatibility. It cannot be used to play native PS5 titles.

This isn't a technical glitch — it's an intentional design decision. Sony built the PS5 around the DualSense controller, which introduced features the DualShock 4 simply doesn't have: adaptive triggers, advanced haptic feedback, a built-in microphone, and a Create button. Because PS5 games are designed to use these features, Sony locked native PS5 titles to DualSense-only input.

How to Connect a DualShock 4 to Your PS5

There are two ways to connect a PS4 controller to a PS5:

Method 1: USB Cable (Wired)

1. Plug a USB-A to Micro-USB cable into one of the PS5's USB ports and into the DualShock 4.
2. Press the PS button on the controller.
3. The PS5 will recognize the controller and assign it a player slot.

The PS5 has both USB-A ports (on the front and back) and a USB-C port on the front, so you'll need the appropriate cable for your DualShock 4, which uses Micro-USB.

Method 2: Wireless via Bluetooth

1. On your PS5, go to Settings > Accessories > General > Bluetooth Accessories.
2. Put your DualShock 4 into pairing mode by holding the PS button and Share button simultaneously until the light bar flashes.
3. Select the controller from the list of discovered devices.
4. The controller will pair and connect.

🎮 Once connected wirelessly, the DualShock 4 behaves like any Bluetooth peripheral — but again, only within the scope of PS4 backward-compatible games.

What You Can and Can't Do With a DS4 on PS5

This means a second player using a DualShock 4 can join a PS4 multiplayer game on the PS5 alongside a player using a DualSense — which makes it a genuinely useful option in co-op scenarios when playing backward-compatible titles.

Why the PS4 Controller Doesn't Work With PS5 Games

The restriction goes deeper than just features. PS5 game developers are expected to build their experiences around DualSense capabilities — specifically:

• Haptic feedback that replaces traditional rumble with precise tactile sensations (feeling rain, footsteps, or surface textures differently)
• Adaptive triggers that provide variable resistance (a bowstring feeling tighter as you draw, for example)
• Built-in microphone and speaker for in-game audio cues

The DualShock 4 lacks the hardware to replicate any of these. Rather than allow a degraded experience in PS5 titles, Sony chose a hard block. Some developers and players find this frustrating; others see it as a legitimate incentive to keep the DualSense at the center of the PS5 experience.

Using a PS4 Controller as a Second Controller on PS5

🕹️ One practical use case: local co-op in PS4 games. If you're playing a backward-compatible PS4 title and a second player wants to join, a DualShock 4 works perfectly well. This avoids the need to purchase a second DualSense for households that only use the PS5 for occasional couch co-op in older titles.

Up to four controllers can be connected to a PS5 at once across a mix of DualSense and DualShock 4 devices — provided all active users are playing PS4-compatible games.

Third-Party Adapters: A Note on Workarounds

Some third-party USB adapters claim to let unsupported controllers work with PS5 games by making them appear as a different device type. These exist in a gray area — they may work for certain games, may conflict with others, and could behave unpredictably after system software updates. Sony doesn't officially support these solutions, and their reliability varies considerably depending on the adapter, the game, and the firmware version running on the console.

The Variable That Changes Everything: Your Game Library

Whether connecting a DualShock 4 to your PS5 is actually useful depends almost entirely on what you're playing. If your PS5 library is mostly native PS5 titles, your old controllers will sit unused. If you're spending significant time in your PS4 back-catalog — or if you're looking for a low-cost way to add a second controller for a household member — the math looks different.

The DualShock 4 isn't a full replacement for a DualSense on PS5; it was never meant to be. But it's not useless either. How much value it adds comes down to the shape of your own gaming habits and whether the games you're returning to are from the PS4 generation.