Can You Connect a PS4 Controller to a PS5?

Yes — but with some important limitations that affect how useful it actually is for most players. The PS4 DualShock 4 controller does work with a PS5, but only in specific scenarios. Whether that connection is practical for your setup depends on what you're trying to play and how you want to play it.

How the PS4 Controller Connects to PS5

The PS5 accepts PS4 controllers through both USB cable and Bluetooth — the same two methods used with PS4. Pairing via Bluetooth follows the same process: hold the PlayStation button and Share button simultaneously until the light bar flashes, then go to the PS5's Bluetooth settings to complete the connection.

There's no adapter or special hardware required. Sony built basic backward compatibility into the PS5's controller input system, so the DualShock 4 is recognized natively.

The Big Catch: PS5 Games Don't Support It 🎮

Here's where the limitation becomes significant. The PS4 controller cannot be used to play PS5 games. Sony made a deliberate design decision to restrict PS5 titles to the DualSense controller only.

The reasoning behind this is tied to the DualSense's unique features — haptic feedback and adaptive triggers — which are core parts of how many PS5 games are designed. Because developers build these mechanics into gameplay (resistance when drawing a bow, texture feedback when walking on different surfaces), Sony decided not to allow a controller that can't replicate those inputs.

This means if you try to launch a PS5 game with a DualShock 4 connected, the system either won't let you start it or will prompt you to switch to a DualSense.

What You Can Use It For on PS5

The DualShock 4's compatibility with PS5 is more useful than it might first appear, depending on your gaming habits:

If your gaming on PS5 involves a healthy mix of PS4 backward-compatible titles, this controller connection becomes genuinely useful. The PS5's backward compatibility library is large, and the DualShock 4 works fully for those games — all buttons, touchpad, and motion controls function as expected.

Connecting via USB vs. Bluetooth

Both connection methods work, but there are practical differences worth knowing:

USB connection uses a Micro-USB cable (the same type used to charge DualShock 4 controllers). It's more stable, has no latency concerns, and doesn't require a separate pairing process. You plug it in and the PS5 recognizes it.

Bluetooth is wireless and more convenient for couch gaming, but requires pairing first. One thing to note: the PS5 has a limited number of simultaneous Bluetooth device slots, and connecting multiple controllers plus headsets can occasionally cause conflicts depending on your setup.

Multiple Controllers and Local Multiplayer

One area where this matters practically is local multiplayer. If you have a PS5 but only one DualSense and want to set up a second player, a DualShock 4 can fill that slot — again, as long as you're playing a PS4 game that supports multiple controllers.

For PS5 games that support local co-op or versus play, both players need a DualSense. There's no workaround for this.

What About Third-Party and Older Controllers?

The same rules that apply to DualShock 4 generally extend to other PS4-era controllers, including licensed third-party controllers from brands like Razer, Nacon, or Hori that were designed for PS4. They typically work for PS4 games on PS5, but not PS5 titles.

Some third-party controllers have released PS5-specific versions that are officially licensed and work with PS5 games — these are distinct products, not PS4 controllers with a firmware tweak.

Controllers from earlier generations (PS3, PS2) are not supported on PS5 without third-party adapters, which introduce their own compatibility variables.

Firmware and Software Updates

Sony has adjusted controller compatibility in the past through firmware updates. The current restrictions on DualShock 4 use with PS5 titles reflect Sony's intentional product strategy, not a technical impossibility. Whether that changes in the future isn't something that can be confirmed — but as of the current firmware, the limitation stands.

It's worth keeping PS5 system software updated regardless, as Sony occasionally adjusts how devices are recognized and what features are available through connected accessories.

The Variables That Determine Whether This Works for You 🕹️

A few factors shape how useful this compatibility actually is in practice:

• Your PS5 game library — if most of your playtime is on PS5-native titles, a DualShock 4 won't get you far
• Your backward-compatible PS4 library — if you're revisiting older titles, the DualShock 4 connection becomes much more functional
• How many controllers you own — for households with multiple players, the mixed DualSense/DualShock 4 setup has real limits
• What you're comfortable with — some players find the DualShock 4 more comfortable than the DualSense, which makes even partial compatibility worth knowing about

The answer to whether connecting a PS4 controller to your PS5 makes sense isn't really about the connection itself — it works fine technically. It's about what that controller can actually do once it's connected, and whether that matches how you actually use your console.