Instructions to download, install and configure DS4Windows (2023)

For those who are still not sure what DS4windows is or why they need this app. see ourAbout usside andFrequent questionsfor more information.

In short, DS4 Windows allows you to use your PlayStation and Nintendo controllers on Windows 10/11 PC by creating an Xbox/DS4 controller. With that comes additional features that allow you to remap or rebind buttons to your liking (buttons, joysticks, keyboard + mouse, etc.) and allow you to play many more games with your controller. No need to buy a compatible controller or just play around with keyboard and mouse. Go ahead, take control!

1. Download, run and recognize your gamepads through DS4Windows
   1. Installation and configuration guide
   2. Correctly connect gamepads to PC
2. "Hide" the actual gamepads used, leaving only the DS4Windows virtual controllers visible to games to prevent the infamousDual controller the dual input problem
   • That isOImportant recommendation that must be followed to avoid problems in games
   • Check your game guide for a duplicate controller/input issuefor more information about the problem and instructions on how to proceed.

• Xbox 360 emulation is the default mode: the system and games will recognize your gamepad as an Xbox 360 controller
• DS4/DualSense touchpad is configured for mouse control
  • To quickly turn this feature on or off, press and holdPDand then touch the touchpad once

• While it is possible to switch from Xbox to DS4 emulation, remember that most games are only compatible with Xbox gamepads!If the game itself does not natively support DS4 controllers, your gamepad will not be recognized when you switch to DS4 emulation
  • To switch to DS4 emulation, you can create a new profile with aGamepad -> DualShock 4preset or edit an existing profile and then change itVirtual Controller Configurationi'm a profilerOthersaba
• Rumble is currently disabled when emulating a DS4 controller
  • Do not confuse:If you are using a real DS4 while running an Xbox emulation, the vibration will work normally. Wearanyreal controllers + DS4 emulation disabled rumble

• Windows 10 u 11.Windows 8.1 and below are NO longer supported and users running earlier versions will not be supported
• One or more compatible controllers (check the list)ps4 controller
• (Optional) Bluetooth dongle for wireless connection
• Microsoft .NET 6.0.6 FOR DESKTOP APPLICATIONS

• download latestPackage DS4Windows x64
  • The .7zip package is smaller, but requires the7zipsoftware to open/extract them
• Unzip the package to an easily accessible folder (for example, Desktop, Documents, Download, etc.)
  • NOextract it to a folder that requires elevated privileges (for example: Program Files, Windows)
• run thoseDS4Windows.exeFile to run DS4Windows
• On first launch, DS4Windows may ask where to save user data (settings and profiles):
  • AppData folder (recommended): User data is stored outside of the program folder in a special folder reserved for Windows users
  • program pastes: User data is saved in the same folderDS4Windows.exeIts located

When you run DS4Windows for the first time, you may be prompted to install someconductor, where the former is essential. Install them according to your needs and click onPreparebutton.

• If your controller is not connected yet, please do so now
  • Check here if you arehaving trouble connecting via bluetooth
• when everything isOKthen your controller will appear in mainControllerguide with theStandardselected profile
  • Make sure DS4Windows is not stopped
  • check here ifDS4Windows did not recognize your driver

on the xIf the "X" is present, you may be suffering from the infamous double input issue, which can cause various issues in-game. Read more about how to fix the problem below.

DS4Windows should immediately detect any drivers successfully connected to the PC.

Although USB cables are the most reliable, connecting the controller wirelessly via Bluetooth offers similar response times (input lag) and stable connections, provided a good quality BT adapter is used and there is no radio interference. important that affect the connection.

• It should be as simple as connecting your controller to a good working USB cable.
• Windows should play a "device detected" sound when the controller is connected
• Please note that some USB cables can only be used for charging. If the cable does not support data transfer, it is useless.

• Make sure your BT adapter meets the minimum requirements for your controller
• The controller needs to be adjustedconnection modeadded as a Bluetooth device through Windows settings. If it asks you for a PIN, try0000
• If a controller was previously paired and cannot reconnect, try removing the device from the Windows Bluetooth device list and repairing it.

The official Sony adapter only supports 1 driver, but allows the headphones to be used wirelessly for both audio and microphone.

To pair a DualShock 4 with it, both must be in pairing mode. The main body of the wireless adapter should be gently pushed into the USB port (until a "click" is felt) and then held in that position for 3 seconds with the LED flashing in a heartbeat pattern to indicate it is in pairing mode. Then put the DualShock 4 in pairing mode (see previous section) and it should connect to the adapter.

Assuming everything works as expected, DS4Windows should have no problem detecting your driver, just make sure you didn't accidentally quit DS4Windows (if you did, just press DS4Windows'To startI like it)

If for some reason DS4Windows doesn't recognize your driver or you're not sure if it's connected correctly, see the driver detection troubleshooting page.

DS4Windows does not magically transform your gamepad from one type to another. the surgevirtualGamepad assigned to your real. This means that if you have 1 real gamepad connected, Windows will recognize 2 gamepads. If 2 is real then 4 and so on.

The following image shows how Windows behaves when a DS4v2 (wireless controller) is connected to the system while DS4Windows emulates an Xbox gamepad:

To avoid or fix this issue, it is necessary to hide the real controller so that only the DS4Windows virtual controller is visible to games.This can be done in two ways:

• HideHide (recommended)
• DS4Windows'Hide DS4 controllerOption (old option, not recommended)

HidHide is a driver that acts as a barrier between Windows and game controllers attached to the system. It allows the user to selectively hide gamepads and only allow specific software to detect them.

This is the recommended method because the hidden driver dual input issue is finally resolved after setting it up correctly.

In the case of DS4Windows, the user must configure HidHide to:

1. Hide real system driversonce when connected via USB and once when connected via Bluetooth
2. Allow DS4Windows to see all hidden devices; otherwise it will think that no compatible gamepad is connected

General information

• After installing the HidHide driver, you canHE MUSTPlease reboot your system before using it.
• If HidHide is set correctly, then theHide DS4 controlleroption in DS4Windows'IdeasThe tab is redundant and should remain disabled
• While HidHide's setup guide should cover everything a user needs, this site also has aHidHide dedicated troubleshooting pagefor users who are having trouble setting it up or confirming that their real drivers are hidden.

client configuration

• To avoid confusion, make sure DS4Windows is stopped or completely closedBEFOREOpening the HidHide client so that only real drivers show up in the device list
• Remember to close the HidHide client before reopening DS4Windows, otherwise theExValidation fails even if the controller is properly hidden

Although it is written as "DS4 Driver", it applies to any real driver recognized by DS4Windows

Note to HidHide users.If you have HidHide installed and configured correctly, this option is redundant and should be left disabled to avoid problems or confusion.

This option exists in DS4Windows'IdeasEyelash. When enabled, DS4WindowsFreundlichAsk Windows for exclusive access to recognized devices, which means that the latter would only allow DS4Windows to recognize gamepads and avoid the double input problem.

The problem with this method is that Windows may reject the exclusive access request if another process already has an open connection to the gamepad. Common reasons for this request to fail are:

• A game is already running.
• Google Chrome/Opera running (why does it have a gamepad connection, you ask? Mystery)
• Nvidia Geforce experience process with the gamepad
• Random and non-obvious process that keeps the gamepad stuck
• etc.

Even if it works initially, there is a chance that you will lose exclusive access if your gamepad disconnects in the middle of the game and you will have to close the game to try again.

For the above reasons, theHide DS4 controllerthe option isNOT RECOMMENDED, although it is still available for users who need to use it for some reason. Overall, HidHide is the best option for anyone who can use it.

The complete list of files and folders related to user data is as follows:

• Actions.xml
• Automatic Profiles.xml
• ControladorConfigs.xml
• Linked profiles.xml
• Output Slots.xml
• Profile.xml
• profile paste

fusible

You need to verify that the user-related data exists in two different folders: the DS4Windows main folder and the user profile folder. Besides:

1. click on itProfilordneroption in DS4Windows'Ideastab and confirm that user-related data exists
2. Also make sure that the user data is in the main DS4Windows folder, even if you found data in the profile folder before.
3. If both locations contain files related to user data, the actual location used by DS4Windows to load user data is the one containing theProfile.xmlarchive
   • If the user plans to backup the entire DS4Windows and the user data location is in the DS4Windows folder, then you can backup the entire folder
4. Once you find the actual location from which the user data is uploaded, make a backup copy of the associated files and folders listed in the main section

To restore

• Copy user data back to DS4Windows profile folder or parent folder depending on your use case and restart DS4Windows if open
• If both locations contain user data, DS4Windows will prompt the user to choose which location to load from. Most of the user data on the unused website will be deleted

extinguish

Follow the same steps as in the Backup section, but delete the found user data.

i want a backupIf you plan to use DS4Windows again, use the backup section above to create a backup/restore point.

• PressGain+R, Write it%Application Data%and then select OK. This should open windows.Application data roaming/chainer
• Check if the DS4Windows folder exists and delete it if it exists

• CheckThe relocation area of ​​ViGEmBusin the original ViGEmBus documentation

HideHide

• Open a window'apps and features(try not to start menu)
• Search/find "HideHide"
• Uninstall it and restart your PC

FakerInput

• Open a window'apps and features(try not to start menu)
• Search/find FakerInput and uninstall it

There are some apps and games that behave differently when they detect that DS4Windows is running on the user's system. The known ones are:

• Steam Big Picture - Unable to interact with Big Picture interface with DS4 controllers
• Steam Input - Ignore DS4 drivers and stop using them with SteamPlaystation setup support
• Sholve Knight: Game Ignores DS4 Drivers

This guide will run DS4Windows with a new process name instead of the default.DS4Windows.exeto let it run undetected.

Paso 1

1. Open DS4Windows and go toIdeasaba
2. yes orrun at bootthe option is enabled, please disable it for now
3. Nocustom exe namebox type the desired custom name (DS4Win) without adding ".exe" at the end
4. Stop and restart DS4Windows

paso 2

Close DS4Windows completely, make sure it is not running in the background or in the system tray

stage 3

Locate the new file in the DS4Windows folderElNombreTuTodo.exe(DS4Win.exe) and run -o

Stage 4

To check if everything is ok pressCtrl + Shift + EscOpen the Windows task manager at the top, go to thedetailsguide and confirm itElNombreTuTodo.exe("DS4Win.exe") is runningDS4Windows.exe.

• hence the originalDS4Windows.exeshould no longer be used
• yes orrun at bootThe option was initially disabled, please enable it again now
• This process sometimes needs to be done again after a DS4Windows update, although DS4Windows updates should work as long as the name in thecustom exe nameThe box looks exactly like the actual ".exe" file (without the actual ".exe" text)

1. Completely close DS4Windows if it is open. Make sure it is not running in the background or in the system tray
2. open the originalDS4Windows.exearchive
3. yes orrun at bootthe option is enabled, please disable it for now
4. Delete the name incustom exe namebox
5. Stop and restart DS4Windows
6. yes orrun at bootThe option was initially disabled, please enable it again now