The Dualshock 4 restrainer is a great way to have games on PC . It ’s been rated thebestPC accountant by none other thanPC Gamereven though it was n’t project with personal computer gaming in mind . DS4Windows is the default tool many mass utilize to connect their DS4 controller with a PC . It ’s a keen , easy - to - exercise solution . But it miss painfully in terms of customization . We ’ve curated this tilt of DS4Windows alternatives that ’ll let you do just a bit more with yourPS4controller .
Read : How to Play PS4 on the Laptop Without Remote Play
1. Steam Big Picture Mode
Who it ’s for : Users who are already part of the Steam ecosystem
If you ’re a Steam user with a PS4 controller , you ’re in luck : Steam ’s much - maligned Big Picture Mode was update a while back with native documentation for the DS4 , Xbox One control , the Switch Pro controller , and generic USB control .
There ’s an interesting story behind this . Valve , the ship’s company behind Steam , launched their own controller a few years ago call theSteam Controller . It was an sodding marketplace bankruptcy since the computer software was buggy and treacherous at launch . I had a hairpulling – frustrating time with my Steam control and shelved it for over a year . I started using it again a few calendar month ago and the experience has mature considerably . Unfortunately , it was too little , too recent . Valve seemed to get the picture . So instead of keeping the Steam Controller ’s unique functionality single , they opened up Big Picture Mode support for every mainstream control , admit the DS4 .
The setup process is refreshingly simple . Hold down the PlayStation clit and the Share release on your DS4 controller until you see the light bar begin repeatedly flashing . That flash indicates the controller is now in pair mode . Next , start the steam app and get into Big Picture Mode , then enable PS4 Configuration Support in the controller config . After that , you just link your DS4 wireless dongle to your personal computer and that ’s it .
Big Picture way have you customize your DS4 extensively . you’re able to specify it up to use the gyro for movement aim . you could utilise the touchpad as a PC mouse mat . And , of course , you could remap buttons to your mettle ’s content . Because of how easy it is to go under up , and because it ’s the closest we have to “ official ” keep for the DS4 on Windows , Steam Big Picture Mode is our personal recommendation as a DS4Windows alternative . It does have one big drawback , though :
braggart Picture Mode and controller functionality are per se tied to Steam . This is n’t a system - wide DS4 number one wood so it ’ll only forge within Steam . This is n’t a huge heap , though . Steam gives you the selection to add up non - Steam games and support for these is a lot more reliable nowadays than near launch . But this means that you ’ll have to localise everything up to route through Steam . Moreover , you’re able to only open your games in Steam Big Picture Mode if you require full controller support . You ca n’t just press a screen background icon and have the accountant work in - game . There is a desktop mode mise en scene but it ’s not as honest as you ’d want it to be . It ’s not without its flaws but as long as you ’re using Steam anyways , Big Picture Mode ’s DS4 support is just fine .
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DownloadSteam
2. SCP Toolkit
Who it ’s for : exploiter who also want to link up PS3 and PS2 controllers
SCP has been around for alongtime . I was using it to connect Dualshock 3 controller to my personal computer 5 years ago . It came out in 2011 , score it erstwhile than the PS4 itself . It was built with reenforcement for PS3 and PS2 controller in mind and DS4 keep was sum up in later on . Fun Fact : DS4Windows in reality make use of SCP ’s driver , while adding troublesomeness feature article for DS4 users . This means that if you use SCP Toolkit , you ’re using the same affair , as far as your personal computer ’s pertain . The main difference of opinion is that , because SCP ’s got support for so many other Dualshock gadget , you’re able to use it to have your PS2 , PS3 , and PS4 accountant overcharge up to PC . This is a unadulterated exemplification of how flexible PC is . I often run Super Smash Bros Brawl , a Wii secret plan via the Dolphin emulator .
Read : Best Local Co - Op PS4 Games to encounter With Your spouse
When ally occur over , it ’s easy to have four - player match : Two PS3 controller , Dualshock 4 , and the Steam accountant , all working at the same time . SCP makes that seemingly impossible compounding a reality . The main drawback , though , is reliability . SCP can be flukey if you ’re not using a unfeigned Sony controller . Also , combinations of Bluetooth and wired connections work , but only sometimes . If you want to use SCP for Bluetooth connectivity , you ’ll postulate to dedicate your Bluetooth adapter for that . It can handle up to 4 DS3 restrainer at a sentence , but you ’ll involve another adapter for any other Bluetooth control you have . So while SCP offers great flexibility , it does so at the cost of reliability .
DownloadSCP Toolkit
3. Pinnacle Game Profiler
Who it ’s for : Users who want to use the DS4 in microcomputer game without native comptroller support
Pinnacle Profiler has been around for a very long time , well before the PS4 – it ’s the oldest solution in our list here . What Pinnacle lets you do is map keyboard and mouse functions to gamepads . There are a lot of gamepad - mapping result out there but what make Pinnacle different is that it has a wide range of tailor - made profiles for specific games . While your stimulation icons will still show up as mouse - and - keyboard , the better Pinnacle visibility can feel almost as effective as native restrainer financial support . We have to sum here that Pinnacle by itself does n’t bear out the DS4 comptroller : you have to get the DS4 run with a system of rules - all-inclusive driver like SCP or DS4Windows first before using Pinnacle .
Once you do get it work , though , Pinnacle Profiler is a undecomposed fashion to experience many PC games that otherwise require a keyboard and computer mouse apparatus , such as Dragon Age : Origins or the STALKER serial . Many of these are optimized for keyboard - mouse play so a controller might not give you the ideal response . Still , Pinnacle will let you do controller - based couch play with your DS4 in game that would otherwise require taking out your keyboard .
DownloadPinnacle Game Profiler
4. DS4Tool
Who it ’s for : Power user who desire heavy customization options than DS4Windows offers
DS4Windows ’ greatest lineament is also its chief weakness : It ’s very wanton to use . It ’s a nag and recreate solution that might not put up all the customization that a real powerfulness user would want . allot , it lets you set lightbar colour and it has some control condition mapping function , too . However , DS4Tool is the unspoiled choice if you desire approach to deeper stimulus customization . DS4Tool give you delicately - grained control over a range of input preferences , such as rumble volume and touchpad sensitivity for world-wide touch , tapdance , and scroll . It let you remap clit , too . Best of all , the real - metre changes alternate allows you to makes these tweaks and see how they do work in real - time .
If you have arthritis or other issuance that can make control use difficult , DS4Tool lets you set set the trigger middle - pointedness ( how much pressure you need to enforce for the triggers to record input ) . This can make shot games a flock more accessible to certain users .
Read : How to Turn Your telecasting on Using Your PS4 Controller
DS4Tool ’s not without its drawback . apparatus is n’t quite as stopper - and - block as DS4Windows . For instance , you have to manually plug into and disconnect the controller every metre by agitate down the PS button : if you leave , you ’re just going to run down the battery . Moreover , DS4Tool presents DS4 controllers to the system as Xinput devices ( Xbox 360 controllers ) . Using the built - in control mapper , you may remap control to different Xbox function , but you ca n’t represent buttons to keyboard or mouse – you’ll postulate to apply something like Pinnacle to do that .
DownloadDS4Tool
Closing Words
Each of these tools has its own advantage and disadvantages . With the exclusion of Pinnacle Profiler ( which is something you should use on top of a DS4 driver ) , each of these options is a executable total replacement for DS4Windows . Steam Big Picture Mode is the nonremittal port wine of call : If you practice Steam at all , this is the close to “ official ” DS4 financial support you ’ll get on Windows . It offers brawny customization and mapping features . However , it ’s bind down to Steam and examine to apply your DS4 system - astray can quickly wrench into an exercise in frustration .
SCP and DS4Tool are both cracking alternatives to DS4Windows . Neither is as sluttish to employ and both are more prone to crashing than DS4Windows . However , SCP lets you practice bequest Dualshock devices and DS4Tool gives you keep in line over more stimulus setting like touchpad sensitivity and rumble strength . From personal experience , we consider Steam Big Picture Mode to be the best solution : It ’s straight from Valve , so there ’s official support . And besides , motion - controlled aiming and driving in - game ( which you could put up using this),neverget old .
You know what ’s even wackier than using your PS4 controller on PC ? UsingAirPods with your PS4 .
