How to Use a PS4 Controller on Steam

With Steam’s library including so many games, it’s perfectly understandable why many would switch from console to PC. Some quickly realize that keyboards and mice are not for them. Sometimes, having that ability to boot up your favorite PS4 controller and play your favorite game is ideal. Fortunately, Steam makes this a somewhat easier process. You can connect with a USB cable or do it wirelessly so you’re not tethered to a device. With the power of Bluetooth, you have the freedom to roam for the ultimate gaming experience.

How to use a PS4 controller on Steam?

To use a PS4 controller on Steam, you can follow these steps:

1. Connect the PS4 controller to your PC: You can do this by using a USB cable or by connecting it wirelessly via Bluetooth. For a wired connection, simply plug the USB cable into the controller and your computer. For a wireless connection, you need to make sure your PC has Bluetooth capability and follow the pairing instructions specific to your operating system.
2. Enable PS4 controller support in Steam: Launch the Steam client on your PC and ensure that your PS4 controller is connected and recognized by your computer. Then, go to the Steam menu and click on “Steam” in the top-left corner. From the drop-down menu, select “Settings.”
3. Configure controller settings in Steam: In the Settings window, navigate to the “Controller” tab. Here, you’ll find various controller options. Check the box that says “PlayStation Configuration Support” to enable PS4 controller compatibility with Steam.
4. Customize controller settings (optional): If you want to customize the button mapping or adjust other controller settings, you can do so by clicking on the “General Controller Settings” button in the same “Controller” tab. This allows you to remap buttons, adjust sensitivity, and configure other aspects of the controller’s behavior.
5. Launch and play games: Once your PS4 controller is connected, recognized, and configured in Steam, you can launch any game that supports controller input. Steam will automatically recognize the controller, and you can start playing using your PS4 controller.

Remember that not all games on Steam may offer native controller support, so it’s a good idea to check the game’s settings or documentation to ensure compatibility. Additionally, some games may require additional configuration or mapping within their own settings menus.

PS4 controller mapping on Steam

To map your PS4 controller on Steam, follow these steps:

1. Connect your PS4 controller to your PC: Use a USB cable or connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, ensuring that your controller is recognized by your computer.
2. Open Steam’s Big Picture mode: Launch the Steam client on your PC and click on the “Big Picture Mode” icon located in the top-right corner of the Steam interface.
3. Access the controller settings: Once in Big Picture mode, navigate to the “Settings” option in the top-right corner (gear icon). Select “Controller Settings” from the drop-down menu.
4. Enable PlayStation Configuration Support: In the Controller Settings, check the box that says “PlayStation Configuration Support.” This option allows Steam to recognize and map your PS4 controller.
5. Customize controller mappings: Return to the Big Picture mode main interface and select “Library” to access your games. Choose the game you want to customize the controller mapping for and select “Manage Game” > “Controller Configuration.”
6. Configure controller mappings: Steam’s Controller Configuration interface will open, displaying your PS4 controller layout. Here, you can remap buttons and customize the controller settings according to your preferences.
   • To remap a button: Click on the button you want to modify, and a virtual keyboard/controller will appear. Select the desired button/key to assign it to the selected button on the controller.
   • To create advanced configurations: Click on “Show Activators,” “Show Additional Settings,” or “Show Chorded Press” to access more advanced configuration options.
   • To load community configurations: You can also explore community-created controller configurations by clicking on the “Browse Configs” button and selecting from the available options.
7. Save and apply configurations: After customizing the controller mappings, click on the “Back” button and choose “Save” to apply your changes.
8. Launch and play the game: Start the game from the Steam library, and it should now recognize your customized controller mappings.

By following these steps, you can map your PS4 controller on Steam and tailor the button configurations to your liking, enhancing your gaming experience.

Using PS4 controller with Steam games

Using a PS4 controller with Steam games is straightforward. Once you have connected and configured your PS4 controller to work with Steam (as mentioned in the previous responses), follow these steps to use it with Steam games:

1. Launch Steam: Start the Steam client on your PC.
2. Enable PS4 controller support: Ensure that you have enabled PS4 controller support in Steam by going to “Steam” > “Settings” > “Controller” and checking the box for “PlayStation Configuration Support.”
3. Open the game’s properties: Right-click on the game you want to play in your Steam library and select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
4. Check controller support: In the game’s properties window, navigate to the “Controller” tab. Ensure that the box labeled “Enable the Steam Input per-game setting” is checked. This allows the game to recognize and utilize your controller.
5. Customize controller settings (optional): If you want to customize the button mapping or adjust other controller settings specifically for the game you’re playing, click on the “Steam Input Per-Game Settings” button in the same “Controller” tab. Here, you can customize the controller layout, sensitivity, and other configurations on a per-game basis.
6. Launch and play the game: Close the game’s properties window and click the “Play” button in your Steam library to launch the game. The game should now recognize your PS4 controller as a valid input device.

PS4 controller emulator for Steam

If you’re looking to use a PlayStation 4 (PS4) controller with Steam, you generally don’t need a separate emulator because Steam natively supports the PS4 controller. Here’s how you can set it up:

1. Connect your PS4 controller to your computer using a USB cable or via Bluetooth (if your computer has Bluetooth capability).
2. Launch Steam on your computer.
3. In the top-left corner of the Steam window, click on “Steam” and then select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
4. In the Settings window, select the “Controller” tab.
5. Click on the “General Controller Settings” button.
6. Ensure that the “PlayStation Configuration Support” option is checked.
7. Click on the “OK” button to save the settings and close the window.
8. You should now be able to use your PS4 controller with Steam. To customize the controller settings further, you can go back to the “Controller” tab in the Steam Settings and explore the available options.

By following these steps, Steam should recognize your PS4 controller and allow you to use it in games that support controller input. Keep in mind that some games may require additional configuration within their own settings to properly map the controller buttons.

PS4 controller configuration for Steam

To configure your PS4 controller for Steam, you can use the Steam Big Picture Mode, which provides more options for controller customization. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Connect your PS4 controller to your computer using a USB cable or via Bluetooth (if your computer has Bluetooth capability).
2. Launch Steam on your computer.
3. Click on the “Big Picture Mode” icon in the top-right corner of the Steam window. This will switch Steam to Big Picture Mode, which is optimized for controller use.
4. Once in Big Picture Mode, navigate to the top-right corner and click on the gear icon to access the settings.
5. In the settings menu, select “Controller Settings.”
6. You’ll see your connected PS4 controller listed here. Click on it to access the controller configuration options.
7. In the controller configuration screen, you can customize the button mapping, sensitivity, and other settings for your PS4 controller.
8. To remap the buttons, click on a button icon and choose the action you want to assign to it. You can also create custom controller configurations for specific games by clicking on “Browse Configurations” and selecting a template or creating your own.
9. Once you’ve configured your controller settings to your liking, click on the “Back” button to return to the previous menu.
10. You can now launch your games from Big Picture Mode, and the PS4 controller will be configured according to your settings.

By using the Steam Big Picture Mode, you can fine-tune the configuration of your PS4 controller for Steam games. Remember that some games may have their own in-game controller settings that can override the Steam configurations, so you might need to adjust the settings within the game as well.

PS4 controller not working on Steam (Troubleshooting Tips)

If your PS4 controller is not working on Steam, there are a few potential solutions you can try:

Update Steam:

Make sure you have the latest version of Steam installed on your computer. Updates often include improvements and fixes for controller compatibility.

Enable PlayStation Configuration Support:

In Steam, go to the “Steam” menu and select “Settings.” In the Settings window, navigate to the “Controller” tab and click on “General Controller Settings.” Ensure that the “PlayStation Configuration Support” option is checked. This enables Steam’s native support for PlayStation controllers.

Connect the controller properly:

Connect your PS4 controller to your computer using a USB cable. Make sure the cable is securely plugged into both the controller and your computer. If you’re using a wireless connection, ensure that your controller is properly paired with your computer via Bluetooth.

Use a third-party software:

If the above steps don’t work, you can try using a third-party software like DS4Windows or InputMapper. These tools emulate an Xbox controller and can help make your PS4 controller compatible with Steam games. Install the software, follow the instructions for setting it up, and then launch Steam and try using your controller again.

Check game compatibility:

Some games may not have native support for PlayStation controllers. Before assuming there’s an issue with your controller, check the game’s documentation or community forums to confirm whether PS4 controllers are officially supported. If not, you may need to use additional software or configure the controller manually.

Test the controller in other applications:

Try using your PS4 controller with other applications or games outside of Steam. This can help determine whether the issue is specific to Steam or if there’s a broader problem with the controller itself.

Update controller drivers:

If you’re using Windows, ensure that your controller drivers are up to date. You can do this by connecting your controller to your computer, right-clicking on the Start button, selecting “Device Manager,” and locating the controller under the “Human Interface Devices” or “Universal Serial Bus controllers” category. Right-click on the controller, choose “Update driver,” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Restart your computer:

Sometimes a simple restart can resolve temporary issues with software and hardware, including controller connectivity problems. Give your computer a fresh start by restarting it and then try using the controller on Steam again.

If none of these solutions work, you may need to seek further assistance from Steam support or consult the game’s official support channels for more specific troubleshooting steps.