DS4Windows is an open-source gaming application that is available free of cost. It allows gamers to use the PlayStation controllers on Windows PC by emulating an Xbox controller. Generally, Xbox controllers are easily connected to Windows PC as their parent company is the same – Microsoft. However, PlayStation controllers belong to Sony and must be emulated as Xbox controllers to get connected to Windows. The DS4Windows also helps users to remap buttons, customize the light bar, and create different profiles. This guide will help readers fix issues like DS4Windows not working or not detecting the controller.
Click here to visit the official website of DS4Windows.
The first solution to fix the DS4Windows not working issue is to grant admin rights to the app. Here is what you need to do.
1. Close DS4Windows completely.
2. Right-click the DS4Windows.exe → Run as Administrator.
3. Plug in your controller again.
4. This ensures DS4Windows can access driver-level permissions.
Moving on, if you are getting issues like the DS4 driver not installing, then you must reinstall the ViGEmBus driver. This is the main driver that allows DS4Windows to emulate Xbox controllers.
1. Open DS4Windows → Settings → Controller/Driver Setup.
2. Click “Install ViGEmBus Driver”.
3. If it fails or shows installed but not working, then press Windows + R, and type the following command.
appwiz.cpl
4. From the list of installed apps, uninstall ViGEm Bus Driver.
5. Download and reinstall from the official site.
6. Restart your PC and reopen DS4Windows.
There are another set of drivers that can help fix the DS4 driver not installing issue. Some controllers need these for proper input handling. Here is what you need to do.
1. Go to DS4Windows → Settings → Controller/Driver Setup, then install these drivers.
HidHide Driver
FakerInput Driver
2. Restart your PC after installation.
Some experts state that the Windows Security antivirus might block certain drivers. You need to change the settings to fix the DS4Windows not working problem. Follow these steps if Windows blocks unsigned drivers.
1. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security → Device Security → Core Isolation → Memory Integrity.
2. Turn off Memory Integrity temporarily.
3. Restart the PC and install drivers again.
4. You can turn Memory Integrity back on afterward.
A group of experts has recommended removing old drivers that may conflict with DS4Windows drivers. These include old DualShock or Bluetooth drivers. Here is what you need to do to fix the issue.
1. Press Win + X → Device Manager
2. Expand these driver categories.
Human Interface Devices
Bluetooth
Universal Serial Bus Controllers
3. Right-click any “HID-compliant game controller” or DualShock device → Uninstall.
4. Reconnect your controller and restart the PC.
Windows updates have resolved many major and minor issues. If you are facing DS4Windows not working errors, then you can update Windows and install the latest version of .NET Framework.
1. Go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for Updates.
2. Install the latest .NET 6+ Runtime from the official website.
In order to fix DS4 not detecting controller issues, some experts insist that you reinstall the latest version of the DS4Windows app.
1. Download the latest DS4Windows (Ryochan7 version) from the official website.
2. Extract the ZIP, replace old files, and reopen as admin.
Disabling Steam Input for PlayStation controllers can also fix DS4 not recognizing controller. Here are the steps.
1. In Steam → Settings → Controller → General Controller Settings → Uncheck “PlayStation Configuration Support”.
2. Close any other apps like InputMapper, DSX, or JoyToKey.
Experts have also recommended updating the DS4 Windows installation by using the DS4Updater tool. This tool can search for updates on its own server and notify the user. Adhere to the on-screen instructions to download and install any updates that are released by the developer. There is a scenario in which no updates are displayed by this tool. In such cases, you need to uninstall the entire DS4Windows tool and reinstall the latest version.
If DS4Windows doesn’t detect your controller, then you could try to repair the controller.
For a wired connection, use these steps:
1. Try another USB port (preferably USB 2.0).
2. Avoid front panel ports or USB hubs.
3. Use a high-quality data cable (not a charge-only cable).
For Bluetooth connection, use these steps:
1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Devices.
2. Remove the Wireless Controller.
3. Press and hold the Share + PS buttons on your controller until the light blinks rapidly.
4. Re-pair via Bluetooth.
5. Launch DS4Windows again.
Sometimes Windows blocks unsigned or custom drivers like ViGEmBus.
1. Press Windows + I → System → Recovery.
2. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
3. After a restart, go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
4. Press 7 or F7 to select Disable driver signature enforcement.
5. Reinstall the ViGEmBus driver.
6. Once installed, reboot normally — the driver will continue to work.
Another important troubleshooting method to fix the DS4Windows not working is to reinstall the controller driver. Here are the steps.
1. Unplug your controller.
2. Press Windows + R, type Control Panel, and press Enter.
3. Click on “Devices and Printers” under “Hardware and Sound”.
4. Find your controller, right-click it, and select “Properties”.
5. Go to the “Hardware” tab and double-click the “HID-compliant game controller”.
6. Select the “Driver” tab and click “Uninstall Device”.
7. Unplug the controller, restart your PC, then plug the controller back in.
If the app is corrupted or misconfigured, then you can try a reinstall of the DS4Windows app.
1. Press Windows + R, type – %Appdata%
2. Delete the folder named DS4Windows (this resets settings).
3. Uninstall DS4Windows via Apps & Features.
4. Download the latest version from the official website.
5. Extract the ZIP → Run DS4Windows.exe → Complete setup again.
The final step recommended to fix DS4 not detecting controllers is to update the Chipset and Bluetooth driver. There are three ways to update the drivers, and we have explained all of them in detail below.
Visit the official website of your PC manufacturer or motherboard manufacturer and download the chipset and Bluetooth drivers. You will generally receive updated drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Install these drivers to update your PC, and this will resolve the error.
The Device Manager is a free driver updater tool that can help update chipset and other drivers on your PC. Here are the steps to use this tool.
1. Press the Windows key and type “Device Manager”.
2. Click on the best match result with the same name.
3. In the new window, click on driver categories like Bluetooth, System Devices, and Firmware to reveal more items.
4. Click on the corresponding device driver and choose Update Driver from the context menu.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to update the driver.
6. Restart your PC.
The Advanced Driver Updater is a third-party driver updater software that allows users to scan, identify, and fix driver issues with a few mouse clicks. Here is what you need to do.
1. Download and install Advanced Drivr Updater using the Download button provided below.
2. Open the app via shortcut and click on the Start Scan Now Button.
3. After the scan is complete, a list of driver issues will appear on the screen.
4. Click on the Update link next to each driver that requires an update.
5. Reboot the computer after all updates have been completed.
This brings an end to our journey of resolving issues like the DS4 driver not installing or DS4Windows not working. We hope that the above-mentioned resolutions have helped fix the issue, and you can play games with your PlayStation controllers on a Windows PC. We would love to hear all about your gaming experience in the comments section below.
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