Steam Not Detecting PS4 Controllers [5 Working Fixes]

It’s been a long time since Steam rolled out official support for the DualShock 4.

It works right away with most of the games on the platform.

It also features a huge amount of customization.

Another fantastic thing about it is that it’s quite easy to set up, but there are times whereby the user tries to play games with a PS4 controller and they realize that Steam isn’t recognizing the PS4 controller.

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Steam Not Detecting PS4 Controllers – Causes

This could be because of different reasons:
Low controller’s battery
Faulty cables
USB ports are clogged with debris
Need for driver update

Steam Not Detecting PS4 Controllers – Fixes to try

If the Steam Controller isn’t detecting your controller, try the following solutions:

Method 1: For Debris in USB ports, deep clean

This might sound so obvious to a problem you probably thought was complex but it works just as much.

It is possible to be certain that the PlayStation 4 controller has been connected using a USB cable, even if you keep getting the “Steam not detecting PS4 controller” prompt. Check the USB ports and cables for any forms of debris.

To remove the debris, use a vacuum cleaner or a dry air or other dirt blower.

Connect the PlayStation 4 controller to check if it works and reconnect it if it doesn’t.Q:

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If it’s still nothing, then try the following fix. It can be a faulty USB cable or even the router.

Method 2: Charge the Controller

Having a low battery should also be checked out, as listed earlier in this article.

If you suspect that the controller is defective, remove it from the system, and plug it into a power source.

Charge it for an hour and plug it back in if it doesn’t work. If it doesn’t, then it isn’t a power problem.

Method 3: Re-enable Bluetooth

If you’re making use of the PS4 controller via Bluetooth and it is also resulting in the ‘Steam not detecting PS4 controllers’ error, follow these quick and easy steps:

Step One: Click on the windows key, search for “Devices”, and click on “Devices” from the settings option after the search entry.
Step Two: Select the “Bluetooth & other devices” tab
Step Three: Disable the Bluetooth. It’s on the right side of the screen
Step Four: Wait for a few minutes and then enable it back
Your PS4 controller should then be easily recognized by Steam.

Method 4: Update the Controller’s Driver

All wireless controllers have three major drivers.
The Bluetooth HID Device
The HID-compliant game controller
And the Bluetooth Wireless Controller
If any of these drivers are not up to date, it may result in the Steam not detecting the PS4 controller issue.

So how do you update? First you must press the Windows key, then type “device manager,” click on the result, and then choose settings after the search is complete.

You can launch the Windows Quick Access menu > click on both windows key and Key X > then select device manager.

Next, click on the “Bluetooth HID Device” driver and, you’ll see the ‘Bluetooth HID game controller’ driver.

For the Bluetooth wireless controller, just search for “Bluetooth Wireless Controller”. It can be found under the Bluetooth section.

Step 3: Right-click on the particular driver you want to update, then select “Update Driver”.

Step 4: Click on “Search automatically for updated driver software”

Your computer will search for the right drivers automatically, and they’ll be installed without your having to do anything.

You should then get a prompt telling you to install the drivers on your PC.

Now that you’ve updated the driver, right-click again and select uninstall.

Method 5: Switch Controllers

There are a few cases where the Steam Detecting PS4 Controllers may be as a result of the controllers being faulty themselves.

If you can, test it on multiple devices, if it works, then it’s most likely not the problem.

If it doesn’t work then it’s best to try out other controllers to find the cause of the problem.

You’re a champion and I’m sure all of us would love to share the wealth. Happy Gaming!

It’s best to just reach out to support if none of the solutions you tried were successful.