Fix: PS4 Controller won’t Charge

PS4 controllers are wireless controllers used to connect with your Play Station console. They have the capability to get charged with several outlets including the console itself, laptops, or wall-mounted chargers (like we have for our smartphones).

Since the initial release, there have been several users every now and then who report that they are unable to get their PS4 controllers to charge properly. When they plug in the cable, no lights blink and the PS4 acts as if nothing has happened. In this solution, we will go through several workarounds to help you troubleshoot why your PS4 controller is not charging.

What causes your PS4 Controller not to charge?

Like all other wireless controllers, PS4 controllers also have several different aspects and reasons for why it might not charge properly. Some of the reasons are listed down below.

Before we start with the workarounds, you need to be sure that your PS4 controller is indeed in a working state and not broken. There have been instances where the PS4 controller isn’t connecting and you need to make sure that it connects before you can proceed. If your PS4 controller is broken physically, we recommend getting it checked at a store.

Solution 1: Resetting your PS4 Controller

Before we start meddling with your wire and batteries, it is worth resetting your PS4 controller to factory settings. Each PS4 controller has stored configurations and settings which are usually preferences of the player. We can try resetting your PS4 controller properly and see if this does the trick.

1. Disconnect your PS4 controller with your console or any charging port.
2. Once disconnected, take a small pin, turn the controller and press and hold the reset button present at the back. Keep pressing for a couple of seconds.

3. Now release the pin and wait for a few seconds before attempting to pair or charging your controller. Check if the issue at hand has gotten solved.

Solution 2: Power Cycling your PS4

Your PS4 console might also be in an error state which may be the culprit why your PS4 controller is not charging as expected. There were numerous user reports that power cycling the console fixed the issue. Power cycling is the act of completely restarting the console so all the temporary configurations are erased.

1. Turn off your PS4 console and controller normally.
2. Now take out the main power supply wire from the socket of your console and let is sit idle for around 5 – 10 minutes. Also, press and hold the PS4 power button for 30 seconds to make sure all the energy is drained.

3. After the time has elapsed, connect everything back and turn your console and controller on. Try connecting your controller and see if this does the trick.

Solution 3: Checking your Connecting Wire

PS4 is charged just like any other electronic device using a wire which appears to be a micro USB device that we use in our everyday lives. There are numerous occasions where the wire might get damaged over the use or when it is physically damaged.

We recommend replacing the wire and see if the controller gets charged. You can borrow a working charging wire from any friend or phone which you know is working perfectly without any issues. If your wire turns out to be the culprit, consider changing it.

Solution 4: Checking PS4 Charging Port

If you are attempting to charge your controller from your console directly, you can try charging it using another port such as your Laptop or your smartphone charging adapter. There are numerous cases where the charging port present in the PS4 console doesn’t work properly and causes issues.

If you can charge your controller from another charging source, it probably means that there is some problem with your console’s charging port. Now try charging your controller from another PS4 so we are absolutely sure the problem is with your console’s port.

If the problem turns out to be from your PS4’s charging port, you might need to get it checked. We do not recommend opening the hardware and troubleshooting yourself without professional help.

Solution 5: Replacing PS4 Batteries

If you do not reach any conclusion after trying out all the troubleshooting steps above, you should consider getting your PS4 batteries replaced. PS4 batteries also have a life after which they start exhibiting strange behavior and eventually dying out.

If you are not sure how to replace your PS4 battery, you can easily find online YouTube tutorials and follow the instructions from there. Make sure that you use a proper battery that matches the specification of your PS4 controller to avoid having physical hardware damage.

Solution 6: Measure AC Voltage

This issue might arise on your PS4 if there are Voltage fluctuations in your area. It might be possible that your gadget might not be receiving the required amount of current and Voltage hence it is better to check the Power rating with the help of multimeter and if there are any fluctuations in your area then wait until the power issue gets resolved. The normal power rating is 120/240W. Hence, follow the steps throughout to measure AC voltage with a digital multimeter:

1. Turn the dial to ṽ. Some digital multimeters (DMMs) also include m ṽ. If the voltage in the circuit is unknown, set the range to the highest voltage setting and set the dial on ṽ.
   Note: Most multimeters power up in Auto range mode. This automatically selects a measurement range based on voltage present.
2. First, insert the black lead into the COM jack.
3. Next insert the red lead into the VΩ jack. When finished, remove the leads in reverse order: red first, then black.
4. Connect the test leads to the circuit: black lead first, red second.
   Note: Ac voltage does not have polarity.
   Caution: Do not let fingers touch the lead tips. Do not allow the tips to contact one another.
5. Read the measurement in the display. When finished, remove the red lead first, black second.
6. Check to see if the voltage in the voltmeter fluctuates constantly or is very low and below the power rating of the device.
7. If the Voltage is indeed low, it means that you will have to wait it out until the voltage stabilizes or contact your power provider about this issue.

Solution 7: Check Controller Charging Port

In some situations, it is possible that the PS4 controller isn’t being charged because the charging port on the controller is faulty and needs replacement. In order to check this, all you have to is to connect another controller to the PS4 charging port using the same USB cable that you were using to connect the previous controller and check to see if the other controller charges fine. If the other controller charges fine, it means that there is an issue with the charging port itself on the controller. You can try out some of the solutions below but if they don’t work, you then need to replace the charging port with a new one by getting in touch with Customer Support Service and if they are unable to help you, you might have to get an entirely new controller.

Solution 8: Clean The Charging Port

If switching the charging cable doesn’t work, inspect the charging port on the controller. When you plug in a USB cable, does it feel secure or lose? If it’s loose, the port could be damaged. Remove the cable and look at the port. Is there a visible buildup of dust or grime or anything that is possibly blocking the connection? If so, you’re going to need to clean the port out. You can do this process yourself, but remember to take care not to damage your controller.

How do I clean the charging port?

Now you have to be very careful because the charging port on a controller is very delicate and you can very easily end up breaking some charging pins. Therefore, in this step, we will be very delicately removing the residue build-up from the charging port of our PS4 Controller. For that:

1. Turn off the controller. Be careful not to bump the power button and turn it on.
2. Get a can of compressed air and hold it, so the nozzle (or straw) is a couple of inches away from the port.
3. Use multiple short bursts to get any loose material out.
4. Take a microfiber cloth and remove any remaining debris from around the port.
5. If there is still anything in there, take a toothpick and wrap it in a thin bit of slightly damp paper towel.
6. Very gently, use it to clean the inside of the port.
7. Let the controller sit and dry.
8. Make sure that the controller is completely dried out by using a flashlight and only then try to charge it.
9. Check to see if cleaning the port has fixed the issue.

Solution 9: Plug into a laptop, PC, or portable power bank to charge.

It is in some cases possible that the PS4 itself is unable to adequately supply the charging that is required by the controller and due to this the PS4 controller is unable to charge. Basically, since the controller uses a USB type connection to charge, you can plug it into a power bank, PC, or laptop to top it up. Make sure that you connect it to good quality device and monitor it to ensure that it doesn’t get hot. Once it is connected to the device, check to see if the controller charges properly.

Solution 10: Remove PS4 from A Hot Surface

Make sure that your PS4 controller is not sitting on any hot surface because it could be the reason behind the ps4 controller not charging issue. The sensors are seated at the backside of the controller and all its components are attached to the wire, which can get melted while charging if placed on a hot surface. So, make sure that while charging it, your controller is placed on a surface that isn’t hot.

Solution 11: Charge Your PS4 Controller Upside Down

It sounds a little bit silly charging it upside down. But there have been some rare cases where the users were able to adequately charge their controllers by simply placing the upside down. It seems more of an angle thing which suggests that the controller’s charging port is only able to accept the power at a certain angle but there aren’t many explanations about this solution and it just works for some people. So, Plug your PS4 remote, turn it upside down, and simply let it sit. It has helped a lot of PS4 players to get their controller back on charging again.

Solution 12: Buy PS4 charging station

When your PS4 controller is not charging and seems dead, then it is possible that your USB cable is not working properly. It might be the fault of your USB, and then we suggest you buy a new PS charging station. You can charge your PS4 controller via ports on the end of the controller by ignoring the USB cable itself. It will cost you around $15-$25 and seems like a cheaper solution than just going ahead and buying a new controller.