How to Connect PS4 Controller to Mac

Kevin ArrowsUpdated on November 2, 2023
Kevin is a certified Network Engineer

If you want to use your PS4 Controller while gaming your Mac, we have good news for you. It is totally doable, and here you can find how to do that.

You can connect PS4 Controllers to a Mac computer either via Bluetooth or via USB cable.

Method #1 Connect PS4 Controller to Mac via USB Cable

The first and probably easier way to connect your PS4 controller to your Mac is using a Micro USB to USB cable. Here is how to do that.

  1. First, connect the micro USB end of the cable to your PS4 controller.
  2. Then, connect the USB end to your Mac.
  3. Click on the PlayStation button (located in the middle of the PS4 controller) to turn it on.
  4. On your Mac click the Apple logo (in the top left corner of your screen) and from the drop-down menu choose About this Mac.
  5. Now click on System Report.
  6. Then, select USB.
  7. Search for Wireless Controller under the USB section.
  8. Once you find “Wireless Controller,” (yes, it is named wireless), you know that your PS4 controller is already connected to the Mac. Now it will be automatically detected when launched any controller-compatible game.

Steam (one of the most popular gaming platform) for example, offers full controller support across Mac and Pc platforms. So, you will not need any additional tweaking the settings when playing Steam games.

Method #2 Connect PS4 Controller to Mac via Bluetooth

The second method for connecting PS4 controller to a Mac computer is using the built-in Bluetooth module in the controller. This method may be more suitable for those of you who want to play games from the comfort of your couch, because you do not need to care about wires.

Connecting your PS4 controller to Mac via Bluetooth is a little more complicated if compared with the first method. However, if you follow the steps below you won’t have any issues.

  1. On your Mac: Click on the Apple logo (in the top left corner of the screen), and select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
  2. Now, click on Bluetooth.
  3. On the PS4 Controller: Press and hold the PlayStation button and Share button at the same time, to put the device in Discovery Mode.
  4. Once the computer finds out the PS4 controller, the light on the controller will flash quickly. Then it will appear in the Bluetooth windows on your Mac.
  5. On your Mac: When the controller appears in the window, click on Pair. Now, the device will be displayed as connected.
  6. Once it says connected, you can use the PS4 Controller to play the games as you would do with the previous method.
Kevin ArrowsUpdated on November 2, 2023
Kevin is a certified Network Engineer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.

Comments

6
    RA
    rawwaffles May 7, 2020

    Hello and thank you for writing this. I have a problem on Mac (OSX10.13) running steam and using a DS4. It works perfectly when connected with a micro-USB, but not over bluetooth. I can get it connected to the computer over bluetooth and can navigate the Steam Big Picture menu, but I cannot get the controller to work in-game. No issues with the controller over USB.

    Reply
      SW
      Shane Warren Author May 11, 2020

      Are there any other electronic devices in the vicinity? try getting rid of those and check again. Furthermore, try connecting the controller to any other PC and check if it works over there.

      Reply
    JO
    Joovie Jul 28, 2020

    Hello. Today all of a sudden, my PS4 controller just stopped working. It’s connected via a USB cable. I mostly play Roblox games and had no issue. Even wirelessly it worked flawlessly. So i tried the wireless route. Says connected. But still no movement in game. Does it need to be updated or something? Please help. Thanks in advance!!!

    Reply
      SW
      Shane Warren Author Jul 29, 2020

      Connect the controller to the PS4 and update the firmware and check if that gets the controller back working again.

      Reply
        JO
        Joovie Aug 4, 2020

        Hey Shane. Tried updating but my PS4 has the latest update (7.51). I ended up ordering 2 controllers from Amazon (Logitech Gamepad F310 and a GameSir-T4W). Neither are working as well unfortunately. I will say that prior to the PS4 DualShock Controllers not working, I did delete some applications that I thought were unnecessary. Maybe that could be a factor as well? Idk. If there is something that I could do to check the system or replace in the system, that would be awesome. Everything reads normal, I think, on the system details screen and HUB and all that. Ugh. I should just get a PC already. Thanks again for any help or advice in advance.

        Reply
          SW
          Shane Warren Author Aug 5, 2020

          Okay, you said that you deleted some applications. I’m thinking that maybe that broke some things, You could try to restore your system to an earlier date and check if the functionality comes back.