Can You Use a PS4 Controller on PS5? Your Questions Answered

The PlayStation 5 is an impressive console, but it doesn’t come cheap. You can say the same about its controller, the DualSense, which goes for around $70. That steep price point may leave you asking: “Can you use a PS4 controller on PS5?”

You’ll already own at least one DualSense if you have a PS5. Still, you may want to play local multiplayer without springing for a new controller. You might as well connect an older controller to your console if you have a spare PS4 gamepad lying around anyway. So, here’s a closer look at using PS4 controllers on PS5.

Can You Use PS4 Controllers on PS5?

You can use a PS4 controller on PS5 but with some exceptions. You’ll be able to connect the two and navigate the menus without any issues, but you won’t be able to play any PS5 games. As Sony puts it on the official PlayStation blog, PS5 games take advantage of the DualSense’s unique features, so they’re incompatible with older controllers.

That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck when playing games. You can still use the PS4 controller to play PS4 versions of your favorite games. The PS5 will run these thanks to its extensive backward compatibility. Because these titles came out before the DualSense was around, they have native support for PS4 controllers.

You can also use PS4 controllers on PS5 for non-gaming features. That includes watching movies and using apps like Netflix or YouTube. That may not be much help if you’re looking for a multiplayer experience, but it’s nice to know in case you can’t find your DualSense or if it breaks.

What About PS5 Controllers on PS4?

So, you know you can use PS4 controllers on PS5, but what about the other way around? Can you use a PS5 controller on PS4? Sadly, no.

Generally speaking, backward compatibility is much more common across consoles than forward compatibility. That applies to both games and hardware. Your old PS4 doesn’t have the specs to support the DualSense, and there’s little reason for Sony to change that. It makes more sense for them to focus on the PS5.

What Games Can You Play on PS5 With a PS4 Controller?

Thankfully, the PS5 supports thousands of PS4 titles, so there’s no shortage of games to play with your PS4 controller. That includes both digital and physical copies.

Any PS4 discs you might have are playable on your PS5. Simply put them into your PlayStation’s disc slot, boot them up, and you’ll be able to play them with your PS4 controllers. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need the disc version of the PS5 to do it this way. The Digital Edition doesn’t have a disc drive, so it has no way to play physical copies of PS4 games.

You can also download any digital PS4 titles you own to your PS5 through your PlayStation account. All of these will be playable with your PS4 controller.

Don’t have any PS4 games yet? Don’t worry — you can still get digital PS4 games from the PlayStation Store. You’ll notice that many games on the store have at least two listings — a PS5 version and a PS4 version. Buying the PS4 version will mean sacrificing some performance, but you’ll be able to play these with a PS4 controller.

Be sure to check out the available monthly games if you have PlayStation Plus. Many of these free titles are PS4 games, so they’re playable with older controllers, and you won’t have to pay for them.

How to Connect a PS4 Controller to PS5

Now that you know you can use a PS4 controller on PS5 and what games you can play, let’s look at how to do it. You can connect your PS4 controller to your PS5 either wirelessly or with a cable.

Connect It With a Cable

The simplest way to connect your PS4 controller to a PS5 is with a micro-USB cable. Use the one that came with your PS4 controller if you still have it. It shouldn’t be hard to find one if not, as over 87% of people still have at least one device that uses these cables.

Plug the small end of the cable into your controller. Then, plug the larger end into the USB slot in the front of your PS5. From there, all you have to do is turn the console on and press the PlayStation button in the middle of your controller. The light bar should start flashing, and once it turns solid, you’re good to go.

Connect It Wirelessly

You can also connect your PS4 controller wirelessly if you can’t find a micro-USB cable. Start by turning on your PS5 and going into the settings. Once there, scroll down to “Accessories,” select it and find “Bluetooth Accessories” in that menu.

On your PS4 controller, hold down the PlayStation button and the “Share” button simultaneously. After about five seconds, the light should start flashing. You should see your controller pop up on the screen under “Accessories found.”

Select your PS4 controller from that menu to register it. After that, you’ll be able to use your PS4 gamepad on your PS5 freely.

How to Use a PS4 Controller on PS5 Through Remote Play

There is technically another option if you want to play PS5 games with a PS4 controller. While you won’t be able to play these titles with an old gamepad on your actual console, you can play them with Remote Play.

Remote Play lets you access your PS5 on another device, like a computer or phone. Use Sony’s guide for setting up Remote Play for whichever device you want to play on. In general, this is a matter of downloading the Remote Play app and ensuring your device and your PS5 are on the same internet network.

The best way to use this feature is to connect a computer to your PS5 through an ethernet cable. That’ll give you the most stable connection. Once you have that set up, you can plug your PS4 controller into your PC and use it to play your PS5 games. Keep in mind that not every game supports Remote Play, and you may lose some functionality without a DualSense controller.

Use a PS4 Controller on PS5 the Way You Want

Can you use a PS4 controller on PS5? Yes and no. It’s certainly possible to connect the two, but you won’t be able to play PS5 games — at least not on the PS5 itself.

Despite these limitations, you have a few options for playing games with a PS4 controller on PS5. Use this guide to start playing the way you want to.