What Causes a PS4 Controller to Not Connect?
Sync issues represent the most common reason that PS4 controllers fail to connect. The controller may become desynced on its own, or someone may have synced it with a different console or device. In some cases, a firmware issue with the controller may even prevent it from syncing up correctly. In addition to sync issues, you may have a USB cable or battery issue. You need a USB cable that’s capable of both data and power transfer to perform the sync process, and problems with worn out cables and damaged USB ports can also prevent your controller from connecting. Since PS4 controllers use Bluetooth to connect wirelessly, signal interference is also a problem that you may be dealing with. If there are a lot of wireless devices in close proximity to your PS4, that may prevent your controller from connecting.
How to Fix a PS4 Controller That Won’t Connect
To figure out why your controller isn’t working correctly, and get it connected to your PS4 so you can start playing again, perform each of the following steps in order. To be sure that your USB cable is actually working, try it with a different device. See if it works with a different PS4 controller if you have one, or if you’re able to use it to transfer data from a device like your phone to a computer. If the cable works for both data transfer and power, then it probably isn’t the issue. If the cable works, you can proceed with trying to sync your controller. If the controller doesn’t sync right away, make sure to try both the wireless and wired methods of syncing. If you have used your PS4 controller with anything other than your PS4, make sure to remove it from the other device’s list of Bluetooth connections, turn off Bluetooth on the other device, or shut down the other device altogether. Try removing any nearby devices that use Bluetooth or otherwise create interference on the same 2.402 - 2.4835 GHz band that your controllers rely on. You may also want to try moving your controller closer to the console. If that allows it to work, then you’re probably dealing with interference. After resetting your controller, try to pair it with your console to see if it has started working yet.
