PS5 controller not connecting: What should you check?

If your PS5 controller is not connecting, try a reset, as Sony recommends. Start by connecting it to your console with the included USB cable. If it still won't work after resetting, Sony's next step is troubleshooting the fault, with options for disconnections or battery issues.

Illustration of a white and black game console standing on a repair bench beside a small screwdriver set.
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By Published 3 min read

Key takeaways

  • Try the included cable in another console USB port.1
  • For Sony's reset, unplug the cable first and hold the reset button for at least 5 seconds before reconnecting and pressing the PS button.2
  • If the connection checks don't help, ask a shop to check for board damage.

Why is my PS5 controller not connecting?

A software fault can keep a controller from connecting to the console you're trying to use. Restarting it can help clear those faults. Move nearby sources of interference that could affect your controller away from the console, including cable boxes and streaming devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire.3

Turn off your PS5 console. Once the console has shut down, leave it off for a few seconds before you turn it back on. To restart the controller itself, press and hold down its PS button for 10 seconds.3

What should I check if my PS5 controller isn't connecting with a cable?

Try the cable that came with your console in another USB port on the console if the controller won't connect with a cable. Check its battery charge as well. Plug it into a power source with a USB cable and check whether the battery starts charging.1, 3

If you've used the controller with a different console or computer, you might need to pair it with the console you want to use. Turn that console on. Plug in the controller with its packaged cable. It should power on, with light bars showing it's connected.3

When you pair a controller to your console by cable or wirelessly, the console is saved in the next open pairing slot.1

How do I reset and reconnect my controller?

Start Sony's reset procedure by unplugging the controller from its USB cable. Find the small hole on the back of your controller, beside the Sony logo. That's where the reset button sits. Use a pin or similar tool to press it.2

  1. Hold the reset button

    Keep it pressed for at least 5 seconds.2

  2. Connect to the console

    Use the official USB cable that came with your controller. Press the PS button.2

How do I update my DualSense controller software?

If you can use the console, install the latest version of its system software. Those updates include the controller's software updates. Pair your controller, then follow the on-screen steps, or select DualSense Wireless Controller Device Software to update it. You can also use a computer to update the controller.2, 1

When should you take it to a shop?

If cable, pairing and reset checks haven't helped, ask a repair shop to check the controller's main circuit board. Broken parts, burns and liquid damage are the signs to look for in iFixit's hardware check. Reaching the board means taking the controller apart.3

FixPriceShop or DIY
Included cable and another USB portFreeDIY: Sony lists the cable and port checks
Console and controller restartFreeDIY: restarting can help with software faults
Controller pairingFreeDIY: connect with the packaged cable
Controller resetFreeDIY: Sony gives reset button steps
Controller software updateFreeDIY: pair and follow the on-screen steps
PS5 Controller RepairAsk a shop for a quoteShop: checking the board means taking it apart

Questions

Why won't my new PS5 controller connect wirelessly?

You can pair an extra controller wirelessly once a controller is paired with the console. Unplug the new controller's USB cable first. To set its destination slot, hold an action button, then press the PS button for over 5 seconds until the light bar and player indicator blink.1

How do I switch to another console I've already paired?

When switching to a console you've paired with, hold an action button, then press the PS button for 3 seconds. The player indicator blinks to match the slot you've chosen. You can't switch slots to another console while a USB cable is connected to the controller.1

How can I tell if the controller is charging?

Press the PS button, then choose Accessories in the Control Center to check the battery level. While it charges, the battery icon moves and shows a lightning bolt. At full charge, it stops moving and shows three bars. The console can charge the controller when it's on or in rest mode.1

Find a repair near you

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Sources

  1. How to connect a DualSense wireless controller, PlayStation. accessed Oct 7, 2026
  2. How to troubleshoot DualSense wireless controller issues, PlayStation. accessed Oct 7, 2026
  3. PS5 Controller Not Connecting, iFixit. accessed Oct 7, 2026