The Best Way to Connect Your Games Console Controller to Your PC

No matter what controller you have, it is very simple to connect it to your PC. If you have a standard games console controller, such as an Xbox 360 wireless controller, you can plug it into your PC using a play and charge kit via USB. This will give you the freedom to use any game on your PC with your existing controller.

For those who already have one of these controllers, this is the best option. The process is straightforward: simply hold down the button, and then it will connect. As can be seen in the video, this is a simple process that requires minimal effort.

However, if you don't have an Xbox 360 controller, there's still hope. If you have an Xbox One controller, it's just as simple to plug it into your PC using a USB cable. The Xbox One controller works wirelessly with most games and PCs. But the PlayStation controller presents a slightly different problem.

If you're using a Sony controller, the issue is caused by something called Direct Input. This is an API that allows the controller to communicate with the game. However, not all games use this API, so the majority of PlayStation controllers will only work with a few specific titles. To overcome this, we need to use software tools.

The solution for PS3 and PS4 controllers is DS3 Tool or DS4 Tool, which stands for Dual Shock 3 or Dual Shock 4 Tool, respectively. These are simple software solutions that allow us to communicate between our controller and the game. The process is also very straightforward: we simply install the software, set it up, plug in the controller, and we're good to go.

Another option is to use Bluetooth. If you have a PlayStation 4 controller, for example, you can connect it wirelessly to your PC using the share and playstation buttons. However, this will require a more complex setup process and may not work with all games or PCs. In general, however, the easiest way to connect a PS3 or PS4 controller to your PC is to use DS3 Tool or DS4 Tool.

Personally, I prefer the USB approach for connecting my Xbox 360 wireless controller to my PC. This was simply what I had lying around at the time and seemed like the easiest option. However, if you're looking to buy a new controller, an Xbox 360 controller is still probably your best bet. While it may not be as fancy as the Xbox One controller, which has built-in wireless capabilities, it's still a great choice for those who want to connect their existing controller to their PC.

If you have any suggestions or questions about connecting your games console controller to your PC, please leave them in the comments below. I'll do my best to create a video on the topic and address any specific questions or issues that arise.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhey what's up guys and welcome to this video this video is just a simple guide on getting started with PC gaming by using a controller how do you actually get a controller and make it work with all your games now the best thing to say is that no matter what controller you have it is very simple you can go out and you can buy one that's meant for PC you just plug it in via USB and you're away but more likely is that you don't have one of those you're not going to get one of those you already have a standard games console controller in your your house now if you have one of these the controller of my personal choice an Xbox 360 wireless controller now this sadly won't work if you just plug it in using a play and charge kit with your computer you're going to need one of these and it should be overlaid somewhere now a USB wireless receiver and once you plug that in a few drivers will install on your PC they're kind of within windows so you don't need to worry about that and then all you need to do is just hold down the button yep and then it will connect and as you can see I'm ready to go simple as that however if you don't have one of those if you have an Xbox One controller then it's just as simple actually you just need to get a USB cable plug it in and you're away and ready to go what if you have a Sony controller though I hear you cry well unfortunately that is slightly more difficult and that is because of something called direct input now when a game is being developed it either uses something called X input or direct input both of these are apis and what they do is enable the controller to actually be able to talk to the game so they can actually work with each other and your controller obviously will work now the problem is that the majority of games only work with X input and because an Xbox 360 is X input then it means pretty much every single game will work with an Xbox 360 controller or Xbox One controller no questions asks however with a PlayStation controller it's not going to work with the majority of games so you need something that will enable it to actually talk to the games and you we either use something called DS3 tool or DS4 tool so both of those stand for dual shock 3 or dual shock 4 tool very simple things just download them I've left them in the link below so get whichever one you obviously need if you depending on which controller you've got and then it literally is a case of installing the software setting it up there's just a few different things to do it's just it really is very simple it's pretty straightforward and then you just need to plug your controller in and then it should all be working that's the USB approach that's the easiest way to do it you just use your standard USB cable that came with your console plug it in use DS4 or DS3 tool and then you can play with your controller with any of your games if you want to use it over Bluetooth it is slightly more complicated and it might not necessarily work it depends on how good your Bluetooth adapter and drivers are probably won't be an issue if you got PlayStation 4 controller then you just need to hold down the share and Playstation buttons until it connects to your PC then once you pair it then again you still need to use the DS4 tool and that will work and it's a very similar approach with the Dualshock 3 personally I would say the easiest thing to do is to do what I use which is just one of these with a play and charge kit but then again I used to be an Xbox gamer ages ago to be honest and that was just what I had left over so that is what I opted for but you more than likely want to go for whatever controller you've got lying around the house if you are going to go out and buy one 360 controller still probably is your best bet the Xbox One controller is a better controller and will work over USB but I prefer having it Wireless and the Xbox One controller is a lot more expensive anyway I hope this has been you know fairly straightforward fairly useful if it sounds like I haven't gone in depth it's because there's really not that much really to say I mean that's just how it works it's quite simple Xbox controller plug it in you know plug the wireless receiver in if you need one of those PlayStation get a bit of software then you just plug it in and either way you're a way to go very simple I wouldn't worry about it thank you very much for watching this video this was a suggestion by someone that wanted to know how to do it so if you have any more suggestions leave them in the comment section below send me a message whatever and I'll try and do a video on it thank you very much don't forget to like this video subscribe dislike if you didn't like it but either way do leave a comment thank you very much for watching as always and I will see you in the next videohey what's up guys and welcome to this video this video is just a simple guide on getting started with PC gaming by using a controller how do you actually get a controller and make it work with all your games now the best thing to say is that no matter what controller you have it is very simple you can go out and you can buy one that's meant for PC you just plug it in via USB and you're away but more likely is that you don't have one of those you're not going to get one of those you already have a standard games console controller in your your house now if you have one of these the controller of my personal choice an Xbox 360 wireless controller now this sadly won't work if you just plug it in using a play and charge kit with your computer you're going to need one of these and it should be overlaid somewhere now a USB wireless receiver and once you plug that in a few drivers will install on your PC they're kind of within windows so you don't need to worry about that and then all you need to do is just hold down the button yep and then it will connect and as you can see I'm ready to go simple as that however if you don't have one of those if you have an Xbox One controller then it's just as simple actually you just need to get a USB cable plug it in and you're away and ready to go what if you have a Sony controller though I hear you cry well unfortunately that is slightly more difficult and that is because of something called direct input now when a game is being developed it either uses something called X input or direct input both of these are apis and what they do is enable the controller to actually be able to talk to the game so they can actually work with each other and your controller obviously will work now the problem is that the majority of games only work with X input and because an Xbox 360 is X input then it means pretty much every single game will work with an Xbox 360 controller or Xbox One controller no questions asks however with a PlayStation controller it's not going to work with the majority of games so you need something that will enable it to actually talk to the games and you we either use something called DS3 tool or DS4 tool so both of those stand for dual shock 3 or dual shock 4 tool very simple things just download them I've left them in the link below so get whichever one you obviously need if you depending on which controller you've got and then it literally is a case of installing the software setting it up there's just a few different things to do it's just it really is very simple it's pretty straightforward and then you just need to plug your controller in and then it should all be working that's the USB approach that's the easiest way to do it you just use your standard USB cable that came with your console plug it in use DS4 or DS3 tool and then you can play with your controller with any of your games if you want to use it over Bluetooth it is slightly more complicated and it might not necessarily work it depends on how good your Bluetooth adapter and drivers are probably won't be an issue if you got PlayStation 4 controller then you just need to hold down the share and Playstation buttons until it connects to your PC then once you pair it then again you still need to use the DS4 tool and that will work and it's a very similar approach with the Dualshock 3 personally I would say the easiest thing to do is to do what I use which is just one of these with a play and charge kit but then again I used to be an Xbox gamer ages ago to be honest and that was just what I had left over so that is what I opted for but you more than likely want to go for whatever controller you've got lying around the house if you are going to go out and buy one 360 controller still probably is your best bet the Xbox One controller is a better controller and will work over USB but I prefer having it Wireless and the Xbox One controller is a lot more expensive anyway I hope this has been you know fairly straightforward fairly useful if it sounds like I haven't gone in depth it's because there's really not that much really to say I mean that's just how it works it's quite simple Xbox controller plug it in you know plug the wireless receiver in if you need one of those PlayStation get a bit of software then you just plug it in and either way you're a way to go very simple I wouldn't worry about it thank you very much for watching this video this was a suggestion by someone that wanted to know how to do it so if you have any more suggestions leave them in the comment section below send me a message whatever and I'll try and do a video on it thank you very much don't forget to like this video subscribe dislike if you didn't like it but either way do leave a comment thank you very much for watching as always and I will see you in the next video\n"