It’s strange to think that we live surrounded by technology that, most of the time, we don’t truly understand how works. Most of us, at least. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn the basics of our devices. After all, we’ve come to a point where the average Joe can learn all of this and more thanks to the Internet.
For example, in the gaming industry, where parts and devices can come at a steep cost, sometimes it is better to roll up the sleeves and figure out stuff on our own, which is when Internet forums and blogs come to our aid.
We can start by saying that there are a few different ways to charge your PS4 controller. A controller with no battery will take two hours to charge to full capacity.
It’s wise to make sure to let the battery run out and charge it fully to extend the battery life of your PS4 controller as much as possible.
The PS4 controller, Dualshock 4, has a micro-USB port compatible with any micro-USB to 2.0/3.0 USB cables, so you can connect it to any other device, such as laptops and computers, as well as wall chargers. However, this doesn’t mean that every charger will be compatible.
Normally, connecting your PS4 controller to a PC or Mac, or laptop will not have any negative repercussions. But, I would recommend you to avoid using fast chargers.
That’s because, to charge smartphones, tablets, and laptops faster, these fast chargers will use higher voltage in order to accomplish their goal, which could potentially damage your PS4 controller and burn it out.
The PS4 controller allows for 5V 800ma, which is the amount of power needed to function properly. The ma rating is the amperage, which is the amount of energy that’s being transferred over a certain period of time. This measure is not much to be concerned about since the controller it’s build to only pull the 800ma it requires.
We know this because the PS4 console’s output is 900ma, yet the controller only uses what it needs to charge. However, the voltage is something you should be wary of as to not exceed the 5V. Voltage represents the amount of power being pushed by the source, so exceeding the limit that the device is made to withstand can damage said device by burning it.
What does this all mean? That as long as the charger you’re using doesn’t exceed the 5V, your controller will be able to be charged just fine. And the good news is that most Android phone chargers, such as Samsung, should be able to work as long as they’re in that range of specs.
However, keep in mind that being on the low end could be detrimental too, as older models of wall chargers have lower-than-average voltage. So if you’re using one of this chargers while connected to the PS4 and playing, you run the risk of consuming the same amount of energy that’s being used to charge the controller, causing it to wear down the battery prematurely,
How To Charge PS4 Controller Without Charger
There can be a wide variety of reasons why you’d need to charge your controller without relying on the cable. Maybe you lost the cable, or you simply need it for something else. Perhaps you don’t like it. Having a bunch of cables lying around is not the most practical thing in the world, not to mention that the cable that comes with the console is usually pretty short anyway.
And, well, as we’ve talked about before, relying on phone chargers could be risky for your controller, so you’re ought to find a different route. A good way you can charge your PS4 controller without having to plug it in a potentially harmful charger, it’s to simply buy a charging station.
These are relatively cheap and from a variety of sources, of course, as always I recommend going with the one provided by Sony.
Charging stations can be a great way to charge your controller without having to worry about compatibility issues or burning out your precious controllers since they’re made for the sole purpose of charging your Dualshock.
And charging stations are not the only option either. Battery packs are another good way to charge your PS4 controller. They are charged separately and, when the time comes where you need them, you can whip one of those bad boys out and keep on playing without having to swap controllers. You can also simply attach them to your Dualshock 4 while playing for a bit of extra juice.
They are lightweight as their main objective is to give you peace of mind while you play, knowing that you won’t get the dreaded “You need to charge your controller” notification while you’re in the middle of a ranked match.
PS4 Controller Won’t Charge
Now we’re dealing with the “Danger” territory. It’s not a time for panic, though. You can tell the controller is charging if the light bar blinks, fading between amber and white. Once the charge is completed, the bar will turn off.
If your PS4 controller won’t charge, it may be an issue with the cable itself. Try to charge your Dualshock 4 with another USB cable that’s compatible. If you found that the controller charges perfectly, then there’s no need to worry and simply buy another USB cable suitable for the controller.
Another issue worth mentioning is that your PS4 might be the problem here. In this case, it is as easy as trying to plug it into your laptop, PC, or wall outlet. If it works, then you can be certain that the console is to blame.
But what if the problem is not the cable? If you’ve tried other ways to no avail, another thing I can recommend you to do is to reset your PS4 controller, which is a pretty straightforward process.
Turn around your controller, and you’ll notice a tiny hole underneath the L2 trigger. Use a paperclip, pin, or anything equally small to press it and hold it there for around ten seconds. The Dualshock 4 will restart, and you’ll be able to give it a second try to see if it charges.
It’s not all bad, though. If you know that the problem with your controller is the battery itself, then you could take matters into your own hands by changing the batteries yourself. This should be considered as a last resort and only if you’re certain of the problem. But if you’re confident in embracing your inner child building a set of Legos, then rest assure that replacing the old batteries for a new set should do the trick.
If you’ve tried absolutely everything I told you and your controller still doesn’t work, it could be the charging port. This can easily be confirmed if you own two controllers, simply charging both with the same cable will let you know for certain if it’s an issue with the charging port of the PS4 controller.
In this case, you could try to use a can of compressed air and blast some air inside it to make sure that all the dust is out of the system. I would highly recommend doing this while the controller is off or, preferably, with no charge left to avoid turning it on in the process. If there’s grime inside the port, you could also try using a toothpick and wrap it in a cotton or paper towel. A cotton swab could work as well.
If the problem persists, then I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s no way to fix your controller other than replacing it with a new one.
You can try calling Sony to see how does your warranty cover your controller. Who knows, maybe they can hook you up with a repair or replacement. Can’t hurt to ask!
PS4 Controller Won’t Connect
I think it’s safe to say that most gamers have had the dreadful experience of having to deal with faulty devices and having to either figure out a solution on our own or go through the trouble of getting a replacement. Thankfully, the most common issues, such as connectivity, are usually the easiest to fix as well.
The best way to try and start figuring out exactly what’s wrong with the controller is first to make sure the controller is fully charged, connect it to the console, and press and hold the PS button. This should make it resynch to the console. If this doesn’t work, there are a few more methods for you to try.
Attempt to perform a soft reboot on your controller before taking more drastic measures. For this method, you should have a second controller in hand to use. Connect the second controller and look on the Settings menu, select Devices and go to Bluetooth Devices. Press the Options button, which will prompt you with a few choices. Choose “Forget Device,” select the first controller, and try to connect it again.
If you don’t have a second controller to use, don’t panic. You can grab your faulty controller, reset it by finding the small hole under the left trigger, L2, and use a pin to insert and push it for a few seconds. Try to connect the controller now.
If this doesn’t work, it could be an issue due to interference with the Bluetooth signal. Normally, devices are designed to ignore each other’s Bluetooth signals, but there’s a mishap every once in a while. In this case, disconnecting other devices that may be interfering, such as tablets, smartphones, or laptops, could help.
Another possibility is the battery. If the controller’s battery is giving its last breaths, then the Bluetooth signal could be weakened, resulting in you having connectivity issues.
If connectivity issues happen frequently, a change of battery should be the end of your woes.
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