Why is my PS4 controller only working when plugged in?
Why is my PS4 controller only working when plugged in?
Lately, I’ve been facing a frustrating issue with my PS4 controller. It works perfectly fine when I have it plugged in with a USB cable, but as soon as I unplug it, it stops responding completely. I used to enjoy the convenience of playing wirelessly, but now that’s no longer an option. I’ve tried resetting the controller and even checked to see if the battery needs replacing, but nothing seems to help. It’s really puzzling because the controller charges well when it’s plugged in. I can see the light bar glowing, indicating that it’s connected and charging. The moment I disconnect the USB cable, it’s like the controller just shuts down and refuses to communicate with the console. I’m not sure if this is an issue with the controller itself, the console, or something else. Has anyone else experienced this problem with their PS4 controller only working when plugged in? How did you figure out what was wrong?
5 Answers
My PS4 controller was also only working when plugged in. To fix this, I discovered there was an issue with the firmware. Here’s what I did:
1. I connected the controller to my PC using a USB cable.
2. I downloaded the DS4Windows software, which helps in updating the firmware of the PS4 controller.
3. I opened DS4Windows, which recognized my controller and indicated that a firmware update was available.
4. I followed the onscreen instructions to update the firmware.
After this update, my controller started working wirelessly again with my PS4. It was relatively straightforward.
I encountered the same problem with my PS4 controller that only worked when plugged in. After lots of troubleshooting, I realized the issue was related to the internal connections inside the controller. Here’s how I fixed it:
1. I opened up the controller using a precision screwdriver set.
2. I inspected the internal ribbon cables and noticed one was slightly loose.
3. I carefully re-seated all the connections, ensuring they were firm.
4. After putting the controller back together, it worked wirelessly without any issues.
Sometimes, these internal connections can come loose, causing such issues.
I had this exact problem with my PS4 controller. It worked only when plugged in, and I finally figured out the issue was with the battery inside the controller. Here’s what I did:
1. I bought a replacement battery specifically compatible with the PS4 controller model I have.
2. Using a small screwdriver, I carefully opened the controller by unscrewing the screws at the back.
3. I gently disconnected the old battery and swapped it with the new one.
4. After reassembling the controller, I checked to see if it worked wirelessly, and it did!
The whole process took about 30 minutes. You might find step-by-step video guides online to help you with this.
I had a similar issue with my PS4 controller, and after much frustration, I found that the problem was related to interference from other wireless devices. Here’s what I did to resolve it:
1. I turned off all nearby wireless devices, including my laptop, smartphone, and other gaming consoles.
2. I reset my PS4 controller by pressing the small reset button at the back with a paper clip.
3. I reconnected the controller to the PS4 with a USB cable and then disconnected it.
4. Without any interference, the controller connected wirelessly and started working fine.
It seems that reducing wireless interference helped with the issue in my case.
Your issue sounds a lot like what I went through recently. The problem, in my case, was with the Bluetooth connection between the controller and the console. Here’s how I fixed it:
1. I turned off the PS4 completely and unplugged it from the power source to reset any static charge.
2. After waiting for a few minutes, I plugged it back in and turned it on again.
3. I then pressed the PS button and the Share button on the controller simultaneously to enter the Bluetooth pairing mode; you should see the light bar start flashing.
4. Finally, I used a USB cable to connect the controller to the PS4 while it was in pairing mode and then disconnected it after a few seconds.
Doing this reset the Bluetooth connection, and the controller worked wirelessly again.