Why is my PS5 controller not working on Steam on my Mac?

I faced this problem as well and found that a mix of software updates and manual settings tweak solved it for me. Here’s what I did:

1. First, update macOS to its latest version.
2. Restart your Mac after the update.
3. Connect your PS5 controller via Bluetooth:
   • Hold the PS button and Create button on the controller until it starts flashing.
4. Open Steam and go into the Big Picture Mode.
5. In Big Picture Mode, go to Settings > Controller Settings and ensure “PlayStation Configuration Support” is enabled.
6. Sometimes it’s necessary to block and then unblock the Steam application’s controller access permissions on macOS:
7. Go to “System Preferences” > “Security and Privacy” > “Privacy” tab.
8. Remove Steam from the list, add it back, and then restart Steam.

It’s tedious, but it generally resolves the issue.

Since you’re having trouble with your PS5 controller on Steam using a Mac, here are a few steps that might help:

1. Open Steam and go to “Steam” > “Preferences” (on the Mac menu bar).
2. Click on the “Controller” tab and select “General Controller Settings”.
3. Ensure “PlayStation Configuration Support” is checked.
4. If “PlayStation Configuration Support” is already checked and the controller still doesn’t work, try disconnecting and reconnecting the controller.
5. Sometimes you just need to reboot Steam after making these changes.

Check to make sure macOS is up-to-date, as sometimes system updates include important driver updates or other software enhancements.

Here’s a more tech-heavy approach if you’re comfortable navigating both Steam and macOS settings:

1. Ensure you have the latest version of Steam.
2. Make sure that the PS5 controller is properly connected via Bluetooth:
   • Put the controller in pairing mode (hold PS + Create buttons).
   • Connect through “System Preferences” > “Bluetooth”.
3. Go to Steam > Preferences and navigate to “Controller” > “General Controller Settings”.
4. Check “PlayStation Configuration Support”.
5. Try connecting the controller using a USB-C cable and see if Steam recognizes it before making any Bluetooth connections.
6. Some users found success installing a third-party application like DS4Windows on their Mac. Though it’s aimed at older models, sometimes it helps with driver recognition for newer ones as well.

I narrowed down the issue on my Mac by looking at Steam Input settings:

1. Go to Steam > Preferences > Controller > General Controller Settings.
2. Ensure “Nintendo Button Layout” is turned OFF.
3. If that doesn’t work, go into the game’s specific settings; often a game might override Steam settings. Check in-game controller settings to make sure that it recognizes an external controller and is not limited to default keyboard and mouse settings.
4. Sometimes resetting the controller to its default by using a paperclip to press the tiny reset button on the back also helps.

It may sound simple, but sometimes it’s about the order in which you do things:

1. Turn off your Mac and PS5 controller.
2. Turn on your Mac and let it boot up fully.
3. Turn on your PS5 controller and set it to pairing mode.
4. Connect the controller via Bluetooth.
5. Open Steam and see if it recognizes it in the controller settings. If not, try with a wired USB-C connection first.

The boot order can sometimes change how devices initialize and connect, weirdly enough.

I’d like to suggest ensuring that none of your other Bluetooth devices are interfering with the connection. Here’s how you can troubleshoot:

1. Turn off Bluetooth on all other devices nearby that could be connecting to your PS5 controller.
2. On your Mac, navigate to “Bluetooth” in System Preferences and remove all previous PS5 controller pairings.
3. Pair the controller again by holding the PS and Create buttons until the light flashes.
4. In Steam’s “Controller Settings”, enable “PlayStation Configuration Support”.
5. Restart the Mac and Steam after making these changes.

Doing this ensures that the controller is not attempting to pair or communicate with another device, which can sometimes cause connection issues.

Sometimes the issue can be specific to the game you’re trying to play. I had issues until I realized I needed to configure the PS5 controller within each game individually:

1. Connect the controller through Bluetooth or USB as usual.
2. Open Steam and enter Big Picture Mode.
3. Navigate to your game library.
4. Select the game giving you trouble, press on “Manage Game” and then “Controller Configuration”.
5. Manually set up your PS5 controller configuration for the game.

Individual configuration can sometimes bypass this frustrating problem by ensuring the game is properly recognizing the controller but it’s slightly more tedious since it has to be done for every game.

I’ve had a similar issue, and here’s what worked for me. It involves some Bluetooth and Steam settings adjustments:

1. Ensure your PS5 controller is in pairing mode by holding the PS button and the Create button until the light bar starts flashing.
2. On your Mac, go to “System Preferences” > “Bluetooth” and connect the PS5 controller.
3. Once connected, head to Steam and open “Big Picture Mode” (top right of the Steam window).
4. Go to “Settings” > “Controller Settings” and ensure “PlayStation Configuration Support” is enabled.
5. Sometimes it helps to restart your Mac after making these changes.

This helped my Mac recognize the controller consistently every time I opened Steam.

I recommend checking if the issue is a Steam-specific bug and needs reporting. Here’s what you can do in the meantime:

1. Visit the Steam forums to see if others have reported similar issues.
2. Ensure your macOS and Steam client are updated.
3. Check if a particular Steam client beta version solves the issue:
   • Join the Steam beta participation under Steam > Preferences > Account.

Finally, submit a ticket to Steam Support. If it’s a widespread issue, they usually respond with a fix or useful steps within a day or two.

Give these steps a try focusing on USB connections, since Bluetooth can be finicky:

1. Connect your PS5 controller to your Mac using a USB-C to USB adapter or USB-C to USB-C cable.
2. Open Steam and ensure your controller appears in Steam’s “Devices” section.
3. Make sure both the controller and Steam are not in conflict with other connected devices.
4. Check for any firmware updates for your PS5 controller through the PlayStation itself and make sure it’s up to date.

Wired connections often resolve the issue as they are more stable and less prone to connection problems than Bluetooth.