TestDock

PS4 controller test (DualShock 4)

Connect your DualShock 4 to a computer and press the PS button or any other button. Every button is labelled with its PS4 name, so you can check Cross, Circle, Share, Options, L2, R2, the sticks and the touchpad press at a glance.

No controller detected yet. Connect one and press any button.

  1. Connect the controller by USB cable or Bluetooth before testing, and close apps that might take exclusive control of it (for example Steam Big Picture or DS4Windows).
  2. Click on this page, then press any button on the controller. Browsers only reveal a controller after a real button press.
  3. Still nothing? Try another USB cable or port, re-pair over Bluetooth, or try a Chromium-based browser or Firefox. Some controllers only work in a specific mode (for example XInput or DirectInput).

Vibration (rumble)

Connect a controller, press a button, then start a short vibration. You can stop it at any time.

Connect the DualShock 4 to a computer

  • USB: use a micro-USB cable that carries data (some only charge). This is the most reliable option.
  • Bluetooth: with the controller off, hold Share and the PS button until the light bar flashes, then pair it from your computer's Bluetooth settings.
  • Close Steam or DS4Windows if they are running: they can take exclusive control of the controller.
  • Press a button on this page to make the controller appear.

What to check

  • Face buttons, D-pad, Share and Options: each should turn green once pressed.
  • L2 and R2: squeeze slowly; the value should rise smoothly from 0.00 to 1.00. A trigger that never reaches 1.00 or jumps can point to a worn sensor.
  • Sticks and L3/R3: move the sticks in full circles, press them down, then let go. A dot that stays off-centre suggests drift; measure it with the stick drift test.
  • Touchpad: pressing it down counts as a button. Touch position and gestures are not available to websites.
  • Vibration: the DualShock 4 has two rumble motors; the vibration buttons test them in browsers that support it, usually Chrome and Edge.

DualShock 4 or DualSense?

The PS4 and PS5 controllers are different devices. The DualShock 4 has Share where the DualSense has Create, uses micro-USB instead of USB-C, and has classic rumble motors instead of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. In the browser both use the same standard layout, so the button, trigger and stick checks work the same way. For a DualSense use the PS5 controller test. Third-party controllers sold as PS4-compatible may report a different layout; check them in the gamepad tester.

Limits

The light bar colour, the touchpad surface, the motion sensors, the speaker and the headset jack are not exposed to web pages. On a PS4 console the controller can behave differently than on a computer, and this page cannot recalibrate or repair it. For console-specific problems, PlayStation's support pages describe resetting the controller with the small reset button on the back.

Questions

Does this work with a DualShock 4 on Mac?

Yes, over USB or Bluetooth in current Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, as long as macOS recognises the controller.

How do I check my PS4 controller for drift?

Let go of the sticks and watch the dots here. For a measurement of the resting offset and how much it wanders, use the stick drift test.

Can I change the light bar colour here?

No. Web pages cannot control the light bar, the speaker or the motion sensors of a DualShock 4.

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