In this quick guide, we will be showing you how to connect the PS5 DualSense controller with the Steam Deck.
If you use the Steam Deck in Docked mode, you will want an excellent controller to make the most of it. While you can use a keyboard and mouse, they often aren’t the best experience when playing games on a TV. Additionally, some games lend themselves to being played with a controller.
One of the controllers the Steam Deck supports out of the box is the PS5 DualSense controller. If you are using this controller wired, you can actually just plug it into your dock and start using it.
With the PS5 controller supporting Bluetooth, you can easily connect it wirelessly to the Steam Deck.
The downside to using the PS5 controller over the Xbox controller is that you will need some way to plug it in and charge it. With an Xbox controller, you can swap out the AA batteries.
Over the following sections, we will walk you through how to enable Bluetooth and connect your controller in a few short steps.
Connecting a PS5 DualSense Controller to the Steam Deck
Luckily for us, the Steam Deck’s built-in Bluetooth works perfectly with the PS5 controller. Connecting the DualSense controller is a simple process as it works out of the box.
You won’t need to install additional software to get these game controllers to work. Best of all, the Steam Deck’s interface will automatically update to match the controller buttons.
Ensuring Bluetooth is Enabled
1. First, you must open the Steam Menu on your Deck so that we can get to the settings screen.
You can open this menu by clicking “STEAM MENU” in the bottom-left corner of the screen. This menu can also be opened by pressing the STEAM button on the Steam Deck.
2. With the Steam menu open, navigate down and select the “Settings” option.
3. With the Settings page open, click “Bluetooth” in the sidebar.
We can pair our PS5 controller with the Steam Deck within the Bluetooth settings page.
4. Now that we are on the Bluetooth settings page, you must ensure Bluetooth is toggled on (1.).
If Bluetooth is enabled, you should see the text “Searching for devices” appear on the screen (2.).
Pairing the PS5 Controller with the Steam Deck
5. We are now at the point where we can actually connect your PS5 controller with the Steam Deck. To begin this process, we must put the PS5 controller into pairing mode.
To put your controller into pairing mode, hold down the “SHARE” button (1.). While holding down the share button, you will want to hold the PlayStation button (2.).
The lights on your DualSense controller will begin to flash when it is in pairing mode.
6. Back on your Steam Deck, you should see “Dualsense Wireless Controller” appear under the “Available to pair” heading.
All you need to do is tap this entry to pair the controller to your Deck.
7. You should now be able to navigate the Steam Deck’s gaming mode using your PS5 controller.
The button prompts should have automatically updated to match your controller.
Conclusion
At this stage, you should hopefully have your PS5 controller paired to your Steam Deck.
You can use this controller to navigate the Steam Deck’s menus and play any supported games on the device.
Being a wireless controller, the DualSense controller is an excellent solution if you use your Steam Deck in docked mode.
Please feel free to comment below if you have any questions about connecting your PS5 controller.
If you found this tutorial to be helpful, we highly recommend checking out our other Steam Deck tutorials.
