How to pair your PlayStation controller with Stadia

If you’ve been a loyal PlayStation gamer for most of your gaming life, chances are you’ve grown accustomed to the DualShock controllers that come with the console, and for some, these DualShock controllers might even be the “supreme” choice (it boils down to personal preference at the end of the day).

If you’d prefer using the DualShock controllers with Google’s Stadia streaming platform, you’ll be pleased to learn that you can do that. The PS4’s DualShock 4 will pair just fine, although it should be noted that the PS5’s DualSense controller isn’t officially supported yet, but there are some possible workarounds that you might want to check out.

Pairing the DualShock 4 with Stadia

1. Ensure that the device you’re trying to connect to has Bluetooth enabled
2. Press and hold the Share button on the DualShock 4 controller
3. Press and hold the PlayStation button with the log on it
4. The light bar should start to blink indicating that its searching for a device to pair with
5. Select the controller on your device, whether it’s your phone or computer and you’re good to go

Alternatively, for those who prefer using a wired connection, you will need a micro USB cable. The micro USB part will connect to your DualShock 4 controller and the other USB end should plug into your computer. The drivers will download automatically, after which you should be all set.

Pairing the DualSense with Stadia

At the moment the DualSense controller for the PS5 isn’t officially supported by Stadia. Presumably this is because the PS5 is still relatively new so Google could still be working on support. Right now you could pair the controller wirelessly, but it seems that there are issues where input is not recognized.

When support will arrive, if at all, remains to be seen, but there are a couple of workarounds that maybe you could try exploring.

Method 1 – Running it through Steam

1. Ensure your PC has Bluetooth enabled
2. Press and hold the PS button on the controller and the Create button for a few seconds
3. The light bar in the middle of the controller should start flashing
4. Open the Bluetooth settings on your computer and select “Wireless Controller”
5. You might have to enter a pairing code in which you can type “0000”
6. Launch Steam and configure the controller to ensure the buttons are mapped correctly
7. Click on Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library
8. Select Chrome

Now whenever you want to play Stadia using the DualSense controller, just launch Chrome through Steam and your controller should be configured correctly.

Method 2 – Using the DS5Chrome extension

1. Launch Chrome
2. Download the DS5Chrome extension
3. Connect your DualSense controller to your computer
4. Launch Stadia and start playing

According to the developer of the DS5Chrome extension, this should solve issues with incorrect mapping. If neither of these methods work for you, then you might need to go back to using the DualShock 4 controllers or purchase one of the officially supported controllers listed on Google’s support page.