Android’s more than just a practical mobile OS: it’s also an increasingly popular gaming platform. But there’s only so much you can do with a touchscreen – and so for real control, you’ll need a gamepad.
You could, of course, buy a dedicated Android-compatible model – but if you’ve got a recent DualShock 4 controller for PlayStation 4, you’ve already got everything you need. In this short guide, then, I’ll show you how to pair a PS4 controller with your Android phone or tablet.
- First of all, you’ll need to activate the controller’s pairing mode by holding down the Share and PS buttons. After a few moments, the controller’s 'light bar' should flash white.
- Next, turn to your phone or tablet. Open the Settings app, scroll to ‘Wireless & networks’ and tap Bluetooth.
- You should see an option for Wireless Controller– simply tap this and the devices will be paired.
Agent tip
Not all Android games are compatible with controllers – so do make sure you check beforehand to avoid frustration!
When you’re ready to return the controller through the PS4, you’ll need to re-pair it with your console. This is extremely straightforward: just connect the controller to the console using its bundled Mini USB cord and press the PS button again.
Troubleshooting
My Android device won’t detect my controller
If you’re having trouble connecting at all, do make sure that your PS4 (or any other Bluetooth device your controller might be paired with) is turned off.
The controller input is laggy
Some users might find that the controller is a little laggy and unresponsive after being paired with an Android device. This may or may not happen to you – but if it does, a free app called Bluetooth Auto Connect by UniqTec Inc can help.
Once you’ve installed the app, connect the PS4 controller to your device as described above. Then, open the app, head to Advanced Options, then scroll to the ‘Debug’ options and tick the checkbox. Then, head back to the main menu and tap Connect at the top of the screen. This should offer a much smoother experience.
The button mapping is all wrong
If you’re not happy with the default button mappy, an app called Multilanguage Key Remapper by InnerLife can help. With this, you have complete flexibility over which button does what – check the app’s documentation to see exactly how it works.
These instructions should have you blasting away in no time – but if you run into any problems, drop us a line in the comments and we’ll do what we can to help!