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Is your PS4 controller behaving in a weird way, and you’re planning about replacing it with a new one? Then just wait. It may not be known to you that you can reset your PS4 controller with some small steps. This can fix many issues related to the functions of your PS4 controller. In this article, you will know about the right ways on how to reset PS4 controller.
What is the PS4 controller reset?
The term reset refers to clearing the errors from the system by reverting it to its stable state. The same is applicable to your PlayStation 4 ecosystem. Doing a reset on the console or the controllers can easily fix many types of pending errors.
When it comes to the topic of how to reset PS4 controller, there are two types of reset process that you can follow to get satisfactory results:
- Hard reset (or hardware reset)and
- Soft reset (it’s actually the software reset).
In the hard reset or hardware reset process, you’ll need to press a button on the controller to perform the reset process of the device. This is a good trick if you are not able to go into your PS4 settings for any reason.
On the other hand, the soft reset means that you’ll be giving the PS4 controller firmware its stable initial state by going and doing some steps, under the Settings menu of the PS4.
When is the right time to reset the PS4 controller?
Many PS4 users have this question about when is the right time to reset the PS4 controller? Is there any sign that can help or support this decision? The answer will be yes.
You have to reset the PS4 controller when you may encounter one or some of these signs:
- While playing your game or working with your application, the PS4 controller partly or completely stops responding, while the game, which is running, seems to be fine.
- PS4 Controller is working, but it is behaving weirdly and has a degrading performance.
- The analog sticks start moving things onscreen when they shouldn’t. Although dust, dirt and grime can also force your controller to do so, there are possibly some other unnatural reasons for this situation that can be fixed when you know how to reset PS4 controller.
- Having a power issue with the PS4 controller, like the battery doesn’t fully charge and it cannot last long, or it is not charging at all.
These are the unusual signs that will force you to go for a PS4 controller reset.
What can happen when the PS4 controller fails to work properly?
When the PS4 controller starts to malfunction or is going to fail, you’ll face troubles while dealing with your PS4 system. A usually common sign of PS4 controller malfunction is when the PS4 stops working suddenly or halts while playing. In some cases, it won’t stop but can become very slow.
A faulty hard drive of the PS4 controller can also stop the system from functioning properly, and thus making it unable to respond to the controller’s signals. In this case, if you’re a tech-savvy person, you’ll have the technical knowledge and can figure out where the problem is residing.
In other cases, the above-mentioned symptoms may not appear, but the PS4 system cannot respond properly to the prompts of the controller. At that time, you can feel that the PS4 controller is not in good condition. No matter how many times you press its buttons, it cannot give the desired result.
In some other instances, the defective database of the PS4 can also stop the system from responding to the controller’s prompts. In that case, though the PS4controller is functioning correctly, the PS4 system can’t render the signals of the controller in a correct way.
Trying some steps before resetting the PS4 controller:
Before doing the process of resetting the PS4controller, you can carry out the following actions:
- Turn off the PS4, and for 3 minutes keep it unplugged from the power socket.
- Change the USB port of the PS4 through which you connect the controller.
- Remove the battery of the PS4 controller and put it back in place.
- Connect the PS4 controller to a computer and look whether it’s in proper working condition or not. If it is working properly, then that means you have a problem with the PS4 system and not the controller.
If none of these can work for you, you may be sure that now you have to know about the process of how to reset PS4 controller.
How To Reset PS4 Controller: The Complete Process
If you cannot connect the PS4 controller to the PlayStation 4, or it cannot respond properly to the prompts of the controller or the light on the back flashes, a reset of the controller can offer you some relief. Now comes the question of how to reset PS4 controller and give it back its previous condition? This is what we’ll now discuss in detail below.
We already know that there are two ways of resetting the PS4 controller—Hard and Soft.
The process of hard-reset
A hard reset is a process through which a device is returned to the state it was in when released from the factory. Meaning, it will erase all data, including apps, settings, and user-profiles.
The process of hard-resetting the PS4 controller is very easy. All you have to do is to first turn off your console. The reset button is situated in a small hole at the back of the controller located near the L2 button.
Make use of a paperclip and then press and hold the Reset button for a few seconds. This can be able to reset your controller.
The next step can again pair your controller with your device. Just connect the controller with the help of the USB cable provided and then turn on the PS4 system and proceed with the procedure of pairing. If the connection cannot be made, then the reason will be that the controller is not detected by the console. The cause of this might be the respective USB cable. The PS4 controllers can be problematic here. It’s best to work with an original Sony Micro USB cable. If you do not have one, you can also go for different Micro USB cables.
Now, press the button of the Play station on the controller to log into the PS4. The light bar will turn blue, thus indicating to you that the DualShock 4 has paired with the console.
The process of soft-reset
- By pressing the PS ButtonGo to the PlayStation 4 dashboard.
- Then go to [Settings] > [Devices] > [Bluetooth Devices].
- You can see your PS4 controller listed. As you are using the working controller to navigate the menu, select the one which is inactive. (The PS4 controller without the green dot is the one that is inactive).
- Select “Disconnect” option.
- Press the button named Options on your PS4™ controller.
- Select the“Forget Device”.
- Then Confirm.
As we’ve forgotten about the malfunctioning DualShock 4 controller, you may want to power down the PS4, by holding down the PS4 button on your controller, thus navigating to Power in the menu and selecting Turn off PS4.
Some extra steps:
While the power is off, there are some more steps to perform:
- Connect your malfunctioning DualShock 4 controller to the PS4 by a USB cable.
- Turn on the PS4 and wait for the booting process.
- Press the PlayStation button and log in to the PS4. The PlayStation 4 controller now can be paired, and you see if it’s still malfunctioning.
Conclusion
After doing these steps of how to reset PS4 controller, if the controller still continues to cause problems, then there might be a hardware failure. In that case, you can check if the problem is with the console or the controller. It’s best to try out the other controllers on your PS4 or test your controller on some other person’s console. If you are not sure whether the problem is in the console or the controller, you can always ask for help from the expert and explain to them your problem.
Resetting your gadgets can be tricky at times. But, when you have dedicated tutorials for the purpose, the task becomes easy. You can read the blog How to Reset Airpods – Best Possible Way.
