How To Connect PS5 Controllers To iPhones And iPads

Gaming on an iPhone can be pretty cool. That is, until you have to deal with the annoying cramped-up feeling that the onscreen controls have to offer. Like come on, with the screen-space being so limited as it is, no one wants to mess it up even more by using the on-screen controls for the game. That's just counterproductive.

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Luckily for us, there is a rather interesting solution for this, thanks to the Apple/Sony overlords - pairing your PS5 controller with your iPhone/iPad. And we're here to talk about precisely that. In this guide, we'll walk you through the surprisingly simple steps of connecting your PS5 controller to your Apple devices. Let's dive in.

Connecting Your PS5 Controller To iOS

The whole process is rather simple, so we don't need to beat around the bush all that much for this one. Let's break it down into three easy-to-follow parts.

There are two things you need to look out for before proceeding with this.

1. You have an iPhone or iPad running iOS 14.5 or later.

2. Your DualSense Controller is fully charged.

Prepping The DualSense controller

1. Make sure your controller is turned off because if you try and do this AFTER it's on, then it's not going to work (trust us on this).
2. Press and hold the PS button and Create button (the small button on the top-left with three lines on it) simultaneously until the light bar blinks rapidly. This means that your controller is now in pairing mode.

PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller

The DualSense is the official controller for the PlayStation 5 by Sony, sporting advanced haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, built-in microphone and headset jack, speaker, and responsive touch panel.

Prepping The iPhone/iPad

1. Open Settings and make sure that Bluetooth is toggled on.
2. Your device will now start searching for nearby Bluetooth devices to pair with.

Pairing Your PS5 Controller

1. On your iPhone/iPad, select “DualSense” from the Other Devices list to start the pairing process.
2. Confirm the pairing once you get the prompt on your screen.
3. Once successfully connected, your controller’s light bar will turn a solid orange, indicating that it's now ready to go!

Want to take a break from gaming? You can easily disconnect your DualSense controller. Simply press and hold the PS button to manually turn off the controller. Alternatively, you can also turn off Bluetooth on your iOS device to sever the connection!

Troubleshooting Tips

Controller Not Appearing in Bluetooth List

• On your iOS device, go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure Bluetooth is activated. Toggle that thing off and on again if needed to refresh the list (you also may need to bring the controller physically closer to your iPhone/iPad during pairing).
• On your controller, press the PS button to wake if powered off, then press and HOLD the PS button + Create button to enter pairing mode until the light bar starts blinking rapidly.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022)

The 12.9" Apple iPad Pro delivers lightning fast performance with the new M2 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, all-day battery, advanced cameras, Thunderbolt ports, and 5G connectivity for the ultimate portable productivity and creativity.

Already Paired But Not Connecting

• Press the PS button on your controller to manually turn off, then on again to retrigger pairing mode.
• Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the (i) icon next to your controller, and select Forget this Device. Then redo the pairing process from this guide. Clearing old pairings sometimes helps, so definitely give this a shot.

Games Not Recognizing Controller Input

• Check online if the game you're playing has developer-enabled "controller support". Cause if it's not supported, the controller may navigate menus, but that will be the extent of it, and you will not be able to control in-game actions.
• Another thing you can try is to quit and relaunch the iOS app you are playing, and then reconnect the controller with your iPhone/iPad.

FAQ

Does the PS5 controller work the same on the iPhone and iPad?

Yep, the whole process/experience of using a DualSense controller is almost identical on an iPhone versus an iPad. The connection rules, pairing process, it's all the same and doesn't really matter what device it is, as long as you have got it running iOS 14.5 or later.

How long does a PS5 controller last on one charge when connected to an iPhone?

Roughly speaking, you can expect to get 10–12 hours of gameplay out of your controller on a single charge when it is connected to an iPhone or iPad. However, the battery may drain slightly faster if games you're playing make good use of the intense haptic feedback.

Can I use a PS5 controller with game streaming services on iOS like Xbox Cloud Gaming?

Absolutely! Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Google Stadia, Steam Link, all support pairing a DualSense just like you would natively on the iPhone or iPad. So, even when streaming games, you can enjoy the precise input and natural feel of the PS5 controller.

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