Big mobile or tablet gamer? The touch controls on your Android device sometimes don’t cut it. Especially during those fast-paced online matches where your enemies are whizzing about at 100 miles an hour. Trying to get a bead on them can be almost impossible. But, by connecting a PS5 controller, you’ll be able to dominate the arena – with more accuracy and zippier movement. Here’s how to get it up and running…
Pairing your PS5 controller with an Android device
Connecting your PS5 controller to an Android device is really easy. Here’s how to do it:
Turn on Bluetooth – First, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your Android gadget. You can do this quickly by swiping down from the top of your screen and tapping the Bluetooth icon.
Enter Pairing Mode – On your PS5 controller, press and hold the PlayStation button (the one in the middle in the shape of their logo) and the Create button (to the left of the touchpad) at the same time. Hold them down until the light bar on the controller starts flashing blue.
Pair the devices – On the Android device, go to the Bluetooth settings screen and tap on ‘Pair new device’. Look for ‘Wireless controller’ in the list of available devices and press it. Confirm the pairing request, and you’re all set! The light bar on your controller should now be a steady blue colour, letting you know the connection has been a success.
Connecting a PS5 controller to Android via USB
If you prefer a wired connection, that’ll work too. You can connect your PS5 controller to your Android gadget using a USB cable. Just follow these steps:
Get the right cable – You’ll need a USB-C to USB-C cable if your PlayStation controller and Android device both have USB-C ports. On the other hand, if it’s got a micro-USB port, grab a USB-C to micro-USB adapter instead.
Connect the devices – Plug one end of the cable into the PS5 controller and the other into your Android gadget. Your device should recognise the controller automatically.
Test the connection – Fire up a game that supports controllers and test the connection out. If everything’s working properly, you should be able to navigate menus and play using the PS5 controller.
Fixing common problems
It might not all be plain sailing though. Sometimes, there can be a few kinks to iron out before you get stuck into that new adventure. Here are some common problems and how to fix them…
The controller is lagging
Input lag is the enemy of gamers everywhere. But what is it? Well, it’s when you press a button, or move the analogue stick, but there’s a delay between you doing that and the action on screen. And it can be the difference between life and death on the multiplayer battlefields.
Here are a few ways to sort it:
Check your connection – If you’re using Bluetooth, try switching to a wired connection to reduce the amount of lag.
Close background apps – Check that no other apps are running in the background. The more apps that are open, the more demand they’ll be putting on your tech.
Update firmware – See whether both your Android gadget and the controller have the latest firmware updates. If it’s out of date, the devices won’t talk to each other properly.
The button mapping is wrong
It’s possible that the buttons on your controller might not map properly to your Android gadget. And if that’s the case, it’ll be almost impossible to actually play the game. It’s not too hard to get sorted though…
Use a mapping app – Download a gamepad mapping app from the Google Play Store. These apps let you remap the buttons on your controller to match how you want to play.
Check game settings – Some games will have their own specific controller settings too. Make sure that the game supports custom button mapping first and then tweak your settings so that everything’s working properly.
Game compatibility with PS5 controllers on Android
Not every Android game is compatible with a PS5 controller. So, here’s what you need to know before you get gaming:
Check game support – Before you start your next sesh, see whether the game actually supports PS5 controllers. A lot of the big titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty Mobile do, but some might not.
Use Remote Play – If a game doesn’t support PS5 controllers natively, you can always use the PS Remote Play app. This does exactly what it says on the tin, letting you stream games from your PS5 straight to your Android device. Then, you’ll be able to use your controller to play any title that’s installed on the console.
So, that’s how to connect a PS5 controller to Android gadgets. Want to know more about all things Android? We’ll take you through how to set up a new Android phone step by step. And if you want to capture something on your phone here’s how to screen record on Android.
