Console warring aside, the Playstation consoles offer a greater gaming experience than the Xbox ones, mainly due to it’s 1st party exclusives.
But there’s one thing that even the hardcore PS fans will agree on, & that is the Xbox One controller being better(user-friendly design) than the PS4’s Dual Shock 4 controller.
Many gamers who have switched sides from Xbox to Playstation have been longing to use their Xbox One controllers with the PS4. Well, long no more!
Dive into this article as I have briefly discussed everything you need to know about using an Xbox controller on PS4/PS5.
So let us begin.
Can I Use an Xbox Controler on PS4/PS5?
Unfortunately, you can not use an Xbox controller on PS4 by default as both are specifically built to run on different software. But there are some alternate techniques to connect & use an Xbox controller with a Playstation console or even with a Nintendo Switch.
Additionally, I have noticed that the new Xbox controller that was released alongside the next-gen Xbox consoles can now directly connect with PS4.
Sadly, that connection doesn’t mean you can use it to play games on your PS4 in any way. Despite the system showing the Series X controller being connected as a gamepad, I couldn’t get any input to register on the PS4 with it due to compatibility issues.
So as it stands, you need to use an adapter or remote play function to use an Xbox controller with the PS4/PS5.
Related contents you should read about can you play Fortnite on Xbox 360?
How to Connect an Xbox Controller on PS4/PS5
As Xbox controllers are built to work with proprietary software of specific devices, they won’t run on the PS4 due to compatibility issues. Thankfully, you can try some pretty neat tricks to connect an Xbox controller to the PS4 with very minimal effort.
Here are the methods to connect an Xbox controller on PS4/PS5:
Method 1: Use a 3rd Party Adapter
There are many 3rd party adapters on the market that can connect an Xbox controller to a PS4. But not all will be compatible or reliable. The ones that I have personally tested & work flawlessly are ADAPEX R100 Pro & Brook X One adapter.
Most adapters pretty much have the same setup procedure to connect the Xbox controller to a PS4.
Here’s how to use an adapter to connect an Xbox controller to a PS4:
ADAPEX R100 Pro
- Turn on your PS4 console.
- Plug in the ADAPEX R100 Pro adapter to the console’s USB port. The light on the adapter will start to flash, which indicates it’s in pairing mode.
- Press the X button on your Xbox controller to turn it on.
- Press & hold the Sync button on the controller for about 5 seconds until the light on the X button starts blinking.
- Click on the X button when the light stays still.
Brook X One
- Turn on the PS4 console.
- Open the battery compartment of the Xbox controller & remove all the batteries.
- Plug in the Brook X One adapter to the Xbox controller aligning with the USB & battery compartment.
- Plug a USB cable with PS4 & Brook X One adapter’s USB outputs.
- Wait until the adapter’s light is blue, which means it’s fully charged.
- Press the button on the adapter to turn it on.
- Press & hold the View button+A to pair until the controller rumbles.
- Click on the X button when its light stays still.
- Unplug the USB cable if you want to use it wirelessly.
Note: Keep in mind that the Brook X One adapter only supports the official Xbox One and Xbox One Elite controllers. You can’t use the Xbox One Elite 2 or any other unofficial Xbox controllers with this adapter.
Some more guides on how long does an Xbox One last?
Method 2: Use Remote Play
Gamers can utilize the Playstation Remote Play feature to play their PS4 games using an Xbox controller. But you’ll need a stable internet connection with high bandwidth & low latency.
Here are the steps to set up the remote play:
- Turn on your PS4.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Remote Play Connection Settings and tick the Enable Remote Play box.
- Go back to Settings & click Account Management.
- Click Activate as your primary PS4 and hit Activate.
- Go back to Settings again & select Power Save Settings.
- Click Set Features Available in Rest Mode.
- Tick all the options.
- Download the PS4 Remote Play app and install it on your PC.
- Launch the app & log in to your PSN profile.
- Follow the prompts and search for your PS4. The app will automatically search and pair your console.
Done! You can also adjust the framerate and video quality from the settings. In case the remote app fails to recognize and pair your console, you can manually connect your PS4 using the Add Device option under the Remote Play Connection Settings section.
Check out the easiest way for how to fix Xbox One controller driver won’t install?
Pros & Cons of Using an Xbox Controller on PS4/PS5
Now that we have discussed how to connect & use an Xbox controller on PS4/PS5, the question that comes to mind is whether or not it’s worth it. Taking a look at the pros & cons of using an Xbox controller on PS4/PS5 will give us a conclusive idea about it.
- »Ability to choose from various forms of controllers.
- »Having multiple options for backup controllers.
- »Higher input lag.
- »Lack of native functionality.
- »Troublesome button mapping.
- »PS4 firmware update might cause improper connectivity.
As we can see, the cons outweigh the pros. This is why it’s always recommended to use native controllers for proprietary consoles. Having the freedom to choose any controller is good, but that doesn’t mean you should start using non-native hardware & expect it to function as usual.
Also, check out our separate post on why are Xbox controllers so expensive?
Troubleshooting Q&A
Why isn’t my Xbox controller working with my adapter?
Most adapters don’t support 3rd party controllers. Others don’t support controllers that are too old (Like Xbox 360) or too new (Like Xbox One Elite 2). Some don’t support wireless. Or they do but very poorly.
Remember to check the product page of the adapter thoroughly & double-check the compatibility with your controller before purchasing.
My Xbox controller used to work perfectly, but now it doesn’t! Why?
If your controller is wireless, it is more than likely a firmware issue. You’ll need to figure out which end the firmware issue is coming from. If your controller is wired, it might be an issue with the adapter itself.
What can I do to improve input lag?
Honestly, the best way to deal with input lag is not to deal with it at all. Read the consumer reviews of your desired adapter before purchasing it, and hear what others say about input lag.
Final Note
While it is kind of possible to use an Xbox controller on PS4, I would strongly recommend using Sony’s own product as the consoles & controllers are built as proprietary components.
Unless you’re really accustomed to the Xbox controller, try sticking to the Dualshock 4 controller on PS4.
If you have any further queries about this topic, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below. GG guys.