Questions
How to connect a PS4 controller to a Mac
Hold the PS button and the Share button together until the light bar flashes white, then pick DUALSHOCK 4 Wireless Controller in System Settings, Bluetooth. Or plug in a micro-USB cable. Both generations of the DualShock 4 work; macOS has supported it since Catalina.
Steps
- Hold PS and Share until the light bar flashes.
- Open System Settings, Bluetooth, and click Connect next to DUALSHOCK 4 Wireless Controller.
What works
Everything on the pad is readable on a Mac: sticks, buttons, triggers, the touchpad, the gyroscope, the light bar, and rumble. Games use what they ask for, which is usually just the sticks and buttons. InputConfig uses the rest: the touchpad as a trackpad, gyro aim, a light bar colour per preset, and rumble as button feedback.
Common problems
A DualShock 4 that is still paired with a PS4 will wake the console and jump back to it; unpair it there first. If the light bar flashes but the Mac never lists it, hold PS and Share longer, a full ten seconds, until the flashing turns to a quick double pulse. Older DualShock 4s with worn batteries drop off Bluetooth; a cable fixes that.
Games that do not support it
The DualShock 4 works in native Mac games that support controllers. For the rest, InputConfig maps it to the keyboard and mouse; the play any game guide is the walkthrough.
Questions
Does the PS4 controller work on a Mac without a cable?
Yes, over Bluetooth. Hold PS and Share to pair.
Will the PS4 controller's touchpad work as a mouse on a Mac?
Not by itself. With InputConfig, yes: the touchpad becomes a trackpad, with regions and gestures if you want them.
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