Virtual controller issues

Verifying if DS4Windows is successfully creating virtual controllers

DS4Windows cannot magically change your real controller to one for another type, so what it actually does is create a virtual Xbox or DS4 controller that is then associated to your real one. If the virtual controller creation fails then one of DS4Windows main features is not working.

The “Associate (X360/DS4) Controller (…)” message appears on the log but the virtual controller does not appear on the Game Controllers list

ViGEm spawned the device but it’s in a error state. Verify on Device Manager - Check ViGEm log - Virtual controller has been hidden by HidHide/HidGuardian? - HidHide HidGuardian issue that can happen when the user has both installed at the same time.

The “Associate (X360/DS4) Controller (…)” does NOT message appears on the log

It’s possible that the user has disabled virtual controller creating/association in the currently active profile. To verify:

• Go into DS4Windows’ Controllers tab
• Click on the Edit button next to the selected profile
• Check on the Profile editor -> Other tab if the Disable virtual controller checkbox is ticked. Untick it if applicable
• Save the profile changes and stop/start DS4Windows
• Confirm on Windows’ Game Controllers list if the new virtual controller has now been detected

Games not recognizing the virtual controller

Making sure the double controller (double input) issue is prevented

If there is an X on the “Ex” column then it’s possible for the double input issue to occur

• For users of HidHide, make sure that the HidHide Configuration Client is fully closed before opening DS4Windows, otherwise the “Ex” check may fail even though HidHide is correctly hiding the physical controller

It’s possible for the double input issue to actually make your controller NOT be detected by games, as such it should be the user’s number one priority to prevent it before anything else.

This happens because the game may detect the wrong controller (your physical one) first and then keep waiting for its commands while ignoring DS4Windows’ virtual one. Depending on how the game “reads” the physical controller inputs it may get stuck in a “nothing happens” situation.

Check the page about what causes the double controller (double input) issue and how to prevent it.

Confirming the virtual controller is acting as expected

• Test your controller in the Gamepad Tester, check if it responds as normal accordingly to the used profile configurations
• If the virtual gamepad is not acting as expected, maybe your profile is misconfigured. To test, create a new profile under DS4Windows’ Profiles tab using one of the recommended gamepad presets, save and then select it for your controller in the Controllers tab
• If on the gamepad tester website your controller does not respond to any command then double-check again the currently selected profile in the Controllers tab and its configuration. Make sure the buttons bindings are actually mapped to something and a blank profile is not being used
• If the Gamepad Tester website is failing to detect the the virtual controller then check the page related to virtual controller creation issues

Game not recognizing the virtual Xbox controller or stops recognizing it upon controller reconnection

This may be related to a somewhat known Windows issue where it has, hidden from view, associated the connected Xbox controller to a incorrect / not-expected “XInput Slot”.

Common reasons for games to not detect virtual (emulated) DualShock 4 controllers

Game supports only Xbox controllers

Most games support only Xbox controllers because of how easy it is to add complete support to them. Even games that were released for Playstation consoles sometimes don’t have native DS4 support on the PC, and there is nothing that can be done besides switching to Xbox controller emulation.

A good (but not 100% reliable) way to confirm if a game has native DS4 support is by locating it on the PC Gaming Wiki and looking for the “Input settings” section. Look carefully, sometimes it is quite hidden, so make sure to expand menus when applicable. Still, most games that have support for DS4 controllers don’t actually have rumble support, so be warned.

Some games also can be modded to include PS button icons while using Xbox controllers, though it’s not possible to cover this here and so you’ll have to google it yourself.

Game requires Steam Input to have support for DS4 controllers

Though it’s quite uncommon, some games absolutely require using your DS4 through Steam Input by enabling the Playstation Configuration Support option and launching the game through Steam to have working DS4 support or to support rumble/lightbar features.

Keep in mind that for using your virtual DS4 controller through Steam Input you’ll have to run DS4Windows under a custom name for Steam to not ignore it (thanks for not giving us the option on this and making our lives harder, Steam).

Game intentionally ignore virtual controllers

No known cases. Most users who claimed some game had this behavior were actually having other unrelated issue. Example: Shovel Knight ignores DS4 controllers if it detects DS4Windows is running, but it shouldn’t matter if the user is using a Xbox controller or if running disguised to not be detected.

Not saying it’s not possible, just that it’s not known.