RetroPie forum home
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Home
    • Docs
    • Register
    • Login
    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    PlayStation 3 controller won't connect via Bluetooth + constant vibration

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Help and Support
    raspberry pi 3playstation 3bluetoothvibration
    16 Posts 7 Posters 7.6k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • V
      vladquebec @tbartus
      last edited by

      @tbartus Thanks for sharing the pain ;-) Just to confirm, the 2 controllers you mentionned (the first one being the one not working and the second one borrowed from a friend), are they both Sony products (not 3rd party seller)?

      tbartusT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • tbartusT
        tbartus @vladquebec
        last edited by tbartus

        @vladquebec The both controllers looks similar. The first one (which is vibrating) is black. I have bought them in an internet shop. It is looking very well. They have good looking box and a short instruction. The borrowed one (gold) looks the same as the black one.

        0_1508862792809_1508861565513.jpg

        0_1508862802428_1508861565799.jpg

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • V
          vladquebec
          last edited by

          Just realized I forgot to mention something : the controller is not even working when plugged in, it's vibrating only, the RetroPie doesn't even detect it.

          tbartusT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • tbartusT
            tbartus @vladquebec
            last edited by

            @vladquebec
            uhmm..., it means that your problem is a bit deeper. ;)
            My controller connected via usb works correctly. The problem is with bluetooth connection and permanently vibrations.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • S
              stenbot
              last edited by

              I had a very similar experience just this past weekend. I bought a second PS3 controller from Amazon and could never get it to connect. Whenever I connected the controller to the rp3 it would just vibrate and do nothing. I returned the controller and said it was defective and went to gamestop and picked one up for $40. I connected it to the rp3 and it instantly connected. I'm not sure why the controller that I returned did not work. I just made a retropie build for my brother-in-law and bought 2 more PS3 controllers from gamestop and all the controllers work flawlessly, even with 2 controllers connected. This probably isn't helping much with your current situation, but I would just go somewhere that you can get a PS3 remote that you know is authentic.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • lostlessL
                lostless
                last edited by lostless

                All those problems, the inability to connect and constant vibrating are syptoms of 3rd party chinese knockoffs. they are the only controllers I ever have issues connecting.

                lostlessL 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • C
                  cgeyik
                  last edited by

                  You guys need to install the package first via the RetroPie-Setup.sh. There are 4 or even more for the DS3 controller, you just need to choose the correct one.

                  R 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • R
                    rsn8887 @cgeyik
                    last edited by

                    @cgeyik wrong information. With the newest retropie versions, no special package is needed. PS3 Bluetooth controllers work out of the box.

                    V 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • V
                      vladquebec @rsn8887
                      last edited by

                      @rsn8887 @cgeyik Just to confirm, there are steps I have done also to install the drivers for the PS3 controller. I have also made sure the RetroPie was fully up to date.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • R
                        rsn8887
                        last edited by rsn8887

                        I didn't install the PS3 controller driver, but my PS3 controller still works. I just plugged it in with the cable, then went to Bluetooth->Register, unplugged it from the cable, pressed PS button, and then it appeared in the list.

                        I think installing the PS3 controller driver is not a good idea, because it blocks other Bluetooth devices. I think it takes over the whole Bluetooth stack (I might be wrong).

                        V 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • V
                          vladquebec @rsn8887
                          last edited by

                          @rsn8887 You are correct about disabling the Bluetooth. For my part, it's not a bad thing since I'm not using any other Bluetooth devices.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • V
                            vladquebec
                            last edited by

                            Update : I have returned the 1st controller I had bought (which was from a third party company, not from Sony) and replaced it with a used PS3 controller from Sony. This one seems to work fine. My conclusion would be that the problem was with the 3rd party controller, not made the same way the Sony was made. I can't say if it would have worked on a PS3, but it didn't work for a RetroPie.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • lostlessL
                              lostless @lostless
                              last edited by lostless

                              @vladquebec
                              @lostless said in PlayStation 3 controller won't connect via Bluetooth + constant vibration:

                              All those problems, the inability to connect and constant vibrating are syptoms of 3rd party chinese knockoffs. they are the only controllers I ever have issues connecting.

                              I just said that LOL. Glad you got a real one, They work great

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • edmaul69E
                                edmaul69
                                last edited by

                                For anyone who thinks they have an “official” controller and it doesnt work you probably have a bootleg controller. Black is the only color i personally have seen the bootlegs in but i have seen hundreds of them.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • First post
                                  Last post

                                Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.

                                Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.