[Solved] Can I pair a PS4 Dualshock controller with two Pi 4s?

navi87

@addison

Do you need to do the scan on/ off though? since you already know the device you want to pair with, seems unnecessary

Addison

@navi87

Yeah.

Say for example, my controller is currently paired with my PlayStation 4.

I'm just trying to easily switch it over to the Raspberry Pi.

It's not at easy as one would think. :)

Addison

@navi87 said in [Solved] Can I pair a PS4 Dualshock controller with two Pi 4s?:

@addison

Do you need to do the scan on/ off though? since you already know the device you want to pair with, seems unnecessary

Oh. Sorry.

Yeah, the controller is already a registered device on the Pi.

It won't connect though, with any commands that I know of, unless I delete it and rescan the controller again for some reason.

navi87

@addison
according to this article:
https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2017/197/Command-Line-bluetoothctl

14. trust <DEVICE-MAC-ADDRESS>
Sets the device to re-pair automatically when it is turned on, which eliminates the need to pair all over again.

I would just try this:

bluetoothctl trust 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0

By itself, if that doesnt work, then maybe:

bluetoothctl remove 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
sleep 5 (you might not need this, not sure, test with and without)
bluetoothctl connect 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
bluetoothctl pair 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0

Addison

@navi87

It's already trusted.

So my Dualshock controller is currently paired with my Playstation 4.

I would now like to connect it to my Pi 4 that it already knows and remembers.

@mitu

pi@retropie:~ $ bluetoothctl paired-devices
Device 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0 Wireless Controller
pi@retropie:~ $ bluetoothctl pair 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
Attempting to pair with 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
Failed to pair: org.bluez.Error.AlreadyExists
pi@retropie:~ $ bluetoothctl connect 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
Attempting to connect to 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
[CHG] Device 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0 Connected: yes
Failed to connect: org.bluez.Error.Failed

Would deleting the file org.bluez.Error.AlreadyExists help any before trying to pair the controller back again with the Pi 4?

I'm asking since I don't want to delete anything and possibly make it all worse.

Addison

@navi87 said in [Solved] Can I pair a PS4 Dualshock controller with two Pi 4s?:

@addison
according to this article:
https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2017/197/Command-Line-bluetoothctl

14. trust <DEVICE-MAC-ADDRESS>
Sets the device to re-pair automatically when it is turned on, which eliminates the need to pair all over again.

I would just try this:

bluetoothctl trust 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0

By itself, if that doesnt work, then maybe:

bluetoothctl remove 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
sleep 5 (you might not need this, not sure, test with and without)
bluetoothctl connect 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
bluetoothctl pair 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0

Once that MAC address is removed, it's no longer available until you scan on again.

Unless there's some special command to add it back which I haven't found.

Nice idea though. :)

mitu

@addison said in [Solved] Can I pair a PS4 Dualshock controller with two Pi 4s?:

Would deleting the file org.bluez.Error.AlreadyExists help any before trying to pair the controller back again with the Pi 4?

I don't think that's a file - I think you should remove the device before attempting pairing it again.

Addison

Finally got it! :D

I have this as an executable file under Ports in Emulation Station.

bluetoothctl remove 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
timeout 10 bluetoothctl scan on
bluetoothctl scan off
bluetoothctl connect 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
bluetoothctl trust 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0

Last question and I'll be all done.

Where can I insert these commands when Emulation Station begins to load?

I only need for it to run just once when the Pi is initially turned on.

Please and thank you.

mitu

@addison said in [Solved] Can I pair a PS4 Dualshock controller with two Pi 4s?:

Where can I insert these commands when Emulation Station begins to load?

EmulationStation is loaded fro the autostart.sh script - https://retropie.org.uk/docs/FAQ/#how-do-i-boot-to-the-desktop-or-kodi.

Addison

@mitu

Thank you so much!

End result:

/opt/retropie/configs/all/autostart.sh

sudo bluetoothctl remove 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
sudo timeout 6 bluetoothctl scan on
sudo bluetoothctl connect 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
sudo bluetoothctl trust 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
emulationstation #auto

Now I can easily pair my controller back to the Pi on system startup without even having to plug it in using USB and navigating through all of the menu options.

So happy! :)