Wireless Controllers

CyrodiilWarrior

My game controllers work when I have them plugged in via USB. I have a Sony PlayStation 4 wireless controller and Xbox 360 (or One) wireless controller.

I go to the Bluetooth settings but fail to connect any of them. I wondered if there was any additional Bluetooth setting which had to be configured?

I've watched YouTube tutorials but neither of the controllers want to connect.

Funny enough I believe once I got further in the linking process but once I was trying the next option, I ran into an error.

I wasn't sure if anything with the hardware itself maybe causing issue, like the Bluetooth to not work correctly.

Anything you suggest?

Addison

I use my DualShock controllers for both my PS and Pi.

It was horrible trying to pair them back to the Pi each time.

Ended up making a script to brute force them working and placed that in the folder:
/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/ports

Filename:
Connect to Controller.sh

bluetoothctl remove 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
bluetoothctl remove F4:93:9F:4E:16:EF
timeout 10 bluetoothctl scan on
bluetoothctl scan off
bluetoothctl connect 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
bluetoothctl connect F4:93:9F:4E:16:EF
bluetoothctl trust 40:1B:5F:BA:D5:A0
bluetoothctl trust F4:93:9F:4E:16:EF

Those numbers are the MAC addresses of my two DualShock controllers.

Best help I can offer.

CyrodiilWarrior

@Addison this is bit more advanced, how would I find out a MAC address for my controller? Or is that more difficult?

Never done it before but perhaps could have a script for my 1 wireless controller.

I went deep into driver settings and even installed drivers for Sony dualshock controller, Xbox / 360 drivers, even Steam Controller top. But no luck.

Addison

https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Bluetooth-Controller/

Set your Bluetooth controller to pair in "joypad" mode.

Type this at the command prompt hcitool scan
This should find your controller and show its name and MAC address.

I'm no good at these things either.

I can only copy and paste or click on other people's answers online.

Took me hours to problem solve the weirdness I had with those controllers.

Addison

Old thread on my walk through with these PS4 controller troubles.

Don't even remember what all I was doing at the time, but in the end, it worked.

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/31160/solved-can-i-pair-a-ps4-dualshock-controller-with-two-pi-4s?_=1687103003103

mitu

If you have a genuine Dualshock 4 controller, it should be pairing without issues. For an Xbox One Bluetooth controller, install the xpadneo driver first before pairing (from RetroPie-Setup, it's in in the drivers section of the packages).
Some more info about your setup (PC/Pi model ?) would be helpful.

CyrodiilWarrior

@mitu I have a Raspberry Pi 4b, 8GB model. Installed on SSD with USB to SSD connector. I have a PlayStation 4 wireless controller. When plugged in via USB, it works. Even if I keep it plugged it at first on Bluetooth settings, it asks me to unplug the PS4 dualshock controller - which I do. I press and hold the PlayStation button and share. Eventually controller seems to turn off. So I press the PlayStation button again to turn on and attempt again and again. Eventually time runs off and it fails to find the controller via Bluetooth. So I keep trying, even rebooting the Pi. No luck sadly.

mitu

@CyrodiilWarrior You need to start the controller in pairing mode when you're trying to add it via Bluetooth to RetroPie, starting it via the PS button is not enough.

While pressing and holding the SHARE button, press and hold the PS button until the light bar flashes.

While the light bar flashes, do the Bluetooth scan & pair from RetroPie.