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

stenbot

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.

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.

cgeyik

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.

rsn8887

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

vladquebec

@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.

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).

vladquebec

@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.

vladquebec

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.

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

edmaul69

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.