Why Does My PS4 Controller Keep Blinking and Not Connecting?
We‘ve all been there. You pick up your PS4 controller, hit the PlayStation button expecting to dive back into the latest epic adventure, only to be greeted by a blinking light that goes out after a few seconds. No connection, no playing. Argh!
As a long-time gamer and reviewer, I‘ve had to troubleshoot my fair share of temperamental controllers. Let‘s take a closer look at why your Dualshock 4 may be blinking persistently instead of syncing with your console.
Main Suspect #1: Battery Failure
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery inside your controller has a limited lifespan. After hundreds of hours mingling with Marvel heroes and dominating deathmatches, it may struggle to hold a charge.
- On average, the Dualshock 4 battery lasts just 4-8 hours per full charge depending on gameplay intensity and features enabled.
- Heavy usage scenarios like online multiplayer can drain power 33% faster. Below is a breakdown:
As batteries degrade, you may notice faster power drain, failure to take a charge, or yes – that dreaded double blink when trying to power on.
Before pulling out your hair, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Reset the controller by pressing the tiny button on the back near L2
- Use a USB cable and attempt to charge for at least 2 hours
- If charging fails, replace the battery via online shop or professional
Replacement batteries retail around $10-15 – a small price to pay to get back in the game!
Main Suspect #2: Connection Issues
Assuming you‘ve ruled the battery out as the culprit, wireless interference or software bugs could be preventing your controller and PS4 from communicating properly.
The Dualshock 4 uses Bluetooth technology with a standard range of around 30 feet. Keep in mind:
- Metal, concrete and appliances can disrupt signal strength
- Power USB 3.0 ports radiate interference waves
- Outdated console or controller software may have compatibility issues
Before cracking the case open to check cords and ports, try the following fixes:
- Place PS4 in direct line of sight < 10 feet from controller
- Reset controller sync by pressing the small Sync button on back
- Double check for PS4 system updates and install
- Fully power down, restart PS4 and reconnect controller
Following some combination of the above, the blinking should give way to solid synchronization. If problems persist, don‘t hesitate to phone a (PS) friend!
Other Potential Culprits
While battery and wireless problems make up 95% of cases, occasionally hardware defects rear their ugly heads:
- Frayed, worn or defective USB charge/sync cables
- Accumulated dust/debris in controller or PS4 ports
- Faulty charging ports/pins
- Damaged Bluetooth/WiFi antenna
Use the flowchart below when troubleshooting power and charging issues:
And for a foolproof factory reset that restores controllers to default, follow these steps:
- Turn PS4 fully off
- Locate reset pinhole on back of controller
- Using a paperclip, hold down button for 5+ seconds
- Connect controller to PS4 via USB cable
- Press PS button to complete reset…
Let Your Gaming Flag Fly!
Hopefully scanning through the checklist above provides some ideas on reviving your Dualshock 4. We all want to hurry back to collecting those Warzone dubs or trophy hunting in TLOU2! Here‘s a summary of next steps:
Did I miss any other common issues or your secret controller lifehack? Let me know in the comments – we‘re all in this together! Game on. 🎮
