Does your PS4 controller power off randomly on your PC? [Fixed]

We have had some readers complain about the power off on their PS4 controller that occurs randomly on their PC.

Sometimes, the PS4 controller is shutting down immediately after pairing; other times, it just keeps disconnecting. So this guide explores the problem and probable causes.

Why does my PS4 controller power off randomly on my PC?

There is a long list of probable causes that include the following:

• Low battery: If your device’s battery is running low, it may shut off unexpectedly. To prevent this from happening, you should connect it to a power source immediately using a USB cable or a dedicated charger.
• Connection problems: Sometimes, intermittent disconnections can be caused by a USB cable or port that is loose or faulty.
• Driver compatibility problems: Having outdated or incompatible drivers can cause power problems and sporadic disconnections.
• Power management settings: If certain power-saving settings are enabled, there is a possibility that USB ports or devices may be turned off after a specific period of inactivity. This may result in the controller powering off unexpectedly.
• Interference: When attempting to connect your PS4 controller to your PC, wireless signals from other devices or nearby electronics can cause interference.
• Steam controller settings – To ensure optimal performance, Steam offers configuration settings for each controller. For example, if you use a PlayStation controller, you must adjust the PlayStation Configuration Support menu settings.
• Controller malfunction: If none of the above factors are causing the problem, your PS4 controller may encounter a hardware malfunction.

Now we have all possible causes out of the way, let us talk about solutions.

What do I do if my PS4 controller keeps disconnecting on my PC?

There are a few efficient solutions, but before going into any of them, you may try these workarounds:

• Charge the controller – Connect your controller to a charger and see if this helps. Sometimes, it may just be signs of a low battery.
• Try a different device – Connect the controller to another computer; this rules out the problem due to bad hardware, in which case you may need to buy a new controller.
• Restart your PC – A simple restart could force problematic processes to end, ensuring that the PS4 controller on your PC randomly powering off stops.
• Turn off other Bluetooth devices – This eradicates any external interference and may resolve the problem.

Now you can proceed to these more elaborate solutions.

1. Update your controller drivers

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
   
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click your controller, and select Update driver.
   
3. Click Search automatically for updates.
   
4. Verify if the PS4 controller on your PC still powers off randomly.

2. Reconfigure the Steam controller settings

1. Connect the PS4 controller to your PC and launch Steam.
2. Click on Steam and select Settings.
   
3. Select the Controller tab and click General Controller Settings.
   
4. Tick PlayStation Configuration Support.
   
5. Navigate to the Controller Shutdown Time option and select Never, and this should fix any issue of PS4 controller disconnecting on the PC.

When gaming on Steam, your controller may occasionally shut down on its own due to a pre-installed feature. Although it can help conserve your controller’s battery life, it may also result in unexpected disconnections due to prolonged inactivity.

3. Update your USB driver

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
   
2. Expand Bluetooth, right-click your controller, and select Update driver.
   
3. Click Search automatically for updates.
   
4. Verify if the PS4 controller on your PC still powers off randomly.

4. Reconnect the controller

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings application.
2. Click Bluetooth & devices on the right pane, and on the left, click the View more devices option.
   
3. Click the 3 dots in front of your controller, select Remove device, then restart the PC.
4. Open your Settings again, navigate to Bluetooth & devices on the right pane, and on the left, click the Add device button.
   
5. Select Bluetooth.
   
6. Switch on your PS4 controller. Afterward, hold the Share and PS buttons to activate the pairing mode.
7. Select the controller when it becomes visible on your computer.

And that will be all for this guide.

While we have not written the fixes in any particular order, we recommend you start with the workarounds as they may save you a lot of troubleshooting time and energy.

Please leave us a comment in the comments section below and let us know which solutions resolved the random disconnection or shutdown of your PS4 controller on the PC.