Sony’s PlayStation 3 was the most popular console of its time and came with the awesome DualShock 3 controller. So, if you still own the controller and have moved on to the PC gaming, you can still live that PS3 era once again by using your PS3 controller to play games on a computer.
Almost 80% of Games that are launched on PC support controllers/gamepad, so you’re covered on that front. You can also use your mouse to provide inputs if the controller doesn’t work at a particular area in the game, settings. Then let’s put that glorious Dual Shock PS3 controller to use, as a gamepad for your PC. And in this guide, we’ll show you how to achieve that, without the silly MotionJoy program.
You can plug a PS4 controller into a PC just as you would an Xbox One controller, by using a microUSB cable. Give the computer a few minutes to install the drivers. Step 1: Update Drivers and.NET Framework. Connect your PlayStation 3 controller to your PC via USB, and Windows should begin installing an initial set of drivers. So this was one of the easiest ways to Use PS3 Controller on a Windows 10 PC (or even Win 8,7, Vista) 2. Connect PS3 Controller to PC using Xbox 360 Controller Drivers. This method tricks your Pc to see your Ps3 Controller as an Xbox Controller. First Download the official drivers for the Xbox 360 controller from Microsoft’s site. 5) At the “Update Driver Software” windows launched, click on the “Browse my computer for driver software” button. 6) At the following window, click on the “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer” button. 7) Select on the “Microsoft Xbox One Controller” and click on the “Next” button. This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a PS3 controller to a Windows PC with the help of the SCP toolkit program. Turn on your controller. To do so, press the stylized 'PS' button in the middle of your controller.
But before you begin with, you need to set up a couple of things and should have these pre-requisites such as a mini USB cable for connection, and you can find them on Amazon for under $3-$4 or even less. Here’s one for you -> PS3 Controller Charge Cable, Black (6 Foot long). Once, you have your hands-on this cable you’re ready to roll further.
Now let’s download all the required files that you need to install for this method to work perfectly. It may be possible that some of these files are already installed on your PC, but you can’t take a chance, they might be outdated. So, it’s a good idea to install these latest Microsoft software frameworks.
Contents
- Connect your PS3 Controller with the USB cable to your PC or Laptop
- How to Install and Set-up SCP Drivers
Connect your PS3 Controller with the USB cable to your PC or Laptop
When you connect it, your PC will automatically start installing the relevant drivers for the Controller, so just sit back and let it do its job. Now, comes the part where you need to Download and install some additional set of Drivers.
However, before downloading you also need to check your machine’s/PC’s architecture whether it is running on a 32-bit or 64-bit architecture. Some of you may already know this particular spec of your PC, then Skip to Download Microsoft .Net Framework and start installing.
So, for those who aren’t aware to check this spec, head over to your My Computer icon and Right Click and within the pop-up menu Select Properties. This will open up a window, where you have to Check below the System Section, you will find System Type label. Just see whether it says x64 or x86. If it’s an X64 based system, you’ll download the x64 based file from the Download page, or a 32-bit file if you have a 32-bit System.
With now that out of the way, moving further, just Download the following files from the links given below and start installing them.
Download Microsoft .Net Framework
Now you need also to download the MS Visual C++, just make sure you Download any version after 2010 or 2010 itself.
Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 or later
Ps3 Controller Pc Driver
Download Direct X Runtime
[ Note:When installing the Direct X Runtime, make sure when you’re hitting Next-next in the installation process, notice that one screen where it says Install Bing Search Bar, you need to uncheck that Check-box and then proceed for further installation.]
Also, please provide administrative privileges while installing, that’s when you open a package from the software as mentioned above, Right-Click on it and Select Run as Administrator. Once, you’re done downloading all of these packages as per your System architecture, next thing you need to download is the most important piece of third-party software.
Download SCP Driver package
These SCP drivers will enable us to make that DualShock PS3 controller work properly on the Windows OS. So, to download the SCP Driver package, just visit the software’s original forum link given below. And Click on Download the latest Stable release link only.
Next, to open that Downloaded package you need to have a small little separate piece of software, that’s either Winrar or 7-zip, or if you’re on Windows 10, then it comes already built-in with one.
Ps3 Controller Driver Windows 7
Download Winrar and 7-zip
You need to extract that SCP Driver folder with the help of Winrar or 7-zip,
Drivers For Ps3 Controller Windows 10
How to Install and Set-up SCP Drivers
Now after you extract the SCP executable (ScToolkit_Setup.exe) file now you need to install it, this piece of software will enable you to install additional drivers that permit the Dual-Shock PS3 Controller to run on PC seamlessly, without any issues.
Ps3 Controller Driver For Laptop Windows 7
- Open the SCP drivers tool, and you should see the following Window of the ScpToolkit Driver
- Start by Checking the Install Windows Service box
- Also, Check the DualShock 3 and if own the DualShock 4 PS3 controller also check that box
- Moreover, if you have a Bluetooth Dongle and want to connect wireless also Select that as well
- Make Sure; you have your DualShock PS3 Controller connected to your PC all this time
- After all these necessary Checks, you’re ready to hit the final Install Button; this will start the Driver installation process. So, sit back until it completes the process.
- Once, it’s done, your PS3 controller is now connected to your PC.
Fine tune your PS3 Controller
If you to map new keys for certain functions, the SCP driver tool also entertains such facility; you can start by heading over to the ScpToolkit Profile Manager, under the SCP Settings Manager.
In here you have granular control over the gamepads sensitivity, the latency many other advanced options are available. While the most used setting will be the ability to map the controller’s Keys as per your desire and tailor it the way you want.
You have to follow all these steps because Windows natively supports the X-box controller and not Sony’s PlayStation controllers, all Microsoft’s monopoly. You can also check the GitHub post about connecting via USB only by visiting here.
Akshay Mhatre is a Tech Author who likes to keep up with the latest from the tech world. A writer by day and a VFX artist by night. In his free time, he also likes to make motion graphics and concept art. You can find him on Instagram @akshayrazr_95 and contact him on akshaymhatre[@]theleaker.com