How to Fix DS4Windows Not Working on Windows 11 [6 Methods]

January 2, 2023

Is your DS4Windows not working on Windows 11? Make sure your computer meets all system requirements and has the latest Bluetooth drivers installed.

DS4Windows is a virtual emulator that allows you to connect your Xbox 360 and PlayStation controllers to your PC using a user-friendly and simple user interface.

Playing video games on PC with Xbox controllers is great fun. But when you can't connect your DualShock4 or PS5 controller to Windows, it turns out to be a real bummer. You may see a nasty "No controllers connected" (maximum 4) or "DS4 does not detect a controller" error message on the screen.

Many gamers have complained about DS4Windows connection issues or received compatibility errors. It's a little annoying, but it can be solved.

So how should you solve this problem? Is something missing or is there a problem with the hardware? Here we have prepared a quick guide for you to fix DS4Windows not working on Windows 11 issue. Let's get straight to the point.

Method #1: Check System Requirements

With its X86-64 based platform, Windows 11 supports DS4Windows. However, to ensure that the program works effectively, you should check its basic requirements before installing it. Your PC needs the following requirements to run DS4Windows properly:

Microsoft .NET 5.0 runtime or higher.
Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable.
Virtual Gamepad Emulation Framework driver (ViGEmBusv.1.17.333.0) or higher.
Compatible controllers (Xbox controllers with DualShock 4, Ps5 support).
Micro USB cable or compatible Bluetooth connection (built into Windows or adapter).
Disabling the PlayStation configuration support option in Steam.

Method #2: Update Bluetooth Drivers

Your outdated Bluetooth drivers are one of the reasons why your DS4WINDOWS is not working. To do this, first make sure the Bluetooth adapter is turned on. To update Bluetooth drivers, you can either use some of these driver update programs or press the Window + R hotkeys to launch the Run application and then follow these steps:

Step 1: Type devmgmt.msc in the Run box to access Device Manager.

Step 2: Then find the Bluetooth category.

Step 3: Select "Update Driver" from the context menu by right-clicking on the Bluetooth device you want to update.

Step 4: Now select automatic driver search. However, if you already have the drivers in Windows, select Search My Computer for Drivers.

Step 5: After updating the driver, run the DS4Windows application to check if it is fixed.

Method #3: Update DS4Windows

To update DS4Windows, use the DS4Updater application found in the DS4Windows directory.

Step 1: To find the DS4Updater application, first navigate to the folder where you unzipped and installed DS4Windows.

Step 2: After that, double click DS4Updater to launch it.

Step 3: Once it opens, the update will begin.

After the update process is complete, restart your computer and check if DS4Windows is working properly. If not, go to the next step.

Method #4: Reinstall DS4WINDOWS

If you were unable to update DS4Windows, or if this method fails for some reason, we recommend that you reinstall the DS4Windows application. To reinstall DS4windows first, you need to uninstall them.

Uninstalling DS4Windows

While uninstalling DS4Windows isn't as easy as uninstalling other applications.

Step 1: First you need to uninstall the driver. Open the Start menu, type "Control Panel" and press "Enter" to access the Control Panel.

Step 2: Then click "Programs and Features".

Step 3: In the Programs and Features window, find the Nefarius Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus Driver.

Step 4: After that, double click on it and select "Yes" to start the uninstall process.

Step 5: The next step is to remove all DS4Windows files from your computer. To do this, go to the directory where the file was unpacked and installed.

Step 6: Once you have selected the DS4Windows folder, you can either delete it by selecting the trash can icon after a right click or by pressing the delete key on your keyboard.

Step 7: Then type %Appdata% in File Explorer and press Enter.

Step 8: This will take you to the Roaming directory. To complete the uninstallation of DS4Windows, locate and delete the DS4Windows folder.

Reinstalling DS4Windows

Step 1: First, download the DS4Windows file from github.

Step 2: After that, extract the downloaded Zip file.

Step 3: Open the extracted file and double click on the DS4Windows.exe file.

Step 4: Then a dialog box will appear asking you to choose where to save the profiles and settings. So choose Appdata.

Note. You may encounter a .NET Runtime error message. As discussed earlier in this article, the .NET 5.0 runtime is a prerequisite for this program. So, if you see an error, download the .NET 5.0 Runtime.

Step 5: At this point, follow the instructions in Welcome to DS4Windows to complete the installation.

Step 6: After that, you can go to the Settings tab and click the Hide DS4 Controller button for dual input connection issues.

It's time to check if DS4Windows is working properly. If you're still having issues with the app, continue to the next step.

Method #5: Re-enable the controller in Device Manager

If you are still having problems discovering the controller, we suggest that you move on to the next solution, which is to re-enable the DS4 controller. To get started, follow these steps:

Step 1: To launch the Run prompt, right-click the Start menu and select Run, or press the Windows + R keys at the same time.

Step 2: Now type devmgmt.msc in the box and press Enter.

Step 3: Double click Human Interface Devices to see the drivers.

Step 4: After that, right-click on the HID-compliant game controller and select Disable device.

Step 5: After a few seconds, right-click on the HID-compliant game controller again, but this time choose "Turn on device".

Step 6: You can now restart your computer to see if you are still getting DS4Windows and not working errors.

If this method doesn't work, move on to the next solution.

Method #6: Restore Windows to a Previous State Using RSTRUI.exe

While this solution is not offered, it is considered a last resort. You should be aware of the loss of personal data or some installed programs after recovery. In any case, to repair Windows using the Rstrui.exe file, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Run window by pressing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard or by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Run.

Step 2: Now type RSTRUI and click OK to start System Restore.

Step 3: After that click "Next".

Step 4: At this stage, you have two options. You can choose either a date before DS4Windows was installed, or a date when it was running.

Note. When you restore your computer to a previous state, other applications will also be affected. So back up your important data. You can also use the "Scan for vulnerable programs" button to learn more about the changes.

Step 5: After selecting the desired time and date, click Next.

Step 6: Click "Finish" to begin restoring your computer to the specified time and date.

Step 7: Once the process is complete, your computer will restart for the changes to take effect. After that, if DS4Windows is available on your computer, check if it works. However, if you have chosen a date when the application has not yet been installed on your computer, you can install it now.

Step 8: Then restart your computer and see if the error is resolved.

Final words

DS4Windows is an emulator app that connects Xbox 360 and PlayStation controllers to Windows 11. However, there are times when you encounter the annoying error message DS4Windows doesn't work on Windows 11.

As detailed in this article, there are several ways to fix the problem with DS4Windows not working.

However, the first three methods - checking the system requirements, updating the Bluetooth driver, and updating the DS4Windows application - have been shown to solve the problem for most users.