How To Reset A PS5 Controller: A 3-Step Guide

Knowing how to reset your PS5 controller will be helpful if it starts to not function properly or stops working altogether. It can be incredibly frustrating – you’re in the middle of a battle or a game and your controller suddenly isn’t doing what you are asking it to, or it just quits working altogether. Not to mention, you make an investment in these items, and to have one quit working can be not just annoying but also mean that you are out some hard-earned money and now have to go replace it.

How To Reset A PS5 Controller 1 How To Reset A PS5 Controller: A 3-Step Guide

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How do you reset a PS5 controller?

You can reset your PS5 controller in seconds, once you have figured out why your controller needs a reset, then determine if it needs you to have a soft reset on your controller, or needs to have a hard reset on your controller. 

Gaming is an activity enjoyed by many, but it can be incredibly frustrating when your equipment stops working the way it should. It’s empowering to know how to repair a piece of equipment quickly and on your own. 

t’s also nice to know you won’t be in the middle of a game and suddenly something like your controller malfunctions and you have no idea what to do about it.\

I love gaming, and anything tech-related. I especially like to know how to fix things on my own, without spending the time or money consulting with someone else. Let me explain to you how easy resetting your PS5 controller actually is.

How Do I Reset My PS5 Controller?

The PS5 game controller has been a huge hit since Sony introduced it in 2020. Not only is it more user-friendly than the last version, but it also introduces new concepts to the gamer that really immerse you in the game more than other controllers have, and the PS5 comes with a rechargeable battery that claims to increase usage in between charges by up to 25%.

These improvements come with a bigger price tag. Though the PS5 comes with one controller when you buy the console, if you want to purchase another in order to play with friends, you are looking at around $70, which is a jump up from the PS4 controller. 

That’s no small price to pay, and no one wants to invest that kind of money to then have their controller stop working. 

The good news is that this is a solid product by Sony, and if it has stopped working, the only real issue at hand is that it probably needs a reset. Below I’m going to tell you how this is done, based on what kind of reset is needed.

1. What Kind of a Reset Does My Controller Need?

With PS5 gaming controllers, there are 2 kinds of resets. Determining which kind is needed for yours will be key in figuring out what needs to be done.

First, start by asking yourself these questions:

  • Is the controller not responding to certain commands you ask of it?
  • Is it responding to your commands, but doing a different action than you asked of it?
  • Has your controller stopped working altogether?

If any of these things have happened to your controller, there’s a good chance it just needs a reset and does not need to be replaced. Try the following steps and see if you can get it up and working again.

2. Do a Soft Reset to Your PS5 Controller

When one of your controllers is not responding to your commands, it’s probably no longer communicating with your console. (This will be obvious if you are in the middle of gaming and you are trying to perform an activity on-screen…and nothing is happening. 

The first thing you should assume is that the malfunctioning controller needs a soft reset. 

This is the easiest type of reset to do and oftentimes will fix the problem.

How To Reset A PS5 Controller 1 1 How To Reset A PS5 Controller: A 3-Step Guide

Here Are the Steps to a Soft Reset:

  • First, unplug the malfunctioning controller. 
  • Next, with the TV screen on, push the PS button on the controller that is still plugged in, and performing normally.
  • Your TV screen should bring you to the Home Screen.
  • On the Home Screen, select the Control Center menu.
  • From the Control Center menu, select Controllers.
  • You should now be able to select the controller that is not working correctly (and that is unplugged.)
  • Select the Turn Off option for the unplugged controller. The green light on the controller should turn off.
  • Leave the malfunctioning controller off for a few minutes. Then, plug it back in and follow the directions to power it back on.
  • This should result in a soft reset of the malfunctioning controller and you should be able to use it properly again.

If this has not solved the problem, and your malfunctioning controller is still not working, you will need to try a hard reset.

3. Do a Hard Reset to Your PS5 Controller

So, you’ve tried the Soft Reset and it didn’t result in your controller working appropriately. Your next option is to try a hard reset and see if that gets things working again.

A hard reset is going to take your controller all the way back to its original factory settings. 

This is a fancy way of saying – everything else you have tried hasn’t worked, and now it’s time to take your controller all the way back to square one.

Here Are the Steps to a Hard Reset:

  • First, unplug the malfunctioning controller.
  • Turn off the console and unplug it from the wall.
  • Grab a small pin or paper clip (an earring will often do the trick also.)
  • Turn the malfunctioning PS5 controller upside down on a flat surface. Be careful to do this on a clean surface and not damage any other part of it.
  • Find the reset button on the back of the controller. (It is to the right of the SONY logo.)
  • Insert the pin in the hole and press the RESET button above it. You will hear a click if you are doing it correctly.
  • With the pin still in the hole, hold the RESET button for 5 seconds.
  • After the previous step, remove the pin and connect the malfunctioning control to the console with a USB cord.
  • Go through the steps of plugging back in all devices and power them on. 

What Do I Do if Nothing Else Works?

If you’ve tried to do both a soft reset and a hard reset of your PS5 controller, but neither has fixed the problem, you may need to take it to the next step.

PS5 controllers are made to be fixable. The inventors know that issues are going to arise, and that gamers spend big money on these devices, and expect them to work well, and for a good long while.

If your PS5 controller is still not working after multiple resets, you may need to take it to a reputable SONY repair store and see if they can fix it. Remember, these controllers are still relatively new, so they may still be under warranty, and – if yours is not fixable, SONY may be willing to replace it, depending on when you bought it.

If you purchase it new, from a reputable source, its warranty should be good for one year.

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