There could be a few different reasons you might want to try to reset your DualSense controller for the PS5. Maybe it’s not working right or maybe you just can’t pair it with anything. Perhaps it works with a different device but not the PS5. Whatever the reason, giving your PS5 controller a good reset could fix your pairing issues.
And when it comes down to it, this likely going to be what Sony would suggest to try first if you contacted support for assistance. It’s also a good thing to know how to do because let’s be honest, if a reset would fix the problem, it’s a much quicker way to get back to gaming. And if a reset fixes your issues, then you don’t have to spend $70 to buy a new PS5 controller.
The fact of the matter is you may not know how to reset the PS5 controller. Or that you even could. But, you can, and the process really isn’t that hard to do in the first place.
Do you need to reset your PS5 controller?
That depends. There are some instances where a reset would be a beneficial thing. But it’s not necessarily needed. For example, you don’t need to perform a reset if you want to pair the controller to a different PS5. But it is recommended so you can wipe the pairing data and start with a clean slate.
It’s also not required to perform a reset if the pairing process isn’t working. But it’s a good place to start and so again, it is recommended. Another example is if you simply want to wipe all pairing data from the controller except for your PS5. Performing a hard reset would accomplish this, then you could re-pair it to the PS5 and that would be the only pairing data on the controller at that point.
How to perform a reset on the DualSense
When we said simple, we meant dead simple. If you turn the controller over you will see a small hole towards the bottom to right of the Sony logo. All you need to do is get something that you can push into that hole. A paperclip will work here and might be the best option. But you should also be able to use some hair pins, or maybe even the SIM ejector tool that came with your phone. Provided the tip of the tool is small enough.
If you have none of those things lying around, just find something that will fit. Once you have what you need, press it into the hole on the back of your controller until you feel the button inside depress. You need to hold it for 5 seconds for the reset process to complete. Once you’re done with that you can re-pair the controller to your PS5.
To repair your controller, simply power on the PS5 and then plug in your controller using its USB-C cable. Press and hold the PlayStation button on the front of the controller for a second or two and it should pair within a few seconds. Then you’re good to go.
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