Sony’s technologies are not quite friendly. That means they may have trouble interacting with each other or with devices and cables from other brands. So, you may wonder: can you use a PS5 controller on a PS4? Or can you use a PS4 controller on a PS5?
Sony’s unfriendly features are something I’ve discussed before. For example, the PS5 controller has a non-removable battery, which is a hassle when the DualSense can’t charge.
But there’s a reason: the PlayStation 5 has many fresh features. New-gen technologies come with a set of features and limitations. In specific, the PS5 DualSense is not backward compatible. The reason is that DualSense comes with a new set of features that wouldn’t work with PS4 games.
That’s a shame, as the PS5 is backward compatible with PS4 games.
Can You Use A PS5 Controller On A PS4?

The definitive answer is no. You can’t use your PS5’s DualSense controller on the PlayStation 4. Several users have tried and failed.
In fact, Sony’s official response to the question is as follows: “The DualSense wireless controller is not compatible with the PS4 console.”
The older console can only charge the PS5 controller, but it can’t recognize it, much less use it.
Nothing will happen if you plug the DualSense on the PS4 and tab the PS button. And if you use the par function to connect via BlueTooth, it won’t work either.
However, there’s one way it can work, which is through PlayStation’s Remote Play. We’re covering more about it below.

Can You Use A Ps4 Controller On A Ps5?
The DualShock 4 controller works with the PlayStation 5, but only to play PS4 games.
In other words, you can play backward compatible games on the PS5 with your DualShock 4 controller.
The majority of PS4 games are available with the PS5. If you have the physical version, you can play them via CD. Or you can re-download these titles from the PlayStation Store if you have these games on your PSN account.
However, the DualShock 4 won’t work on PlayStation 5 games like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. The reason is, as I said, PS5 games have extra functionalities that can’t work with the PS4 controller.

Can I Use DualSense with PlayStation Remote Play?
Remote Play is a remote streaming service. It allows you to stream the games on your PlayStation consoles to other devices. These include Android and iOS smartphones or tablets and macOS and Windows PCs.
You can cast the games from your PS4 and your PS5. The DualSense is available for either option, meaning that you can cast the games to a PC from the PS4 and use the PS5 controller.
That’s a bit convoluted and not very convenient. See, the DualSense’s new features like haptic feedback, built-in mic, and adaptive triggers won’t work with PS4 games.
It means you won’t get the benefits of the newer gear on your older titles. That’s because older-gen games never had these functions in the same place.
On the same note, the DualShock is available only for PS4 games, but not PS5 titles you stream.
How To Use PlayStation Remote Play?

Remote Play needs an internet speed with at least 5Mbps download/upload. Sony recommends 15Mbps through Wi-Fi or mobile data, though.
The app streams games from your PS4 or PS5 to a secondary screen. So, it’s currently the only way you can “use” a PS5 controller on a PS4.
In essence, here’s what you need to do:
- Set up Remote Play on your console
- Enable network features while on Rest Mode
- Put your console on Rest Mode
- Download, install, and launch Remote Play on the secondary device
- Log in with your PlayStation Network account
- Use your controller to play
Once you log on to Remote Play on another device, you can use either the DualSense or the DualShock to play these games.
The app searches for the PlayStation games on the accounts. It will allow you to play any game installed on your console while using the display you selected.
Also, if you pause any game on the Remote Play app, you can resume your console.
How to Set up Remote Play on your Console
The first step to use Remote Play is setting the app on your console.
Here’re the steps to use PS Remote Play.
- Download the PS Remote Play app. It’s free for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Here’s Sony’s official link for PC; if you look it on the Microsoft store, it’s not free.
- Turn on your console and leave it in rest mode so it can stream to a secondary screen
- Install Remote Play on your device
- Connect your DualShock or DualSense controller to your device via BlueTooth. If you’re on a Windows PC, you can connect it with a USB cable or a USB wireless adapter. }
- Launch the app
- Log in to your PlayStation Network account on the app. It’s the same one you’d use on the PS4.
How to Enable Remote Play on Your PlayStation?
If it’s the first time you use Remote Play, you also need to set it up on your console. Otherwise, nothing will happen when you launch the app.
Here’s how to do it on the PS5:

- Update your PS5 console to its latest version
- Go to Settings
- Go to System
- Go to Remote Play Connection Settings
- Turn on Enable Remote Play on the right panel
- Enable network features while in rest mode
- Put the console in rest mode
On the PS4, here’re the steps:

- Update the PS4 to its latest version
- Go to Settings
- Go to Account Management
- Select Activate as your Primary PS4
- Select Activate
- Enable network features while in rest mode
- Put the console in rest mode
How to Enable Remote Play While in Rest Mode?
Lastly, you need to enable particular power saving features to make the configuration work. These are easy steps:
Here’s the process on the PS5:

- Go to Settings
- Select System
- Select Power Saving
- Select Features Available in Rest Mode
- Toggle Stay Connected to the Internet, as well as Enable Turning on PS5 from Network

Lastly, the steps are similar on the PS4:
- Go to Settings
- Go to Power Save Settings
- Select Set Features Available in Rest Mode
- Check Stay Connected to the Internet, as check Enable Turning PS4 from Network.

Conclusion
So, can you use a PS5 controller on a PS4?
Not exactly, but you can use the DualSense to play PS4 games while using PlayStation Remote Play. This is the only way old-gen games are compatible with the newer peripheral.
However, as I said, the DualSense won’t deliver haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, or built-in mic functions on PS4 games.
Overall, compatibility between the PlayStation 5 with PS4 controllers and vice versa is very limited. The better option is keeping the PS4 controllers for the PS4 and the PS5 controllers for the PS5.
The good news is that DualSense is top-tier hardware delivering some nice new features.
FAQ
Are physical PS4 games compatible on the PS5?
Sony says most PlayStation 4 games are backward compatible with the PS5.
If you have the PlayStation 5’s physical version, you only need to insert the disk into the disc tray to play. The console won’t require installing any patch to play older games.
Can I use the PS4 games I bought in the store on the PS5?
The PS4 digital games on your PSN account are also available on your PlayStation 5. This includes PlayStation Plus titles, but you need the active membership to play them.
Yet, even though we’re talking about PS4 games, you could only use the DualSense controller to play them on the PS5.
Is every PS4 game compatible with the PS5?
There’re “PS4 Only” titles. The full list of PS4 games not compatible with the PS5 is:
- Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume One
- Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
- Just Deal With It!
- Robinson: The Journey
- Shadwen
- We Sing
Are PS4 games better on PS5?
The PlayStation 5 has a feature similar to the Xbox Series’ FPS boost. It’s also a “boost” mode that increases the FPS of older games, as well as loading times.
However, it’s not available for every game. Moreover, you need to install the PS4 game on an SSD storage drive.
Can PS4 games have errors on the PS5?
Sony marks some games on the PlayStation Store with an error warning:
“When playing on PS5, this game may exhibit errors or unexpected behavior, and some features available on PS4 may be absent.”
Games with the warning can still load on the PS5 but may have random bugs, glitches, and errors. Here’s the list of games you should be careful of:
- A Summer with the Shiba Inu
- Active Soccer 2 DX
- American Ninja Warrior: Challenge
- Anomaly 2
- APB Reloaded
- Ape Escape 2
- Arcade Land
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Trilogy Pack
- Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
- Assetto Corsa
- Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition
- Atrapa La Bandera
- Batman: Return to Arkham – Arkham City
- Battlezone
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
- Chicken Police
- Clan N
- Close to the Sun
- Crossout
- Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade
- Daylight
- Dead Island Retro Revenge
- Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition
- Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Fortune
- Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Fortune Free-to-Play Version
- Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Scarlet
- Deliver Us The Moon
- Dino Frontier
- Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King
- Doki-Doki Universe
- DOOM VFR
- Dungeon Rushers
- DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires
- DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires Free Alliances Version
- DYNASTY WARRIORS 8: Xtreme Legends Complete Edition
- Entwined
- EVE: Valkyrie – Warzone
- Everybody’s Golf
- Feral Fury
- Filthy Lucre
- Flinthook
- Frisky Business
- Game of Thrones
- Gensokyo Defenders
- Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
- Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered
- GRIP
- Hardware: Rivals
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition
- Kickbeat Special Edition
- Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
- Left Alive
- Let’s Sing 10
- Let’s Sing 2018
- Lightfield
- LittleBigPlanet 3
- Mafia III The Complete Edition
- Mafia III: Definitive Edition
- Manhunt
- Metal Slug Anthology
- MLB 14 The Show
- MLB 15 The Show
- MLB The Show 16
- MLB The Show 17
- MLB The Show 18
- MLB The Show 19
- MOTHERGUNSHIP
- NBA 2K19
- NBA 2K20
- Need for Speed
- NHL 19
- Nobunaga’s Ambition Souzou
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence
- OKAGE: Shadow King
- Onigiri
- Operation Warcade
- Paddle Vs. Paddle
- Pinball Arcade
- PixARK
- PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate
- Prey
- Primal
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2018
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 LITE
- Project CARS
- Project CARS GOTY Edition
- Pure Hold’em
- Pure Hold’em – World Poker Championship
- Pure Pool
- Realm Royale
- RIGS Mechanized Combat League
- RISK
- Roundabout
- Saint Seiya: Soldiers’ Soul
- Sea of Solitude
- Season Match 2 HD
- Season Match 3 Curse of the Witch Crow
- Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal
- Senran Kagura Estival Versus
- Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash
- Shuttle Commander
- Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition
- SMITE
- Space Junkies
- Star Ocean Second Evolution
- Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time
- STAR STRIKE ULTRA
- STAR STRIKE ULTRA VR
- Star Trek: Bridge Crew
- Super Kids Racing
- Super Stardust Ultra
- Super Stardust Ultra VR
- Survive Said The Prophet VR Experience
- Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan
- Tennis World Tour
- The Golf Club 2019
- The King of Fighters 2000
- The Surge
- The Tomorrow Children
- The Walking Dead: Season 1
- The Warriors
- Tooth and Tail
- True Fear: Forsaken Souls Part 2
- Until Dawn: Rush of Blood
- Valhalla Hills
- Velocity 2X
- Werewolves Within
- WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship
- Zero Escape: The Nonary Games